Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-01-23

prosperous condition and only lacks til
proper accommodations to answer all Il,
reasonable desires Of tho friends Of the inst
ton and of the children in charge. I re,
omn,end that this Institution be permanent
established at some point in tbs State, On
that steps be taken to erect o proper arylu
building.
The pupils at the Blind Asylum, are 90 fs
that it does not seem necessary to ,aaintai
an institution for their instruction. The
can be educated by the Ststa in sinilar in
stitntions elsewhere, at less expense than
now annually appropriated for this pnrpos,
am pleased to be able to say that til
hospital for the insane at Mount Pleasar
has advanced rapidly towards completion
and can be made ready for occupancy durin
the present year. The main rear projection
embracing the kitchen, bakery, wsshrooms
laundry, chapel, dining room, servant
room, &c, is under roof, and can be plas
tered in the early spring. The whole eas
half of the building can be raised to th
roof in thirty days, the material being nov
all upon the ground. The west half 10 raiset
| to the bottom of the second story windows
and considerable portion of the stone re.
quired for the completion of this wing il
also prepared and upon the ground.
The whole work is of the most substan
tial character: the plan of the structure
meets the appreciation of all who are famil.
lar with the treatment of insane persons
and | think hazard nothing in saying thai
when completed the hospital will be credit,
able to the State.
The amount already expended, including
labor, materials of various descriptions on
hand, glass, sash and window frames for the
entire building, stock, &C., is $138, 8,548.01
The estimates of amounts that may he nec-
essary to complete the building, out build
ings, furnish steam, gas and water, and 70
prepare the hospital grounds, will be found
in the report of the commissioners, here
with communicated.
1t may be thought by some that the size
of this building is greater than the necessi-
ties of the State require, and more expensive
than the finances OF the State will Justify.
In response to such suggestions, / beg
leave TO say that there are now insane peo-
pie enough in the State to fill it to tho ut
most capacity, and that, while it has thus
far been most substantially built, no money
has been spent, nor does the plan oontem-
plate she expenditure of any, for useless I'm
ish or adornment. When it is remembered
that each patient requires {. separato dorma-
tory, enclosed by brick walls, thus raqui-
ring three hundred Rooms for the inmates
alone that there are day rooms end associ-
ated dormitories: dining rooms, washrcoins,
bathing-roons and walec-olosets, in each Of
the sixteen wards that there must necessa-
riy De large accommodations for baking,
cooking, washing, ironing. &C.. &c, toc g
household of nearly four hundred persons,
the magnitude of the building ard its
cost will not be surprising.
10 one who examines the census returns
of this STATE for 1856, and informs himself
of the proportion Of insane cases that be-
come chronic an,l iucursble when treated as
they now are in this State to the proportion
that are cured when sent Immediately to an
asylum, will hesitate to believe that human
ity, economy and safety require that this in~
stitution should be Immediately completed
and hereafter literally supported.
1t will be necessary foT the General AS
sembly to determine upon what system the
Hospital, when completed, shall be conduct
ed. At present there is norrovision f r the
admission of patients, and it will be neees-
sary to declare upon what conditions they
can be received, and who shall have the
general supervision of the interests Of the
institution.
In compliance with the instructions OF the
General Assei: bly,, have caused the report
of the Geological Survey of the State to be
printed at Albany, New York, under the i'm
m, diate supervision of Prof. Hall. The
work has been issued from the press, and is
:,,% TO r1ooo l v,oaocol
to be able to say that it is regarded by men
of science, who have had access to the proof
sheets, As one of the noblest contributions
that has ever been made TO the scientific
history of the country, and is spoken of by
all as an honor to our State.
NV successor will submit to you, during
the session, the estimates of Messrs. Hall &
Whitney for carrying forward the work t"
There are now several Independent militia
ry companies in the State, to whom State
arms have been distributed. Many of the
companies are uniformed, fully equipped, and
we'll disciplined. Yet, there is no law of the
State under which they are organized, or
that would strictly authorize the Executive
authority to call them into the field, i'll cases
requiring their services.
The experience of the past year has dom
onstrateG the necessity for some military or
ganization in the State, and therefore com.
mend the subject to your consideration.
Accompanying this communication you
will receive the report of the Treasurer of
State.
The amount in the Treasury on the
3Ist October, 1856, was $ll,2s4 ol
There WAS paid inio the Treasury
during the fsca! year 231,2s4 AZ
Making total of $247.4s9 So
There was paid out during the year, 22S,6U8 23
Leaving balance in the treasury at
the end Of the year of 1883 10
There is in arrears from the several
County Trrasurers s1,4o1 "a
There is due from The several enun-
ties upon the assessment Of 1851, 4lS,7Os SO
The AUDITOR of State estimates the
taxes for the year 1858 at 5000 90
The estimate for 1859 is 575,C00 90
Total resources Of the State to JAN
uary, 1860, when the next q, ntral
Assembly eonvenes, $l.sss,794 os
The Auditor estimates he expenses
of the State during the same peri
There are outstanding
Auditor, warranls, 1tS, eos IS - S79 40 46
Leaving an excess Of resources over
present and probable liabilities Of $Sol ,3S5 II
The expenses of the State during the two
past years have been greatly increased by
the extra session OF the General Assembly in
July, 1865, rendered necessary by the grant
of land to the State for railroad purposes, by
the recent constitutional convention, and by
the erection of a hospital for the Insane At
Mount Pleasant. The amount expended for
these three purposes exceed the sum Of two
hundred thousand dollars.
1t VIII be observed that the estimate Of resources
for the years of 1858 and 1859 is based upon the
snppositiun that the present of State taxation
shall be continued. 1t will be f.r til. General As
semb!y to determine whether or NOT this rate Of
taxation shall be adhered to. II is believed that