The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-09-10


! hundred. II !hls years. census Of the State
therefore, shows that we have seven hun
dred thousand people, as it is reported, WI
ought to have accomm odatisns for FIVE hun
dred lunatics. In 1856 the census taken die
not accurately distinguished between imbe
cilitv, dementia and iunacv, bat our proper
tion Of insane people then according to th'
former population, was three hundred ant
seventy out of population OF five hundred
and nineteen thousand. These facts vii
show whether the AsyluA is too large.
ITS ARRANGEMENT AND FlSIsH.
have never heard it charged that AM
money had been unnecessarily expended II
| finishing or decorating the Asylum. II is 4
plain. substantial structure, with an iror
roof as near fire-proof as it could well bt
made, with very plain and cheap fnisl
both inside and out, and embracing all the
valuable modern Improvements. The North.
ampton, Mass. Asylum, built of brick, al
/ the same time with this and on the same plan
cost more tt an this will when completed
and those who have examined both say tha,
the Iowa ASYLUM will be intrinsically worth
at least SI5, 600 the most. On this subject
| call attentian to the letter of Mr.. Winslow
of the l4tssnst.
WHO ADVOCATED AND VOTED APPROPRIATIONS
| FOR IT.
| No one ever conceived the idea Of connect
ing the Asylum with politics until last year.
Every appropriation that has been made fol
| it has been advocated and voted for by the
most prominent men of both political par
| ties in the General Assembly. Such demo-
Gratis rs Coolbaugh, Brigham, Allen, fisher,
Stewart. Trimble, Belknap, Samuels,
Clarke, Tracy, Love, have invariably advo-
Gated and voted for the highest aPpropra
tons that were named. As legislators they
have exhibited a humane and commendable
zeal for the success of the institution, and
one of them, my neighbor, and Immediate
representative, has been freely consulted,
and has as freely given his advice in re-
gard to every material act OF the commits
sloners.
WHEN WILL IT IE COMPLETED
A large part is already finished, another
large part is nearly completed, and the whole
can be speedily finished at q comparatively
small expense. 1t was thought that the ap-
preparation last made would be sufficient,
but it fell short. The former Commission
and ofHcial, in the hope that the building
would be prepared for the reception of pa
tients before this time. Their successors
would have done the same but for this fool
ish attempt to mingls politics with the Asy-
lum and its management. Although | haye e
had no official connection with it for nearly
two years. vet, when saw the attempt made
last year to make the Asylum an element in
the political canvass, advised the Commis-
sioners to assume no responsibility in con-
nection with it, and let the blame for its
non completion fall where it belongs.
think have shown Aat the Asylum was
Established, the Commissioners appointed,
and the plans for the building approved by
A Legislature Of which one branch was dem
ocratic and the other anti democrat, and
that all appropriations for the work done
upon il, were voted for by members of all
parties, without the slightest regard to their
political predictions. And thus falls to
the GROUND the charge that any political
party is responsible. as party, for any
thing that has been done in cO2ncc:!c. w!;h
the Insane Asylum. If the Commissioners
have been guilty of malfeasance or msfea-
sanc", if they have perpetrated a fraud up
on the State, or upon individuals, let them
be made to respond for it before the proper
tribunals. | have heard no charge Of this
kind. If they have managed imprudentlv.
unwisely, that will be a proper subject Of
comment when they become candidates be-
fore the people. But DO, as citizen,
protcs. against the precedent now sought
to be established of making the humane in
situations of the State, shuttlecOcks to be
knocked back ard forth between the two
political parties.
have made this statement thai tic pco-
De may know the exact facts in regard to
the Asylum. and not by way of apology. !
am proud Of my connection with that insti-
tuition, and the time is not remote when the
democratic party will be proud that their
representatives stand SO unanimously re-
corded in its favor.
One word more. read last year, in the
speech Of caAdidate for State Office, a
statement that the Asy um was established
By the Commissioners, ut Mt. Pleasant spe-
cialIy for my benefit rs large owner Of
real estate in that city and its vicinity. The
law Of tho State already cited, shows that
the location was made by the General AS
.sembly, an! the records Of Henry County
Will show. to whoever examines them, that
never owrcd but one lot in Mt. Pleasant,
which sold lonG before the Insane Asylum
was established there, and that do not,
and never did, own any property in the Vi
vinity Of that place. 1t rust have required
Il very fertile imagination to conceive the
idea that the proximity of Luuatic Asylum
would enhance the value of real estate.
JAMES W. GRIMES.
Burling:on, iuy. l1th, 1859.