The old men's smoking-room is much in need of a new floor. The almshouse, although well managed and neatly kept, lacks many of the requisites of a first-class institution of this kind. There is no provision for the separation of the sexes; for this reason most of the inmates have to be locked into their rooms at night. Considering the bad character of many of the inmates at such an institution, this condition of affairs should not be allowed to exist. Separate wards for the sexes should be provided.

There is no protection whatever against fire. A tank should be built in the attic, of ample capacity and connected with proper pipes, to which should be permanently attached a sufficient length of hose to be used in case of fire. The danger from fire is greater at this institution than at any other of its kind in the State, for the reason that it is heated entirely by stoves, thirteen in number. Many of the stoves are run almost wholly by the inmates. The superintendent, Mr. Manson, stated that not infrequently the stoves in some of the rooms are running at their utmost capacity as late as midnight, and that some of the old people get up as early as four o'clock in the morning and start fires.

The institution has no watchman or other person whose duty it is to look after these matters, except the superintendent and matron. The stoves consume over one hundred cords of wood annually.

The principal changes and improvements needed at this almshouse at the present time are:

1. To abandon the stoves, and substitute steam heat therefor. 2. Protection against fire.

3. A new jail.

4. Separate wards for the sexes.

5. Bathtubs.

CARROLL COUNTY JAIL.

Carroll county jail consists of four cells built of stone, brick, and iron, and located in the southwest end of the wing of the almshouse. In 1882, the State Board of Health made a report upon this jail, in which it was stated to be wholly unfit for the detention of prisoners; but thus far the county has paid no

attention to the suggestions then made. To say that it is a disgrace to the county is putting it mildly.

The cells are about 7 x 9 x 9 feet in size. They are dark and dingy, as they contain no window, and the only light which can reach them is admitted through the grated door from a poorly lighted corridor. At the time of the inspection, the cells were so dark that a newspaper could be read in only one, that at the end of the corridor. The corridor is five feet wide, and runs the length of the front of the four cells. At the west end of the corridor is a window, double barred, which has twelve panes of glass 10x 14; at the other end of the corridor is a window of the same size and barred in the same manner, and opening into a storeroom in the L. This window admits but very little light, so that practically all the light which the jail receives is from the window at the west end of the corridor.

The jail was dirty and foul.

There

The cells are of brick and stone, with concrete floors which are rough and broken. The furniture of the jail consists of a bed in each cell, five badly dilapidated chairs, an old stand, and a small sheet-iron stove. were present three prisoners, one or two of whom were treacherous, vicious characters. The superintendent stated that these prisoners would break any decent furniture, and persisted in keeping the jail dirty.

So far as a place of confinement alone is concerned, this is the worst place in the State which bears the name of "jail," and when to the existing condition of affairs is added the probability of the prisoners being roasted in case of fire, it becomes, without exception, the worst and most dangerous place for the confinement of prisoners that has ever come to the knowledge of the Board. The building in which the jail is located is, with the exception of the cells, built entirely of wood, and the jail corridor is entered from the main corridor of the almshouse. Two doors have to be unlocked and opened before entrance can be made to the jail corridor. At night each prisoner is locked into his cell by a single key, and the two doors are likewise locked, and the windows are protected by very heavy double bars. In case a fire should break out in the L near the jail or at that end of the wing in which the jail is situated, it might become absolutely impossible to reach the prisoners.

The superintendent has long feared a fire, and has provided a large chain and lever with which he thinks it might be possible with sufficient assistance, and provided the fire was not so hot as to prevent reaching the grated windows, to wrench out the grates, enter the jail, and release the prisoners. This is the only possible means by which they could be rescued should a fire occur in this part of the building.

The sanitary condition of the jail, from every standpoint, is bad. In fact, it has not a single commendable feature, and the county ought at once to abandon it.

Just before the close of the Legislature, the secretary of the Board was given a hearing before the county delegation, on matters relating to the county almshouse and jail. The facts recorded in the above report were presented, with much additional detail, and the needed improvements were specifically stated.

The delegation expressed a unanimous desire to improve the condition of the place, but as the appropriations for the ensuing two years had already been made, they did not deem it advisable to make such recommendations as would involve a large outlay. They voted, however, that the county commissioners be instructed to whitewash the cells and put a small grated window in each; to furnish some practicable means whereby the prisoners could be reached and rescued in case of fire; to supply the almshouse with two bathtubs, one for the male and the other for the female inmates; and to put in suitable traps wherever needed.

It is expected that the commissioners will carry out these instructions promptly and in a thorough manner, besides making such additional improvements as in their judgment the premises require.

MERRIMACK COUNTY ALMSHOUSE.

The building which constitutes the Merrimack county almshouse was constructed about ten years ago, the former buildings having been destroyed by fire. It is situated at North Boscawen, a short distance from the railway station, upon an elevation favorable to good drainage. The main building and the insane asylum are of brick, while the barn and outhouses are of wood.