The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-07-04


mission, to investigate conditions at
the state prison farm and its needs
have made their report The investi-
eating Judges were w. E. H. Searcy,
of Griffin; Henry c. Hammond, Au-
gusta; Henry A. Mathews, Fl. Val
ley; Moses Wright, Rome, and R. c..
Bell, Cairo.
The report fails to charge any Of
fetal with neglect of duty or improper
conduct, and blames conditions at the
farm that are not desirable largely
upon lack of sufficient funds, which
the Legislature has failed to provide.
No cruelty or inhumanity, as had been
charged by ex-convicts, was found.
| The principal features of the report of
the Judges are given below, as fol-
lows:
Tubercular Hospital Needs Repairs.
Is Well Kept.
| The location of this building is an
| ideal one and could not be improved
the building itself is anything but
ideal. 1t was cheap structure, orig
inally, and has been in use a number
of years. 1t is now in a bad state of
repair. The warden here is apparently
kind and sympathetic man and is
| doing the best he can. The inmates
speak we'll of him. We deplore that
these afflicted inmates, even though
criminals, are not better provided for
than they now are. If it cannot be ar
ranged to provide new, modern and
well-equipped building for these un-
fortunates and afflicted wards of the
state at least sufficient funds should
I be used to thoroughly screen the build
| ings now in use and to provide suffl-
cient heating plant for winter weather
and an abundance of bed clothes and
clothing, and the furnishing of that
character of diet which science pre-
scribes for the treatment and the cure
of this dreadful plague. If our state
fails to do these needed and indispen
sable things, then it must stand con-
demned as cruel and inhuman to-
wards these unfortunate and scourged
wards.
| On this connection it is of interest
to note the recommendation made by
the prison commission in its last an
nual report, which is as follows: 1--WE
desire to call attention to the physical
condition of the buildings on the state
farm. All the houses need repainting,
the woman's building needs a new
lroof, as it is leaking badly, and the
ltubercular hospital needs a general
overhauling and repairing. We esti-
mate the cost of these necessary re-
pairs to be $500, and we ask an ap-
propriatioin of this amount for this
purpose
/ Woman's Building Clean and Sanitary.
| We are pleased to be able to report
that this building is in reasonably
good state of repair, except that new
roof Tin part at least) is required, and
all openings should be screened, and
that it is kept as clean and in as good
sanitary condition as could reasonably
! be expected.
The inmates seem as contented as
might be expected OF those deprived
of liberty, and speak in high terms
of the warden here. We saw the bread
and some of the meat being prepared
for supper and found them apparently
as clean. wholesome, we'll cooked and
abundant as might be expected.
Conditions in Male Building.
The general sanitary condition of
this building has been improved since
the present superintendent took charge.
| Its condition is still unsatisfactory.
Inhrmaries-white and colored
These should be completely segre-
( gated from the lobby and all other
parts of the main building by thor
oughly screening all openings: This
will not only add to the comfort of
sick prisoners by excluding flies and
mosquitoes, but will reduce to a min
imum the possibility of these disease
carriers transmitting infection and dis
ease to other prisoners. There should
be kept on hand an abundance OF bed
clothes for these inhrmaries to insure
| frequent changing OF them.
| Because of the practically continu-
Gus use of many of these beds vermln
| is likely to appear, and to avoid this
| the beds should be frequently disin-
fected, as we'll as changed. and rigid
| sanitary measures should be employed.
The arrangement OF the toilets and
showers in these wards is very poor
and they are in a general unsanitary
condition. The cloth partitions between
the toilets and baths and the lntlrmary
should be replaced by more stable and
sanitary partitions OF wood or metal.
Sleeping Quarters.
Sleeping quarters-white and color
ed
These quarters should be thoroughly
screened. Lights are burned all night,
and these attract bugs and mosquitoes
in large. quantities. In the day flies
have free access to these quarters and
hence to other parts of the building.
Apparently sufficient bedding is not
on hand. or if so is not used, as the
sheets were dirty as were the blankets.
Considerable complaint is made about
the presence of vermin, and several
| members of this commission found
vermin present. 1t is recognized to be
difficult to keep vermin out of such
places all the time, but more frequent
| Changing of bed clothes and disinfect-
ing OF the beds will go long way to-
wards freeing the institution of these
| offensive pests.
Dining Room Neat and Clean
Dining rooms are well arranged and
as neat and clean as could reasonably
! be expected in an institution OF this
/ hind