History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 90

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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In the summer of 1910, the School for the Deaf had seventy-six pupils. A short while before it had been quarantined for a short time for scarlet fever. The teachers were specially instructed and qualified and were thoroughly trained for the positions they occupied. Teachers in schools of this kind were usually selected for their qualifications and not for their politics or influence. The law required that the superintendent of this institution should be able to use the sign language. His duties therefore were limited to schools for the deaf. Ordinary teachers or superintendents could secure positions anywhere in the United States or the world for that matter. The women's committee insisted that the most successful method for the training of character was the method of personality. "Character forms character through close relations, hence the necessity of daily fellowship with a personality that shall mold and fashion the child's life into a beautiful unfolding that shall increase in value and usefulness as the years go by. This is especially true of the deaf child who must depend entirely on signs and expression from contact with those over them."

In the summer of 1910 the state penitentiary contained 207 male and six female prisoners. Among the males were twenty-seven with life sentences and twenty-two were under twenty-one years of age. The institution thus contained a large percentage of comparatively young men. The women's committee sug- gested that this subject would be investigated and that steps to surround young men with better influences should be taken. It was believed that the indetermi- nate sentence and the grading and parole systems were helpful in this institution. Already it had been introduced and the reports indicated that it was progressing

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satisfactorily. The indeterminate sentence was made possible by the Legislature in 1908. It gave the convict an opportunity to redeem himself, but extended to the professional criminal no encouragement. In the penitentiary the inmates were surrounded with good influence. Religious services were held regularly and were well attended. Music was furnished by a double quartette of prisoners. They sang a song called "God Praise My Boy Tonight" at a public performance and there were few dry eyes in the audience. A night school was in operation also and was well attended. The twine plant was being run to its full capacity giving employment to sixty-five men and in the shirt factory were seventy-five, but a large number were also employed in the kitchen, bakery, laundry and about the farm. All men who were physically able were given employment. All of this accompanied with humane treatment had an excellent effect on the inmates. An electric light had been placed in each cell which was regarded as a great improve- ment and appreciated by the prisoners as each could read at ease by his own light. There was a pressing need at this time for a hospital prisoners' dining-room and cottage for women prisoners. Mrs. Flanegan was matron and had charge of the women prisoners. They were given work in sewing and other lines which they understood. Since the law had gone into effect, seventeen prisoners had been parolled.

In the summer of 1910 there were sixty boys and thirty girls at the State Training School; sixteen of the boys were between eight and thirteen years. An investigation by the women's committee showed that the parents of one-third of the boy inmates were divorced, one-third had stepfathers or stepmothers and the remaining one-third had come from homes where the influence was bad and the children had been neglected and turned out in the streets. No wonder they were incorrigible. The time of the boys outside of the school room was spent largely at work in the fields on the large farm taking care of stock, assisting in the dairy and bakery, doing chores in the kitchen and dining-room, caring for dormitories and halls which they swept and scrubbed. They were very busy and seemed to like their work. One boy of fourteen took care of sixty gallons of milk per day and made the butter. The dairy facilities were not the best, but in spite of that the results were satisfactory. The utensils for handling the milk and butter were out of date. There was need here of a much wider range for indus- trial training. The committee suggested that sloyd work, carpentering, cabinet making and similar industries should be introduced. A few of the boys were out on parole and had good positions with the farmers, were paid and gave satisfac- tion. The institution was in charge of Superintendent and Mrs. Young. The girls' cottage had been considerably improved, particularly its sanitary surround- ings. The housework was done by the girls. This included cooking, care of the dining-room, care of dormitories and general cleaning. They did the mending for the institution, also the sewing, also their own underclothes, particularly their own dresses, all under the direction of the matron. The pupils were divided into two grades each receiving one-half its school training during the school year. The conditions were not good for the girls to receive their quota of outdoor life and fresh air. The committee recommended the removal of the girls' school to some other locality and the adoption of the cottage plan which had proved so satisfac- tory elsewhere. The committee dwelt particularly on the importance of making home life attractive for young girls. To do this the girls sent to this institution

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should be surrounded with the best of influences. The committee did not approve of dormitories for these girls. It was better not to have them herded together they said. Generally the girls here ranged from eleven to sixteen years, were unfortunate and had been the victims of their surroundings. It was believed that they were making a great effort to reform. Miss White had charge of the girls' cottage.

In the summer of 1910 there were at the Hospital for the Insane 520 men and 313 women. A number had been recently returned to their homes cured, but new patients were coming all the time, and the aggregate was steadily increasing. Every department required a large force of men and women attendants. Even the cooking required to feed this enormous number of people was a great under- taking and at times the expense of food was very high. The dairy department supplied 130 quarts of milk per day, and the committee believed that the dairy should be increased in size and usefulness. The new hospital for the women was already occupied and was a great benefit to the unfortunate women. The com- mittee believed that environment had much to do with the successful treatment of mental disease. The new building was planned particularly for this result. It was a quiet and beautiful place, surrounded with elevating influences. Improve- ments in every department were constantly going on, made necessary by so large an institution. The new laundry building was nearing completion. Great care in furnishing proper food and looking after sanitary conditions was exercised.

It was the duty of the women's committee to examine the conditions that affected the lives and welfare of the inmates of the state charitable and penal institutions. This they did with much care, intelligence and fairness. It was nec- essary for them to have high ideals, yet all should be practical. It was nec- essary for them to be broadminded, humane, just and advanced on all lines of human progress. This was the women's committee of 1910. They were Lydia R. Eastwood, president ; Emmer M. Cook, secretary ; and Carrie W. Cleveland.

The Soldiers' Home Investigating Committee of the Legislature in 1911 made not only an investigation, but likewise reached mature conclusions and made important recommendations. Their report was long and embraced the following points : (1) That the action of the home authorities in dismissing certain old soldiers was harsh, vindictive, unjustifiable and not in keeping with the spirit and purpose of the institution and that they should be reinstated; (2) that the action of the home authorities in discharging two other persons. was warranted by the facts disclosed, but on the other hand they asked for their readmission; (3) that certain others who had asked for admission and had been denied it, were deemed worthy of becoming members of the home; (4) that the treatment of certain others considering their condition should not be complained of; (5) that the suspension of certain others was warranted by existing rules which provided for suspension of habitual drunkards, but in the opinion of the committee some other method of treating this unfortunate class of individuals should be devised; (6) that no blame should in any way attach to anyone connected with the home for the condition surrounding their cases; (7) that the action of the commandant in ordering another member to vacate the room occupied by him as a barber shop was without any just cause and wholly unwarranted; (8) that the expenditure of the sum of $5,670.48 of the money appropriated for repairs to sewerage was wholly unwarranted, unauthorized and illegal; (9) that the members of the home Vol. III-41

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generally had been well treated, were comfortably quartered, were furnished with a sufficient quantity and vareity of wholesome food, had been given due necessary medical attendance, and appeared to be satisfied with the home; (10) that the many improvements which had been made to the buildings and grounds entitled the commandant to high commendation; (II) that in the opinion of the committee the unpleasant conditions which had existed at the home were due to a combi- nation of circumstances, a few of which were as follows: (a) That as the present law required that the members of the board of commissioners and the com- mandant of the home should be veterans of the Civl war, the selection of these men was necessarily confined to a class who averaged seventy-two years, and that it was desirable that younger and more active men should be thus chosen ; (b) that because the members of the home were considered residents and voters of the City of Hot Springs and were permitted to participate in all municipal elections, formed no small factor in bringing about conditions detrimental to the welfare of the home; (c) that the existing rule which permitted the suspension of members for periods ranging from 30 to 90 days should be changed, because they thus became public charges on the City of Hot Springs and Fall River County and therefore gave the citizens residing there just cause for complaint; (d) that inas- much as the local government of the home was military in character and as mili- tary rules and tactics prevailed to a large extent, these conditions were apt to lead to a severer and more arbitrary discipline than was intended for a home where the comfort of old men must be taken into consideration; (e) because the sub- ordinate positions in the home were mainly filled by men selected from the mem- bership, the condition was conducive to a feeling of rivalry, jealousy and discon- tent among the members. In conclusion, the committee recommended the enact- ment of such legislation as would change these unwise conditions.

This report was considered at length and in detail by the Legislature. On the whole it was deemed wise, because it was not drastic and was aimed to smooth all matters over at the home and place conditions in more satisfactory shape. The expenditure of the sum mentioned was a different matter. Over that ques- tion the Legislature fought for some time. Previous to the construction of the sewer system at the home the City of Hot Springs had notified the board that such system was a nuisance and a menace to the health and would sooner or later have to be condemned as it would cost about $17,000 to construct a new system over the distance of a mile and a quarter. The city made the proposition that for the consideration of $5,000 paid by the state, the sewer system of the home would be connected with that of the city and kept in repair as long as the institution was maintained. Attorney-General Clark approved of this plan at the time and upon his recommendation the board accepted the city's offer and the deal was carried through. This was the action that was called unauthorized and illegal by the investigating committee.

In August, 1911, the Soldiers' Home contained the largest number of mem- bers it ever did during any summer. There were present 371 persons while the capacity was only 300. This number included all who were quartered here, offi- cers and help as well as members. In view of the overcrowding, the board of managers notified every county auditor in the state that after August Ist, no applicant would be received except when there should be a vacancy. Each appli- cation was numbered and was considered in its turn. This action was imperative.

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in order to do justice to those who had been admitted. Under the administration of Colonel Orr the home at this time was popular and its affairs were being man- aged smoothly and satisfactorily.

While the Legislature was in session in 1911 and immediately after the in- vestigating committee had been to the home, the old soldiers there began to write and send telegrams to the members protesting against the bills in the House and Senate which sought to reorganize the board of control of the Soldiers' Home. They asked to have cut out the provision which required that the board and the commandant be not old soldiers, but be displaced with younger men, to eliminate the article which placed the home in control of a superintendent instead of a commandant. They claimed that this was their own institution, the only one they had in the state, and that therefore any movement which had for its object to take the control of the home away from the old soldiers should be abandoned.

The twelfth biennial report of the Board of Charities and Corrections was made in September, 1912, and presented a thorough exposition of the condition , of the state institutions at that time. Additional work was placed upon the board during this biennial period. The Sanitarium for Tuberculosis at Custer was placed under their charge. Inasmuch as the institution was new, much atten- tion was given it by the board. The first superintendent was Dr. R. E. Wood- worth of Sioux Falls. While the institution was started as an experiment to some extent, still there was felt even at the start a real need for such an estab- lishment in the state. In South Dakota as in other states, tuberculosis was on the increase and particularly was this true of the Indian tribes.

The law of 1911 provided that all buildings used for dormitory or custodial purposes for the charitable and penal institutions should be rendered absolutely fire-proof. The buildings already constructed at the Northern Hospital for the Insane at Redfield included a new infirmary and custodial building having a total capacity of 212 persons. In September, 1912, there were present 221 inmates. There was thus need for additional room at once. The board asked for a main building to cost not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, half to be made available in 1913 and the other half in 1914. They asked that work should be rushed in order to relieve the overcrowded condition at the institution, and suggested that the main building be erected first and the wings added later.

The board asked for additional improvements at the State Training School at Plankinton. They needed, also, apparatus for the department of domestic science and should have an additional teacher in that department. At this time the boys on the farm were rapidly learning how to take care of crops and care for live stock. They were engaged in farm work, garden work, the care of horses, cattle, hogs, poultry and dairying, in addition to the regular school work.

On July 1, 1912, the penitentiary had a population ranging from 239 to 192. During the previous biennial period there had been a total of 525 inmates of whom 313 were discharged, leaving therein June 30, 1912, 212. Nineteen were out on parole. The cost of maintenance per capita per day was a little over eighty cents. This seemed too high, but was mainly due to the unusually high cost of food stuffs, all of which had to be purchased. Another element which added to the per capita cost was the large number of prisoners who were sen- tenced here for short terms. During this period 126 prisoners with terms of one year and less had been received. The warden said : "It is not within my province

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to criticise the courts of our state on account of this, but it seems hard to brand a man with the disgrace of having served a prison sentence of three, four and six months or for periods of less than one year. Aside from the injustice and disgrace to the man himself, we must bear in mind the expenses to the state." He pointed out that the cost of bringing the prisoner to the penitentiary, his care there, the expense of setting him at liberty, greatly increased proportionately the per capita cost. At the time he was set free he was given a new suit of clothes, $5 in cash and transportation back to the point of sentence. All of this added to the per capita cost. A careful account kept of the food used by the prisoners showed a trifle less than fifteen cents' worth per day and the food of each guard averaged about forty cents per day. The difference between the actual cost per capita for sustenance and the actual cost of maintenance was charged to all expenses necessarily incurred in the upkeep of the entire institution. The peni- tentiary sold more than one thousand dollars' worth of garden products over and above what was required by the institution. The health of the inmates was good and was the result of constant watchfulness over the sanitary conditions. The discipline was never better, very few punishments being needed. The rules of the grading system were readily adhered to, and the honor system was used with excellent effect. Only one prisoner had escaped during the two years. The library was steadily growing from the sale of visitors' admission tickets. During the two years, a total of $3,570 was thus obtained and used for the purchase of books, magazines, etc. Regular religious services were held. Often the pris- oners were provided with musical entertainments. On December 4, 1911, an evening school was established to aid those who lacked a knowledge of the rudi- mentary branches. The school was a success from the start. Three sessions were held each week. It was continued until April 9, 1912, when a vacation was taken. Sixty-one sessions were held and three classes were taught at each session. The average attendance for the year was thirty. The teachers were chosen from the inmates and were successful in their methods. Not a single pupil was reported for misconduct or inattention to studies or to teachers. The pupils were mainly those who had practically no knowledge of the "three Rs," and in most cases were men well advanced in years. The expenses of the school were small compared to the excellent returns.

During this biennial period a large addition to the twine warehouse was built from the local endowment funds at a cost of about nine thousand dollars. The east cell hall was renovated, repaired and furnished. This building contained fifty-six cells, and its construction was necessary in order to permit the segrega- tion of prisoners. Young prisoners were separated from old offenders. Several of the old buildings formerly used for farm purposes were sold and the proceeds placed to the credit of the local and endowment fund. The shirt factory was a source of large revenue to the state. The average number of employes therein for the period was ninety. The total net earnings for this department in two years was $20,653.11, or an average net earning of $229.47 for each man employed. In the twine factory there was on hand July 1, 1910, twine valued at $95,279.38. During the biennial period there was purchased fiber amounting to $141,919.85; twine, oil and degras, $5,233.41 ; bags, $5,820.43; tags, $157.39; total, $153,131.08. The net twine sales for the biennial period ending June 30, 1912, was $117,454.64.

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Owing to the severe crop conditions in 1910-II the twine department was not as prosperous as it would have been under other circumstances. During 191I it was necessary to close the factory for several months and another start was not made until January 1, 1912. This shutting down was due to the fact that the management did not care to manufacture a large stock of twine which could not be sold. When the plant was first started there were less than five hundred thou- sand pounds of twine manufactured for the season of 1909, as the plant did not begin operation until March 17th of that year; then the expense of getting started and the delays cut down the profits for the first year. However, from the time the plant was started until June 30, 1912, the twine factory had paid a profit of $42,189.18, which was added to the twine plant revolving fund. The plant was established, not with the object of making a large profit to the state for the manufacture of twine, but with the idea that the farmers might reap the benefit of the industry and the inmates might be given an opportunity to work and earn something for the state. When the management ascertained that a large amount of the twine would be left on hand unsold, they determined to install a rope factory and to use the twine in the construction of ropes. Large quantities of this product were made and were placed on the market. This was the condition in the spring of 1912. During the summer farming operations were so success- ful throughout the state that every pound of twine was sold from the institution by August 15th, and the plant was working at its full capacity in order to keep up the small orders which came in every mail. It was estimated that this factory had saved to the farmers over fifty thousand dollars as the difference in price between the twine manufactured here and that supplied by the twine companies.

During the two years fifty-three prisoners were paroled from the penitentiary with results that were very satisfactory. With a few exceptions, all the paroled prisoners reported regularly and had done well. Many complied faithfully with the terms of their parole until the end of their prison term and were then dis- charged. In August, 1912, there were on parole nineteen prisoners, all of whom reported regularly and were prosperous. Two men out on parole violated their paroles, escaped and were still at large. During this biennial period the inde- terminate sentence was placed in operation. Eleven prisoners had been dis- charged and one paroled under the provision of this law. The law suited the penitentiary authorities, who believed that it would accomplish all its framers expected. At this date O. S. Swenson was warden.

The Hospital for the Insane at Yankton was well managed and prosperous during the biennial period ending June 30, 1912. The notable and melancholy feature about this institution was the rapid and steady increase in the number of insane people who desired care and treatment. More people were received, more died, more were discharged recovered than during any other biennial period. For the first year of this period, nearly 32 per cent of the number admitted were discharged as recovered. For the second year 341/2 per cent of the number were discharged recovered. During the first year 8.7 per cent of all people under treatment died and during the second year 5.2 per cent died. At the end of the biennium seventy-two more people were in the institution than at the beginning. This increase was not as great as had been expected. During this period the building known as the barracks was completed. Here were cared for eighty of the more restless of the more mildly demented patients. During

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this period also the new well was completed and the reservoir and water plant with a capacity of 700,000 gallons were finished. Over this was erected the Industrial Building, where there were rooms for forty-four employes. In every department improvements for the safety, convenience and happiness of the unfor- tunate inmates had been made. The state was doing its full duty at this time to care for these helpless people. They were surrounded with every influence to make their lives endurable. The great increase in the cost of living required the utmost economy on the part of the management, but the institution kept faithfully and rigidly within the limit of its appropriations. During this period the per capita allowance of $16 per month had been sufficient, but owing to the increased care and the advance in prices of all kinds, the superintendent asked that the limit be increased to $17 per month. He also asked for an addition to the hospital farm, as the land already owned was not sufficient for the labor of the inmates. The superintendent secured option on a quarter section of land lying directly south of the hospital, the purchase price being $20,000. In 1911 the Legislature, although requested to do so, did not purchase this property; no one questioned the wisdom of doing so. Now, in 1912, it was more urgent than ever that this tract should be purchased. Unless the growth of the institution was in some way checked, the purchase of more land would be absolutely necessary within a comparatively short time. Two years before, the superintendent had recommended the improvement of the section of land owned by the state near Watertown and the speedy erection there of a Hospital for the Insane to sup- plement the institution at Yankton. This had not been done and accordingly, in 1912, the superintendent again urged this step with emphasis. This was urged unless the Yankton institution should be greatly enlarged, so that from two thousand to three thousand persons could be cared for. Since the latter was not done, it was only a question of a short time when a new institution would have to be built or the insane throughout the state could not be given the proper care. He recommended that the new institution at Watertown should be prepared with a capacity of 1,200 inmates and that not less than two hundred thousand dollars should be devoted to setting that institution in operation. The superintendent stated that he had no doubt that within twenty years, at the present rate of growth, three insane institutions as large as the one at Yankton would be needed. He further suggested that one such institution should be located in the Black Hills region. He thought it should be placed near Rapid City where irrigated farming could be secured. The Insane Hospital at Yankton recognized the im- portance of fire-proof buildings, and the superintendent expressed gratification over the passage of the law by the last Legislature requiring and making com- pulsory the construction of fire-proof structures. He called particular attention to the development and growth of the herd of dairy cattle belonging to the insti- tution. At this time they had fifty-five pure bred registered Holstein cattle. He thought the herd should be increased until in a short time they would have 150 cows, so that the institution could not only supply itself with the milk needed, but could make its own butter. He called attention to the economy of this course, when it was considered that the proper ration of butter was one pound per capita per week. With a population of 1,200 people and butter at 25 cents per pound, the expenditure of the hospital for butter was in one year $15,600. In view of this fact it would be much better and cheaper to increase the herd and increase the size of the farm rather than to buy the butter, particularly in view of the fact

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 90

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146