CHEMUNG COUNTY ALMSHOUSE, BREESPORT, N. Y.

WILLIAM VAN DUZER, Superintendent.

This almshouse has been greatly improved since last report. A new administration building of brick, three stories high, has been built. A steam heating plant, furnishing warmth for the north building, was installed, and the laundry improved. Besides these improvements, some old structures which had outlived their usefulness were torn down. It is anticipated that a large cistern, which will receive the rainwater from the sev eral buildings, will be constructed near the laundry. In addi tion to this, the reservoir upon the hillside is to be doubled in capacity. This will prove a good measure for the general safety of the institution.

There is ample space in some of the buildings connected with this almshouse to provide room for such of the county charges as now have to be cared for at Amityville and similar places. Pending the transfer to State care of the epileptics, idiots and feeble-minded persons who have to be supported by the county. it is proposed by the county superintendent and supervisors to domicile them in the available buildings. Such a step would result in considerable saving to the county, but it should only be taken to bridge over the time until the State institutions can receive all of these dependents.

An improvement in the water service in this institution is needed to secure its safety against the danger of fire. To render the water supply available, fire risers and connected hose should be placed in all the halls of the buildings.

The dietary is generally satisfactory and sufficient. A considerable supply for the table is raised by the labor of the inmates in the gardens, and consequently there is variety in the daily meals.

CHENANGO COUNTY ALMSHOUSE, PRESTON, N. Y.

RICHARD C. QUINN, Superintendent.

The group of buildings which constitutes the almshouse of Chenango county is located on high ground about four miles from the village of Norwich. The institution will accommodate about 100 inmates, and the estimated value of the property is $30,000. The main building is in good order.

Recently a masonry reservoir, holding about 750 barrels of water, was constructed, and a gas plant supplying 100 lights installed.

In this almshouse the dairy contains 20 cows giving milk, and the inmates are supplied with all the milk and butter they need.

The hospital is in the main building, a room with accommodations for eight patients being set apart for each sex. A small building in the rear of the main almshouse is used as a dormitory for the feeble-minded and idiotic. A number of this class should be sent to the State institutions as soon as possible.

CORTLAND COUNTY ALMSHOUSE, CORTLAND, N. Y.
D. W. PORTER, Keeper.

Some minor repairs, especially to the asylum building, were made to this almshouse during the year, but the matter of fire protection by the provision of chemical fire extinguishers and increase of water storage and supply has been left unattended to by the supervisors. As this institution is lighted by kerosene oil lamps, there is greater necessity for special attention to safety in the event of fire. There are practically no precautions against fire, for the twenty hand grenades distributed about the buildings would be useless in case of an outbreak. The safety of the inmates is not assured by fire-escapes, and there is only one stairway from each upper floor in the buildings devoted to men and women. Escape from the second floor to the keeper's quarters and other parts of the buildings might be had across a tin roof, but the exit would be through a window and directly at the head of a stairway leading to the floor below, so that a fire breaking out in the lower part of the hall at the foot of the stairway would prevent the use of this window. Fortunately, the number of inmates is not large.

At the time of inspection everything was found clean and in good order. The food was seen to be well cooked, served in sufficient quantity and varied in its character. The inmates were apparently contented with their home and with the treatment they receive from the attendants.

DELAWARE COUNTY ALMSHOUSE, DELHI, N. Y.
GEORGE B. SMITH, Superintendent.

This almshouse is pleasantly located, a short distance from Delhi, in a situation of great natural beauty. All the buildings are kept in good repair and are well painted inside and outside. Steel ceiling in the dining-room and a milk cooler are the recent improvements; and in addition material is now on hand for the extension of the steel ceiling to the other rooms.

A well kept dairy is connected with this institution, and as a consequence the inmates receive butter and milk at every meal. There are 42 cows which belong to the institution, and from these during the last year $1,000 worth of milk was sold to a neighboring creamery.

MADISON COUNTY ALMSHOUSE, EATON, N. Y.

S. A. CURTIS, Superintendent.

At the time of the last visitation the grounds and buildings were found in a commendable degree of cleanliness. Some useless small buildings which had long encumbered the grounds.

near the building devoted to men were removed during the year, a new corn crib was erected, and the telephone at last installed. It is expected that in the near future a new laundry with proper machinery will be purchased, as a committee of the board of supervisors has the matter under consideration.

Twenty-eight cows furnish milk for the institution, and all the products of the dairy are used for the benefit of the inmates, which is a proof that so far as diet is concerned the inmates are well cared for.

The former asylum building, which was renovated last year, was not occupied up to the time of the preparation of this report, but it is expected that soon it will be again put into service.

OTSEGO COUNTY ALMSHOUSE, COOPERSTOWN, N. Y.

A. W. WEBER, Superintendent.

This institution is one of the oldest in the State. The main building is of stone and is two stories in height, with a basement. To the north of this main structure stands another stone building of the same height, used as the women's dormitory. The men have a three-story wooden building, with an addition. All the buildings are only in fair condition, needing many repairs to floors and walls.

A recent improvement was in the way of plastering in the men's buildings. Besides this a new shingle roof was put on one building.