The 69 inmates of the County Home have existed on 18.2 cents a day for food and clothing for each person since the last grand jury report was made and the asylum department of the home “is in worse condition that at the time of our former report, if such a thing is possible.” This is according to the report of the Mecklenburg county grand jury filed with Judge W.F. Harding Saturday afternoon, just before the close of the one-week term of criminal court.
The report was the subject of general comment about the court house when it was learned that some of the paragraphs contained rather scathing references to features of the County home’s mode of operation and its present condition. The report covers 12 pages, including an itemized statement of food costs at the home. The itemized statement is in the last paragraph, under the subject of “general remarks.”
Investigation as to the daily cost of food and clothing for each of the inmates indicated that each received on average this for groceries, 9 ¾ cents; for fat meat, 2 1/3 cents; farm food and expenses, 2.4 cents; clothing, 3 ¾ cents.
The report adds that “the food now served, though plentiful, is of the plainest and coarsest sort.”
The report exonerates Mr. and Mrs. White, keepers of the home, by saying “in justice to them, as far as the above criticisms go, we wish to state that they are to our belief, managing the home as efficiently as the means provided them allow.”
LIGHTS ARE POOR
The paragraph of the report telling of conditions in the part of the asylum where the white inmates stay reads:
“If such a thing could be possible, this department is in worse condition that at the time of our former report. This building is a brick structure, poorly lighted and ventilated, without screens at either doors or windows, and with in sanitary arrangements whatever. The floor is of concrete and is below the level of the ground at the entrance, and is often flooded in wet weather. It is heated by a single stove and is equipped with iron and wood cells.
“The stench that arises from this unsanitary condition is nauseating and repulsive. Flies are in this building in swarms. We are informed that trays of food are shoved under the door to the inmates, being pushed along the floor on a level with the filth and the assistant in charge suggests that an opening should be cut higher in the door to permit the food being handed to these unfortunates in a rational manner.”
The grand jury adopted the system of dividing its membership up into sub-committees to examine each building and the farm home separately. Otto Haas was chairman of one committee, W.B. Blythe of another, S.W. Dandridge of another and F.E. Harlan of another.
CAMPS ARE APPROVED
The report finds little to criticize in the management of the county’s convict camps, gives the county jail a clean bill of health, complains of the overcrowded conditions in the clerk of the court’s and the register of deeds’ offices and says the court house is fairly well kept, considering that it is antiquated and hard to keep in condition. One recommendation is made in regard to better facilities at the jail kitchen and the screening of doors.
The report calls attention of the commissioner of public safety of the city to dangerous railway crossings and approaches to the Mercy and Good Samaritan hospitals. Most of the voluminous report is taken up with the county home, its length being, in part, due to the fact that the name and condition of each inmate of the asylum is described.
From The Charlotte News, May 22, 1921. A dollar in 1921 would be worth about $14.80 today so the county was paying the equivalent of less than $3 a day to feed and clothe the “worthy” poor.
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