The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-08-25

necton with 1t for nearly two years. yet, when saw
the attempt made last year TO make the Asylum an
element in the political canvass, advised the Com
missioners to responsibility 10 connection
with it, and let the blame for its non-conplton fall
where 1t belongs.
think have shown that the Asylum estab-
lshed, the Commissioners appointed, and the plan
for the building approved by the Legislature Of which
one branch democratic and the other anti demo-
cratic and that all appropriations for the work done
upon IL were voted for by memhers ofal parties with
out the slightest regard to their Official predec.
tions And thus falls to the ground the charge that
any political party Is responsible. as party, for
anything that has been done in connection with the
Insane Asylum. II the Commissioners have been
guilty of any malfeasance nis-feasance, n they
have perpetrated fraud upon t- State upon indi-
vidua let them be made to respond for II before the
proper tribunals. I have heard no charge OF this
kind. II they have managed imprudently, unwisely,
that will be proper subject of comment when they
become candidates before the people. But do, as
citizen, protest against the precedent sought to
be established of making the humane Institutions Of
the State shuttecocks to be Knocked back and forth
between the two political parties. .... w.. q
have made this statement that the people may
know the exact facts with regard the Asylum, and
not by way of an apology. am proud Of my connec.
necton with that institution, and the time s not re-
mote when the democratic party will be proud that
their representatives stand unanimously recorded
in it, favor. .- .rE-Ea #A H.5s.H ...s ...s y,
Oae werd more. ] read last year, In the speech Of
a candidate for State Office, statement that the
Asy lum established by the Commissioners at Mt.
Pleasant especially for my benefit a large real
in that city and its vicinity The Law Of
the State already cited shows that The location
made by the General Assembly, and the records Of
Henry county will show to whoever examines them,
that never owned but one lot in Mt Pleasant which
sold long before the Insane Asylum established
there, and that do not, and did, any prop
erty in the vicinity Of that Mace 1t must have
quired very fertile Imagination to conceive the idea
that the proximity of Lunatic Asylum would en-
nance the value Of real estate. r
JAMES W. GRIMES.
Burlington, Aug. 17th, 1889 1Yf0Hi Eef5a1
nss. . MT. PHEASANT. Aug. IA, 1859.
DEAR srn-In answer to your inquiries of this date,
will say, that am acquainted with all the Insane
Asylums north Of the Potomac and Ohio riverstheir
cost, size, plans, odations, &C., and well
satisfied that of them is thoroughly construc-
ted as the Iowa Asylum, Of them has been built
for little money In proportion to it's accommoda-
tions and no one OF them contains many improve
ments upon older asylums. The Northampton IN ass
Asylum built the general plan with this, Of
the same sse and at the same time, cost more than
this Will when completed and this viii certainly ne
worth &75 900 than that DR.. l.. " Bell so long
connected with the McLane Asylum of Massachusetts,,
its Superintendent, visited this last week. and a
thoroughly examining It, pronounced II to he incom-
parably better than the Northampton institution.
This Asylum will accommodate when completed,
about three hundred and sixty patients. The amount
already expended upon IL for all purposes whatever,
including barn, out-buildings, machinery, cattle,
horses, &C., &C., is $232, 900 The building is nearly
completed. The part, including all that part
designed for domestic purposes is entirely finished
The half of the building is finished and all the
doors and windows ready to be put up. The entire
Asylum building, aside from the heating apparatus
and some iron pipes for the water closets be thor
oughly completed, according to the original plans,
for &2O,0OO. ...
This Asylum has been visited by several Superjn-
tendents of Asyums in other States AMI has been
nounced by every of them cry superior in its
structure aud nish and all expressed their surprise
that much had been accomplished at small AN
expense.
According to my information, and my for
correct information this subject are very good,
there are quite enough insane people IN the stare 10
fill the Asylum to its utmost capacity. There have
been nearly one hundred applications for admission
already made to from remote parts Of the state,
and no applications have been made from the most
populous counties where 1t was known that the Asy-
lum not completed
will say In answer IN your other inquiry, that
never employed or discharged man on account Of
his politics. never inquired as to the politics Of any of
the employed and never, either directly or indi
recty, attempted to influence the vote Of and Of
them. ] am very truly yours. &C.
... .- -.e HEsRY WNsLOw.