Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1900 — Our County Poor Asylum. [ARTICLE]

Our County Poor Asylum.

At Reported By Secretary Butler, of the Slate Board of Charities. The lenth annual report of the State Board of Charities has just been issued. It contains, among other matters, reports on a number of the county poor asylums of Indiana. Amoug these is one on the asylum of Jasper county, which was visited by Amos W. Butler, secretary of the Board, in May 31, 1899, and again on August 30. 1899. The report reads as follows: The farm is located two miles west of Rensselaer, and consists of 280 acres of land, about 200 of which are tillable. There is a garden of about two acres, arid three acres are in ah orchard. There are twelve inmates. The The Superintendent is employed on a salary, and everything is furnished by the Commissioners. The stock consists of 39 cattle 12 cows, 6 horses and 170 hogs. The farm buildings, fences and dooryards are in good condition. The main building is of brick, but is not well planned. There is a separate residence for the Superintendent. Each is in fairly satisfactory condition. The cellar of the main building is poorly drained. It has been fitted to heat with, furnace. The furnace pit is ull of water. It should be drain-e fed, the furnace repaired, and th cellar floored with cement'. jThe sexes are separate. The house is fairly clean, ■and is almost free from bugs. The inmates are quite clean There are two bathtubs, and bathing is required once a ■week. Clothing is ample, the bedding satisfactory. Old wooden beils are provided, which are undesirable”; Light is furnished by Jamps__ The food very good. Vegetables and fruit Tire grown upon-’ the farm. No religious services are held. The records are fair Outside of the imprpvements, the Superintendent says the farm supports the institution. He inis labored uiider great disadvantages to make this poor what, it is, and is entitled to credit. Revisited August 30, 1899. Conditions were substantially the same. \ ’ ' To which we may and, by way of bringing this repof| up to date, that there are now 15 inmates in the asylum, big and little. That all are healthy except one man who has “rhqumaticks.” Also that the heating apparatus, which Mr. Butler complained of, has been changed; to a combined hot air and hot water system, and it works well. Further that good sewers have been constructed and the furnace pit drained. Also the new superintendent is as kindly and careful of the inmates and as watchful of the interests of the county, as the old one was; and that is good enough for anyone.