The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-10-06

4
to lay it before the General Assembly
and secure its approval and adoption, j
possible, for the Iowa Institution. Ii
the maan time, however, they proceeded
with the excavation for the foundation
made some brick, quarried some rock
ETC., but did nothing by which the State
would be injured thousand dollars, i
the Legislature should see fit to disap
prove their action and reject the plan
they proposed. The General Assembly
of the State was convened in extra ses-
sion on the ed day of July, 1856, which
was before the foundation Of the Asylum
building was laid. The Commissioners
appeared before the Committee of the
Legislature with their plans and specif-
cations, the merits and probable cost OF
the whole thing were thoroughly canvass
ed, and an additional appropriation was
asked, not because the money would be
needed before the next regular session of
the Legislature, but as an endorsement of
the recommendations of the Commission
ers. This endorsement was made, and
an additional appropriation OF $50, 900
was voted by this same Democratic Sem
ate, still presided over by Maturin l..
Fisher, with only one vote in opposition.
{ See Lags Of ertra Session 1856, page
80. The journals of the Senate and
House of Representatives would indicate
that there were no dissenting voice, for
there was not opposition enough in either
body to demand the ayes and nays. { See
Seaate Journal cf extra Session 1856,
page rs, and House Journal same session. J
There was, however one man in the Sem
ate and three in the House of Represent
atives. who declined TO support the prop
osition, and there were no more.
SIZE OF THE BUILDING.
Very erroneous notions seem to prevail
in regard to the size of the building. It's
magnitude seems to increase in
proportion to the distance that one re-
cedes from it.
The Asylum, when completed. will
accommodate about three hundred and
sixty patients, the largest number that
those who have devoted their lives to the
care of mental diseases, say should be
congregated under the same roof. If
gentlemen who are so clamorous about
its size will refer to the United States GEN.
sus of 1850, they will discover that the
of insane people in our entire
was one in fourteen hundred.
If this years census of the State there
fore, shows that we have seven hundred
thousand people, as it is reported, we
ought to have accommodations for FIVE
hundred lunatics. In 1856 the census
taken did not accurately distinguish be-
tween imbecilitA, dementia and lunacy,
but our proportion Of insane people then
according to the former population, was
three hundred and seventy out of pop
alation of five hundred and nineteen
thousand. These facts will show wheth-
er the Asylum is too large.
IT'S ARRANGEMENT AND FINISH.
| have never heard it charged that any
money had been unnecessarily expended
IN finishing or decorating the Asylum.
It is plain, substantial structure, with
IN iron roof, as near tireproof as it could
we'll be made. with very plain and
cheap finish, both inside and out, and
embracing all the valuable modern i'm
orcvements. The Northampton, Massa-
,husetts Asylum, built of brick, at the !
same time with this and on the same plan,
cost more than this will when compile ed,
md those who have examined both saw
hat the Iowa Asylum will be intrinsical-
y worth at least S75,O the most. On
his subject | call attention to the letter
If Mr.. Winslow, of the 18th inst. /
WHO ADVOCATED AND VOTED ApPRopRIA- /
TIoSs FOR IT.
No one ever conceived the idea of con-
lecting the Asylum with politics until
ast year. Every appropriation that has
been made for it has been advocated and /
Toted for by the most prominent men of
10Th political parties in the General AS
embly. Such Democrats as Coolbaugh, /
Brigham, Allen, Fisher. Stewart, Trim
Die, Belknap, Samuels, Clarke, Tracy,
love, have invariably advocated and vo- I
ed for the highest appropriations that
we're named As Legislators they have
humane and commendable !
eal for the success Of the institution, and
me of them. my neighbor and ;mmedi-
tie representative, has been freely con-
ulted, and hasas freely given his advice
Il regard to eyerv material act Of the I