cared for, and it is more than probable that with the spirit which the county has manifested of late years, the improvements suggested will be carried out from time to time, so that, eventually, the institution in all its appointments will be second to none in the State.

Following the occurrence alluded to in the foregoing footnote, the county, in addition to repairing the roof, caused a large part of the building to be repainted and replastered, so that the building is now in a much better condition than before the fire. Recently Mr. Hannaford, who had been superintendent for many years, resigned, and Freeman G. Marshall was appointed in his place.

COÖS COUNTY JAIL.

In 1885 the State Board of Health, in its fourth annual report, said of this institution, "This penal institution is located at Lancaster, and is wholly unfit for the purposes of a jail. It is too small by far for this county, and is frequently over-crowded. The sanitary appointments are very defective; the drainage and ventilation are both insufficient. One of two things is necessary, either to build a new jail, or to entirely remodel the present Probably the latter would be attended with less expense,

one.

and would suffice for a few years.

"An extension might be made upon the east side of the present jail, which should be ample for at least four more rooms.

"Water-closets should take the place of the present offensive vault, and better ventilation should be secured. The board of county commissioners should make a careful estimate of the amount of money required to make the needed changes, and lay the whole matter before the county delegation, and ask for a sufficient appropriation to do the work necessary to place this institution in a better condition.”

Up to the present time no changes for the better have been made in this institution since the above report was made. Indeed, we are informed that for the past eight years no improvements have been made at this jail, other than those made by the jailer with his own hands.

This jail is a standing disgrace to the county, and the buildings

connected with it, consisting of jail-house and barn devoted to the use of the jailer and family, are in a shabby condition.

The jail proper is a one-story stone building, and contains three rooms, one of which, 10x20 feet, is common to all during the day, and two cells 8x10 feet; the rooms are nine feet high, and each contains a bed. There were four prisoners at the time of inspection.

In one corner of the large room is a privy, 2x3 feet on the floor, and both the jailer and the prisoners stated that it was a constant nuisance, the prisoners, particularly, complaining bitterly of it. In one corner of this room stood the bed, and in another the stove. Near the stove was an old barrel which served as a woodbox and was also the receptacle for an old broom. The remaining furniture consisted of an old broken table and two chairs without backs. The two other rooms contained substantially no furniture except the beds.

We were informed by the jailer that at one time he had thirteen prisoners confined in these three rooms, and that twelve of them were thus detained all summer. To add to the horrors and disgrace of such a condition it should be stated that the jail has no yard whatever. There is no sink, and all water for personal use and for washing is poured into the vault above mentioned. There is no sewer whatever connected with the jail.

It is fully time that this disgraceful and inexcusable condition should be considered by the county delegation, if not by the whole people of the county. A sufficient appropriation should be voted, if not to build a new jail, to enlarge the present one, and to so change and improve it that the county shall have a respectable place for the detention of prisoners.

It may be remarked by those possessing but a grain of humanity, that such a place is good enough for a criminal; but they should remember that frequently persons innocent of crime are detained in jail as witnesses, being unable to furnish bonds for their appearance at court; persons are also held upon suspicion, for crimes of which they are guiltless. On the other hand, those persons who believe that punishment should be reformatory, will insist that all prisoners be properly and decently cared for, whatever may have been their crime or previous condition.

Subsequent to the writing of the above report, and during the

session of the Legislature, the secretary of the Board interested the county delegation in this matter, and invited them to examine the Belknap county jail at Laconia. The delegation were much pleased with this building, but believed that one somewhat smaller would be sufficient for Coös county. At a subsequent meeting of the delegation the following vote was passed:

Resolved, That the sum of five thousand dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the purpose of building a new jail on the site of the old one at Lancaster.'

It is understood that the new building will be commenced in the spring, and that the present disgraceful place of detention I will then be demolished.

RAILROAD INSPECTIONS.

For several years this Board has made an annual inspection of the stations and grounds of the various railroad lines in the State in the interests of sanitation, and has rendered an annual report upon the same. During the past year the inspection was not made from station to station, but from observation while traveling over the several lines, and in visiting many towns in the regular work of the Board, extending through the whole year.

It is three years since these inspections were commenced, and in that time there has been a very general improvement in the sanitary condition of our railway stations and grounds. It is true that in some instances there is a lamentable neglect to make alterations and improvements recommended by this Board as well as by the railroad commissioners. The condition of the station at Newmarket Junction illustrates this point perhaps better than any other in the State. This station is jointly owned by the Boston & Maine and the Concord Railroads, and the deplorable condition is probably the result of a lack of co-operation between the two lines. It may be stated that the directors of both lines have taken action in the direction of erecting a new depot at this station, and we hope to see the much-needed improvement carried out at an early day. The uncertainty as to who would eventually own or control the Northern and the Boston, Concord & Montreal

WorM

roads has been somewhat detrimental to needed improvements, although the general sanitary condition is good, with a few local exceptions, for which the agent, rather than the management, is responsible.

The Boston & Maine Railroad has done more to maintain clean and neat grounds about its stations than any other line in the State, and the sanitary condition of its depots, taken as a whole, is excellent. This remark is applicable to most of its leased lines in New Hampshire, especially in the eastern part of the State. During the year increased facilities for water supply have been provided at some stations, and other sanitary measures have been carried out.

The Boston & Lowell system is not so well equipped in this respect. Some of its stations are open to severe criticism, particularly on the line between Nashua and Keene. Some of the stations on the Boston, Concord & Montreal road also need to be reconstructed. The existing condition is very largely due to the unfortunate uncertainty in the past regarding the future proprietorship of the road. In the face of this fact, however, some necessary changes were made during the year. The same remarks are applicable to the Northern road. The executive officials of these several lines realize the importance of good sanitary administration in railroading, and it should be understood that the delay in making contemplated improvements is due to this unsettled state of railroad affairs.

The Concord Railroad stations are in a very good condition, much better than formerly. During the past few years, many substantial and long-needed improvements have been made, both upon the main line and leased roads. At some stations sufficient care has not been exercised to keep the closets and privies in a cleanly condition. The water-closets at Nashua are at times very offensive, simply from neglect to take proper care of them. The Newmarket nuisance has been above referred to. This road, however, has made several needed improvements during the year, and its course of action in respect to sanitary advancement is highly commended.

The tendency in the management of all the roads in the State is toward better and cleaner stations and grounds. The requirements, comfort, and even tastes of the traveling public are more

generously and carefully considered than formerly, and when our railroads shall finally become settled under some fixed administration we may hope for an era in which there will be little or no cause for complaint against the sanitary conveniences and conditions of our railway lines.

TRANSPORTATION OF DEAD BODIES.

The lack of uniformity in the regulations governing the transportation of dead bodies led the National Association of General Baggage Agents to attempt to secure throughout the United States and Canada the adoption of uniform regulations. To this end the association mentioned formulated a set of regulations in July, 1888, which were submitted to the state boards of health, the National Conference of State Boards of Health, the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Undertakers, and other organizations, for the purpose of obtaining suggestions, criticisms, etc., which would lead to ultimate uniformity of the rules designed to be adopted by health authorities and by the railroads. The regulations submitted were accompanied by the following remarks:

"In submitting these rules for your consideration, it is not assumed that they are now perfect, and we are simply asking your approval of them; on the contrary, we solicit any suggestions or recommendations which, in your opinion, will be in the interests of the public health, and at the same time not unnecessarily burdensome and expensive to the public.

"It is a noticeable fact, that infectious or communicable diseases follow more quickly the lines of communication, being spread by the movements of the people; and as the railroads are the principal mediums of communication among the people, the trunk lines spanning the continent bringing to our doors inhabitants from all parts of the country, it is patent to all that local rules, be they ever so rigid, can afford but partial protection, and as the bodies of the dead are transported in the same cars and