What to Do?
Despite taxpayer assistance, conditions at the Brookville residence generally fell short of what Samuel Jones had envisaged. Moreover, with no reliable surplus for capital improvements, the 1866 home could not keep up with the rapidly changing times. As late as July 1899, it had no running water, and no wells. For purposes of drinking, cooking, and sanitation, the residents - at that point, the total number fluctuated between 100 and 125 - had to transport barrels of untreated pond water (!) across the property. That year, State inspectors ordered that proper plumbing and bath facilities be built for the residents. Some taxpayers grumbled at having to pay for this effort to make the inmate's living conditions a little less sub-standard.
By the turn of the twentieth century, everyone knew that life in the old residence was already intolerable, and it was getting worse.
The Hempstead Sentinel
September 15, 1910
It was supposed to be all about them.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 3, 1910
As the laments and complaints continued to appear in the press, people finally began to consider making a change.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 21, 1909
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 20, 1911
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In hindsight, it took a remarkably long time for the situation to be resolved. In part, the lack of expediency may have been due to the public's poor understanding of the legal framework within which the Jones Fund functioned. Well-intended citizens and officials often put forth suggestions, some of which seemed excellent - except insofar as they were in conflict with that fundamental framework. For example, the Town Supervisors could not simply create a new policy, or divert funds to address a problem. Although the Institute reached a point at which taxes were its primary source of income, the managers of the Jones Fund governed policy, and even their hands were tied in some ways. The constraints written into Samuel Jones's will, and afterwards enshrined by the State of New York, were practically immutable. Good Mr. Jones had died slowly, and he had had plenty of time to think things through.
Please see the Appendix to this article for additional thoughts on this topic.
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