The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-12-07

with those who by their misfortunes have
descended to the lowest thoughts and
habits possible for human beings; so that
from this cause many patients of the FORM
er class are under the necessity of being
provided for by their friends without the
State, institutions which are more Judi
ciousiy arranged. The basement, which
was Intended for patients of certain des-
crlption, and which perhaps is one of the
structure, from its excessive dampness and
wretched ventilation is totally untitled for
habitation. The domitories also, or rather
! calls, for they can hardly be dignifed
with name implying convenience and
comfort, are hot large enough for person
i'll health, still less arc they adapted to a
class who, from one of the pecuIiarities of
their disease, require greater amount of
! pure air. Their dimensions are six feet
by eight, and ten feet in hight, affording
! only 3S4 cubic feet Of air, which by per-
sons scientifically and practically acquaint-
ed with tie treatment of insanity is re-
! gardcd rs but little mcra than half
enough.
From the confined limits of the grou I'D,
/ IL the necessity for fresh air and exercise
for the inmates ofthe Asylum, permission
has been given TO n portion of them to
walk on the public highway and in the
street under careful restrictions; but such
liberty has always been attended with
results so unpleasant and in furious, that
the authorities have been forced to limit
their movement TO circumscribed courts
OF Il single acre Of ground, where ITO
patients are assembled. and so shut in hv
building and wall us almost to exclude
from them the 0ure air of heaven, and
mue Irom Iner view us ulue say.
| The institution has been manpIcd, in
my opinion, with great iudgcmcn: anc
ability. believe that no body of Regents
in amy Asylum are more able or enlight-
encd in their views Il an those who pre-
side over the affairs of this. | believed
them to be active and benevolent in the
discharge Of their duties. So also with
the Physician and Superintendent. They
make tie best use of the means and ap-
! pllanccs which are afforded them. But
under more favorable legislation at your
hands hey can achieve more. 1t is an
"sccrtained fact that, in property con
Structcd building, located in the country,
with sufficient area Of ground about il,
| and other advantages known to scientific
men, the rate of cure is about fifty to sixty
per cent. Under circumstances the re-
verse of these, the rate is only about %
! per cent Is not this then an occasion
FIR the exercise of your Lenefcent and
liberal interposition?
| | SnbD. II 4 , ,n,, 4
Of removing the Asylum to some conve.
nient IL healthy country location near the
! town, and give To the insane habitation
constructed upon newer and better prin-
ciples, which shall he TO them n comfort
able and agreeable residence, where their
happiness and health can he promoted bv
proper classification with other great
advantages Enable them TO enjoy tkn
fresh air, the sky, and the perceptions to
be derived from the cultivation of trees
and flowers, and 70 see nature in her
thousand pleasant: forms. Enable their
guardians to induce them to take an in.
trrst NJ sIr founding agreeable objects,
! and insensihIy to WOO their minds from
the contemplation Of the, secret sources Of
their own excited fancics, and be promo
ting their innocent and admissible pleas
nres prevent them from broodiug in hope
less despondercy upon that chaos Of IDEAS,
when momentary CLEANS of intelligence
| only serve TO make more terrible to
! them.
During the pa,t year the sum of $780,
600 was appropriate to YOU to cnlargo
the Asylum. \ portion, believe about
$4,000, has been expended in providing
temporary Accommodations without the
walls. \ moderate appropriation by the
State annually, with the sum already in
the hands of the Regents, will in the course
OF few years erect new and impaoved
buildings, in a situation better adapted to
the ends in view. Wien such a new
building has been made 10 progress to-
wards completion, the State can be rcfun.
ded to the extent OF a portion of It's outlay
By the sale OF the present Asylum pro.
perty which is valuable, and becoming
more SO daily, with the increase in the
value of real estate in the town.
At your last session IN appropriation of
Fifty Thousand Dollars was made for The
continuation of the construction of the
new Capitol, and during the past year the
work has progressed to an extent com
mensurate with the amount appropriated
The plans have all been perfected by the
skill of Il competent architect, who has
lso the supervision with the Commission
Of the whole work. Ample ard convc-
nient arrangements arc made for all the
departments Of the State Government, and
the building, when completed, will be one
OF the most elegant, comInodious and
desirable in the Union. Every improve
ment which modern skill has devised has
been Incorporated in the plans. The
granite Of which it is constructe ! is found
IN great abundance convenient to the work.
If completed upon the plans already de-
termned upon, (at cost in INV Judge
ment by no means uHroasonable,) this cd.
iiice will be fresh in its massive strength
and beauty when many generations shall
have passed away, and will remain for
ages monument Of your taste, State
pride, and liberality. recommend sucl,
liberal appropriations rs will warrant an