measure, like the other, should meet with more or less opposition. This institution as a whole is credit to the county. Like all others of its class, it has come to its present state through a series of evolutions, and it is not to be supposed that the time will ever arrive when all outlays upon these institutions will cease. Improvements and alterations of a greater or less magnitude are needed every year, and the county should take pride in making these homes of their unfortunate poor not only endurable but comfortable and healthful. H. R. Norris, superintendent.

Since the above report was rendered, the county has made several improvements. Plastering and ceilings have been repaired, walls and floors repainted, the bathrooms and water-closets overhauled and remodeled, and other alterations made.

CoÖS COUNTY ALMSHOUSE.

Coös county was unfortunate in having a set of farm buildings as a nucleus about which to build an almshouse suitable for the wants of the county, but improvements and additions have been made from time to time until the institution now presents, upon the whole, a condition which fairly well fulfils the requirements of a county almshouse. The improvements which have been made during the past ten years consist of an enlargement of the buildings; in doing away with stoves and substituting steam heat therefor; in building a large and substantial barn, adequate for the wants of the county for years to come; in putting in a better system of sewerage and drainage; in the construction of a building for the boiler and for laundry purposes; the addition of bathrooms; the discontinuance of old and filthy vaults, and the substitution of latrines therefor; the enlargement of the water supply, making it ample for fire purposes; the building of fire escapes; an improvement in the condition of the ward for the insane, besides numerous alterations of minor importance. With all these changes the institution is, of course, in a much better condition to-day than ever before, and yet the buildings are not as good or as well arranged as could be desired, or as would have existed had they been originally constructed for the purpose to which they are now applied.

The illustration gives a very good idea of the exterior of the buildings. The main house is practically four stories in height,

since the buildings are situated upon land sloping toward the Connecticut river, giving a basement story on the west side of the house. Light is admitted to the east side of this basement story by means of area windows. The attic is finished, and used for sleeping rooms when necessary. The superintendent and family occupy the two-story L, which joins the main building at its south end; then follow the shed, carriage-house, stable, and barn in the order named. These buildings are beautifully located at Stewartstown, and from them may be had a magnificent view of the Connecticut valley, with the villages of West Stewartstown, and Canaan, Vt.

The present superintendent and matron, Mr. and Mrs. Hannaford, have been in charge of this institution for more than twenty years, and it is not necessary to repeat what has been said in former reports concerning the general management of the institution. Our inspections have always been made without previous notice, but we have never failed to find an excellent state of cleanliness throughout. The kitchen, laundry, sleeping-rooms, schoolroom, in fact all the various departments are kept scrupulously neat and clean. The food furnished the inmates is of excellent quality and abundant; the beds are good, clean, and have an abundant amount of clothing. The plastering on the walls of some of the rooms, and overhead throughout the entire building, is in a very bad condition; in several places large patches of plaster had dropped off. A large part of the building ought to be replastered at once. Considerable of the woodwork needs painting. In this connection we would suggest the plan which has been adopted at the Belknap and Merrimack almshouses, that of using no paper upon the walls, but dressing them over once a year with kalsomine, alabastine, or paint, while the woodwork should be painted as often as necessary. The dressing of

On Friday, June 17, 1889, after this report had been written, the Coös county almshouse caught fire from a burning chimney. The roof was nearly destroyed, and the building thoroughly saturated with water, and it was with considerable difficulty that the fire was extinguished. The inmates were removed from the building as soon as the fire was discovered, and nearly all the furniture was also taken out. Had it not been for the additional water supply which was put in for such an emergency a little more than a year ago, the buildings would have been totally destroyed. This occasion certainly emphasizes the wisdom of the county in making an appropriation for building the additional reservoir. The hydrant is situated on the opposite side of the road from the house, some fifty or sixty feet distant, and is covered by a small wooden house. Considerable search had to be made for the key to this

the walls annually, as suggested, has a remarkable effect in purifying the institution, and almost entirely destroys the "almshouse odor," while there is no question but it has a good effect in rendering the institution more healthful. The expense of this work is very small, and the results are very marked both to the eye and the sense of smell.

As an additional precaution against fire, we would suggest that one or two stand-pipes be put up through the building, with a sufficient length of hose permanently attached to each pipe and ready for immediate use. This might be the means of saving the building from destruction by fire, especially if one should break out during the night.

The greatest need of the institution at the present time, in the way of buildings, is a more modern and suitable asylum for the insane. They are at present confined in a separate building, west of the main building, and some seventy-five feet distant. This structure is a long, one-story building, in one end of which is the boiler-room and laundry, and in the other the latrines.

That portion containing the boiler and laundry was recently built, and is in good condition; the other portion is old and wholly unfit for the confinement of the insane, although this part was somewhat improved three or four years ago. This ward contains about fourteen small rooms or cells, some of which are only 5x8 feet square and about nine feet in height. At the time of the inspection this ward contained five inmates, three women and two men. The county should provide better quarters, especially for the better class of its insane. These rooms are suitable, perhaps, for the confinement of some of the worst patients that come to an institution of this character; but they do not possess the conditions necessary to health or comfort.

The institution is well managed, its unfortunate inmates well

house, and the hose was brought in sections and had to be coupled together, all of which occasioned some delay, and the fire had gained good headway before a stream of water could be played upon it. It should be remarked that the superintendent was away at the time; had he been present there would probably have been less delay. Under the circumstances, had the fire occurred in the night, or had it been less promptly discovered, the buildings would have been destroyed. In addition to the standpipe suggested above, we would recommend that a full line of hose be permanently attached to the hydrant; it would then be ready for immediate use, day or night. The buildings were well insured.

When the repairs are made, the commissioners should see that the improvements above suggested are carried out, as they undoubtedly will.