SECRETARY'S REPORT.

COUNTY ALMSHOUSES, ASYLUMS, AND JAILS.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY ALMSHOUSE AND JAIL.

Two important improvements are being added to this institution, to wit, a new building for the demented class of the insane, and a water tank for the purpose of securing an abundant water supply for sewerage purposes. The new building for the insane is a wooden structure 47 x 30 feet on the ground, two stories high, and containing 32 rooms. It is divided into two wards, one for males and the other for females, and is to be heated by steam. The building is designed especially for the class mentioned and is sheathed throughout. It is located directly in the rear of the building occupied by this class at the present time and about 100 feet in the rear of the main asylum, and as soon as the new building is completed the old one will be removed to a position adjoining the stables and will be used for a carriagehouse. This change will prove a material improvement for a few years to come.

The water tank alluded to is located in the rear of the almshouse; it is built upon supports and has a capacity of about 10,000 gallons. It is built precisely like the modern railway tanks and its elevation is sufficient to force the water to the highest point of the roof of the almshouse, the top of the tank being about 10 feet higher than the most elevated portion of the roof. The tank will be supplied from a pond in the field by steam power, and is intended for fire and sewerage purposes solely.

The general condition of the almshouse and other buildings, so far as cleanliness and neatness are concerned, was most excellent. The rooms are kept well whitewashed and the floors and other woodwork thoroughly scrubbed. The jail, which at the time of the inspection accommodated 48 prisoners, was in a most excellent condition; it was perfectly neat and clean throughout - in fact, in this respect the institution could not be improved.

The institution contained at the time of inspection 191 inmates, 12 of whom were children under fifteen years of The managers are Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Tucker.

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STRAFFORD COUNTY ALMSHOUSE.

No very material changes have been made at this almshouse since our report last year. There were present at the time of the inspection 170 inmates, 25 to 30 of whom were children. The institution was in a very neat and clean condition, and the rooms were exceedingly clean and tidy. The walls are whitewashed at least once a year, this adding much to their wholesomeness.

This institution is a house of correction as well for the county, and has upon the average about a dozen prisoners. Some improvements are needed here. The men's closet in the basement should be repaired; some of the fixtures in the basement are not properly trapped, and it is said that at times the odor of the sewer is noticeable; the kitchen sinks should be trapped; and in fact, the plumbing should be carefully overhauled, and an iron sewer should replace the Akron pipe under the building.

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The prisoners' cells, which are in the basement, have recently been whitewashed and were in good condition. few improvements in the line suggested would place the institution in a satisfactory condition.

STRAFFORD COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM.

This asylum contains on an average about 40 inmates, at the time of the last inspection the exact number being 41.

There has been a very great improvement in this asylum since our last report, both in its general cleanliness and appearance, and in its management, but the building itself is far from being a model. It is a cheaply built wooden building, with poor walls and floors, the latter being so loose and defective that frequently when being washed the water drips through into the rooms below. The chief criticism made against this institution in our report for 1889 still holds good. The improvements are brought about chiefly by the use of paint. The county was fortunate, or unfortunate, in having two or three prisoners who were painters, and they were set to work painting the interior of the building. The corridors of the entire upper story had been painted, and those of the lower story were well under way. This had added greatly to the cleanliness of the place, which has never before presented so good an appearance as at present.

The asylum is cared for by Mr. and Mrs. William Driscoll. The county is to be congratulated in this improved condition. The vaults are better cared for than formerly, although the present arrangement can never be satisfactory. It may be remarked here that there is not at all times a sufficient water supply for the almshouse and jail, but the county commissioners are now considering means for increasing the supply.

Whenever this shall have been accomplished, water-closets should be substituted for the privies now in use at the asylum.

The almshouse and asylum are under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Demeritt.

STRAFFORD COUNTY JAIL.

This jail is located at Dover, a little out of the compact part of the city, upon a healthful and pleasant elevation. This is the somewhat celebrated "revolving" jail, the only one of the kind in the State.

The buildings are of brick, well constructed, and consist of house for the jailor and the jail proper. The jail proper is divided into two parts, one containing upon the lower floor

the office and upon the upper four cells for women. These cells are stationary, being constructed the same as any ordinary cell, with grated window and door in each. It was from one of these cells, in which he was confined on account of a supposed serious illness, that a noted murderer recently escaped, and not from the revolving cells as has been supposed by some. The cells in the main part of the jail consist of V-shaped sections of a cylinder or turret twenty feet in diameter and two stories high. This cylinder is placed upon bearings so that with proper mechanism it may be revolved. There are ten cells in each story of this cylinder, twenty in all. Surrounding the cylinder and built as closely to it as possible and allow it to revolve, is a network of steel rods and plates, with one opening through the same for each story. When it is desired to admit or release a prisoner, the cylinder is revolved until the desired cell is brought in front of the door in the outer grating. When it is desired to allow the prisoners to come out of the cells into the corridor, as is done daily with possibly a few exceptions, the cylinder is slowly revolved, and as each cell comes in front of the doorway in the fixed grating, the prisoner steps out, and when the cylinder has made one revolution the prisoners may have been all released.

In each cell is a fixed water-closet, with an ample amount of running water, and the sanitary conditions are excellent. The corridor surrounding the cells is of ample dimensions and has several well grated, large windows, making the entire jail pleasant and light. There is in each cell a folding hammock cot which occupies but little space during the day. The front of each cell is open to the fixed grating, thus affording ample ventilation and light. The partitions between the cells, as well as all other parts of the cylinder, are of plate iron or steel.

In each corridor, protected by an ample screen, is a good bath-tub and sink for the use of the prisoners. There is an electrical communication between the jailor's apartments and the cells in each corridor, so that in case of sickness in the

night, or from other cause at any time, the jailor can be summoned.

The jail was neat and clean throughout and is in every respect in excellent sanitary condition. The present jailor is Mr. Frank M. Libby. The jail was built in 1888, and there were 28 prisoners confined in it at the time of the inspection, all males.

BELKNAP COUNTY ALMSHOUSE.

No especial changes or improvements have been made at this institution recently, except that two or three rooms, in the attic of an adjacent building used for a shed, soap-making, etc., have been finished off for the demented insane. These rooms are not suitable for any class of the insane except during the summer season, when they are, perhaps, admissible for demented patients like the three who were found occupying them.

At this point we may remark that the county needs a new and separate building for its chronic insane. There are at this institution some 12 or 15 insane persons, all of whom, with the exception of the three mentioned, are allowed to mingle with the other inmates of the almshouse. Among them are one or two who have recurrent mania and have to be locked up at times. This state of affairs is in a measure unsafe, and greatly disturbs the comfort of the other inmates. Such a building as the county needs might be constructed at a comparatively small cost, as a large building is not required, but it should be so situated as to admit of easy access to the patients and steam heat from the main building.

The general condition of the almshouse is very fair, although some painting is needed and the walls of many of the rooms require repapering, especially in the men's wards.

An increased water supply is demanded. At present the water is pumped by wind power from the bay near by to tanks in the attic of the almshouse. At times when there is not sufficient wind to work the pumps the institution suffers for want of water and has to be very economical in its use.