LOGAN COUNTY JAIL has been (so we learned) a standing reproach for many years, and has been repeatedly condemned by grand juries. It consists of a single room, possibly not exceeding twenty-four feet square. This apartment is divided into three cells and a common hall. The cells are about six by seven feet; these are pervaded by almost impenetrable darkness. It was necessary to take a candle into one of them that we might ascertain something of its nature, and in its foul air the candle contributed but little to aid our purpose. Four prisoners were occupying this cell at night. Here, during the year, seventy-four prisoners, seventyone male and three female, had been incarcerated. There is no separation of sexes possible, save at night when they are locked in separate cells. No register is kept of prisoners.

MADISON COUNTY.

A new and magnificent Infirmary building is in process of erection in Madison County, and as it will so soon (next summer) substitute the old farm-house now occupied, nothing need be said, unless it should be to commend the apparent good management of the present superintendent and his wife.

Madison County Jail, containing five prisoners, (four male one female), two of whom, one male and the female, were insane, was in a miserably filthy condition.

The cistern was empty, the privy vault full, and the floor tracked over with lime, great quantities of which was being used in the privy. The cells are small, dark and without ventilation. The present jailor, who had but recently moved in, claimed to have " improved appearances."

The insane woman occupied an intervening room between the jailor's apartment and the prison proper. This was the only practicable separation short of confinement in cells.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

The Infirmary of this county is large, well arranged, and evidently well managed. But here, too, it is necessary to stint praise, not however, without remembering that, perhaps, everything is being done that can be done under the circumstances, for the care and comfort of the insane. Their condition here is but a repetition of horrors elsewhere alluded to. The strong cells, (those where the filthy and violent, male and female, are confined), are basement rooms, cold, damp and noisome, and in addition to three thus confined, one is reported "chained."

This county has, under the present provisions of the law, done nobly in rescuing her homeless children from the terribly corrupt and blighting influences of the poor house.

Save children with their mothers-we found none in the infirmary.

They (thirty in number) had been removed to a "Children's Home," provided by the county, in the city of Dayton, and were in the occupancy of buildings temporarily engaged until proper buildings could be erected. This work is in progress. We were shown a large and elegant brick building, whose walls were well nigh ready for the roof. It will doubtless be ready for occupancy during the coming year. The children will then be removed to pleasant school rooms, comfortable dormitories, and delightful grounds, where, under the fostering care of the county christian home influences, are to develop characters, if not for future usefulness, at least not, of necessity, for indolence, mendicancy and crime.

The site of this building is one of the most beautiful among the many such that environ the city of Dayton. As we stood there, we felt that something more than mere duty to "poor 99 children was expressed in the selection of this beautiful site, and the erection of this noble edifice; it bespoke a recognition of that divine assurance which renders it an exalted privilege to receive "these little ones."

Your honorable Board will pardon us here for expressing the hope that very soon, as far as practicable, every county in our State may "go and do likewise."

Montgomery County Jail is, and has been for a long time, a condemned nuisance. The city prison of Dayton is but little better. The jail will be replaced by a new one as soon as satisfactory plans may be had.

May I suggest to the Board, in this connection, that it would be a matter of economy to the several counties, and to the State at large, and ce tainly would be a charity that would "cover a multitude of sins," if our State Legislature would invest authority somewhere by which a uniform plan of jail buildings, as well as uniform jail discipline, could be secured, ultimately, if not at present, throughout the State. Montgomery County, I doubt not, would take great interest in inaugurating such plans.

MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

The Infirmary of this county is a large, substantial, comparatively well arranged, and certainly admirably conducted institution.

For its excellent management the county is certainly greatly indebted to Mr. Wilds and his most estimable wife, who evidently, in the discharge of her matronly duties, seeks to promote not only the general good character of the household, but the individual comfort of the inmates.

The division of the insane department, which is unusually large, into three wards, affording opportunity for classifying and separating insane, epileptic and idiotic inmates, is certainly a commendable arrangement. In answer to the question-" Have you proper facilities for the proper care of the incurably insane?" the Superintendent answers-" Yes." And so far as observed, if this answer is correct as relating to the care of

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such in any county infirmary, it is true here. But the statistics show that six are in close confinement, and we were informed that "shackles were sometimes used. Our observation, however, led us to a different conclusion, for while we cannot conceive of such as proper care " of the insane, we are confident that with the best possible provision that can be made for this class, even in the Muskingum County Infirmary, the comfort of other classes of inmates cannot be properly provided for.

Better sewerage, which could be had at but little trouble and trifling expense, would very materially improve the general condition and add greatly to the present good character of this infirmary.

While in Zanesville we visited the Childrens' Home, and although the enterprise is as yet in its very humble beginnings, it is in hands that will not suffer it to fail.

This Home originated, (so we understand) and is sustained by private charities, but is, perhaps, now under the patronage of the city of Zanesville. Muskingum county should take it under its care, and place the "little ones," now in the infirmary, where they too, with other homeless ones, might reap its advantages.

Muskingum County Jail, apart from its appearance of great antiquity, has nothing of which it may boast over others of which we have already spoken. A recent "case of delirium tremens" had thrown it into great disorder.

The Zanesville City Prison was utterly, indescribably filthy.

SCIOTO COUNTY INFIRMARY.

The buildings consist of an old, poorly arranged and sadly dilapidated one, which constitutes the main or infirmary building proper, and a new building for the insane separate from the other.

The latter building is so arranged as to render not only the building itself inconvenient and altogether uncomfortable, but is a nuisance to the other parts of the institution.

The insane are kept up stairs, and when, as is often the case, their rooms require scrubbing, all the filth must be washed down the stairway, the landing of which is in the centre of the main hall above, and the foot in the centre of the main hall below, and just inside of the main entrance, which opens so as to connect conveniently with the other buildings. There are no pipes or sewers, no escape for filth save as carried or washed out, so that the bad odor of one filthy cell is of necessity diffused throughout the premises. This county "lets" its infirmary premises, with its paupers, to the "lowest bidder." The premises are rent free as an inducement to board the paupers at low figures. The present rates are as follows:

Ordinary paupers-adults, $1.35 per week; children under 4 years of age, half price; insane inmates, confined in rooms, $2.50 per week.

The present Superintendent and his wife seem to be very kind people. And certainly under such a system kindness must be a desirable quality. Scioto County Jail is, from all appearances, well managed. The separation of sexes differs but little from that already referred to in the Greene County Jail. Females occupy the upper tier of cells; all the light of the lower apartment is from an upper window, so that the only separation consists of a grated iron floor. A solid floor in the female apartment would exclude all light from the male apartment.

Ninety-one males and nine females have been imprisoned in this jail during the year. The rules for its regulation are prescribed jointly by Commissioner and Auditor. There has been no register until during the past year.

Sheriff Malone and his deputy, Mr. Slavens, were especially interested to present, as far as possible, a full and accurate report of the jail under their supervision.

SENECA COUNTY.

The Infirmary buildings are substantial, capacious, well arranged, and eligibly situated.

There is an utter absence of anything like system in the management. There seemed to be little attention to cleanliness, and certainly but littleregard to the separation and classification of inmates.

The east wing is appropriated to the insane, and while it seems to be well provided with means for the comfort of the inmates and the convenience of the management, neither the one nor the other is secured.

An open trough or gutter (probably of tin), resembling an eave-trough, flush with the floor of the cells, runs the entire length of the building, passing through the outer wall on a level with the floor, and into an iron pipe which serves as a conductor to the sewer, which was designed to carry off the filth. Of course filth deposited in the cell most remote from the wall, must pass through the intervening cells in this open trough, and thence into the iron pipe, which, where it connects with the sewer, has an acute angle; this angle chokes with filth, and the sewer is left open just at the point of connection where it is most needed, and here of course a fearful stench is generated, and the advantages of the sewer wholly lost to the Infirmary. With better management this Infirmary might be made highly creditable to Seneca county.

SENECA COUNTY JAIL is an old building, and has two apartmentscriminal and debtors. This-when one or the other is empty of males affords opportunity to keep females separate; but beyond this, there is no provision. The jail had recently been broken, and all the prisoners

had escaped, so that at the time of my visit it was empty. Its general appearance was creditable to the jailer.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

The Infirmary of this county can only be spoken of from the statistical report as furnished the Secretary by Mr. Putnam, member of the Board from that county.

To this county, perhaps, the State is indebted for the initiatory steps in providing a county "Home" for homeless children; and in this county all such are provided for now, as for years past, in the "Children's Home."

Statistics show that there are thirty-two insane inmates-five of them kept in close confinement.

Of the jail in this county, we have no report.

UNION COUNTY.

The Infirmary building is small and not well adapted, but is under clever management.

There is but one insane inmate. He is in close confinement in a small wooden building, where, without great care, or some merciful intervention of Providence, he must suffer greatly during the winter season.

Seven interesting children are here-not orphans strictly, but worse; they have been abandoned of their parents, who, from habits of intemperance, are not only without means to provide for their children, but are without "natural affection."

THE JAIL OF UNION COUNTY is comparatively a good one. It is tolerably well lighted and very well ventilated. The privy vault is underneath the jail, the effluvium of which rises into the prison. This is an unfortunate arrangement, as the history of this jail attests. The foul-air flue, constructed with the view to carrying off from the prison the stench of the privy, affords an easy mode of escape for prisoners. The jail was empty, but gave indication of good management.

Before closing this report, already extended beyond what was anticipated, and, perhaps, beyond what was necessary, it may be proper to say that, could the Secretary have visited any considerable number more of the counties, that the report might have been proportionately shortened. Such a classification of condition and management in our county institutions could have been made as to comprise the whole in a brief space, and at the same time render the report equally, if not more intelligible than the foregoing. The whole state could thus, by a judicious and intelligent system of classification, be reported in much less space than has been devoted to fifteen counties.

3- STATE CHAR.