The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-01-11

basement stories OF the extentions of
the Lunatic Asylums at Newburgh
and Dayton have been built, and the
additions when completed, will he
harmonious with the original designs
and plans, and will 80 greatly in
crease the capacity OF those institu.
tions, that l am hopeful that large
proportion OF the chronic insane who
are now enduring n wretched exist.
cnce In The County Poor Houses, may
lind accommodates in them. The
condition of this unfortunate class Is
graphically described in the Repor,
of the Surgeon General, TO which
Earnestly beg your attention. Those
OF them who are simply dcmentcd
and at all times harmless, may per.
haps be as we'll provided for in the
County lntirmaries as elsewhere, but
those who are subject To- fits of mania,
who tear oil their own clothing, and
attempt violence upon their attend
ants or upon themselves, will always
be found reduced to the condition OF
mere beasts in a cage, unless they
are brought under the systematic
and scientific treatment which can
only be obtained in the regularly or.
ganized asylums. believe the
Medical Superintendcnts of our In
sane Asylums generally agree that
the present system in use in this
State is all that is necessary, If the
scale OF accommodations be so in.
Creased rs to receive the additional
numbers, and that the classification
of patients can be more satcfactori.
ly made under it, than by an erection
of scpcratc asylums for incurabIes
1t is expected that statistics ON this
subject will be laid before you early
in the session, and your humanity
will prompt you to efficient action.
The new asylum for Idiotic child.
ren, has so far progressed, that the
general feature, OF the design may be
seen. Without sacrificing economy
in arrangement oil material, the plan
selected by the Trustees combines a
dignity of form and well chosen
grouping of the parts of the building
which will make it one of the mos,
attractive OF our public institutions
in appearance, and one which will
undoubtedly he exceedingly well
adapted to its uses.
The Trustees Of the Institution for
the Blind will lay before you their
reasons for concluding that the plan
contemplated last year OF building
an addition to the Asylum would moi
produce satisfactory results.
The Asylum for Deaf and Dumb
approaches completion under the
care of the able Superintendent and
Architect originally (cntrusted with
the work. His report is appended
hereto and furnishes full details OF
the progress of construction and the
estimates for its completion. The
great advantages Of the ample room
provided in the design, and its neces.
sity in view of the increase of the
class educated there, are now appar.
ent. The crowded condition Of the
old building calls for haste in the
completion of the work, and as a
portion OF it can properly go on dur
ing the winter, / would Recommend
q partial appropriation at an early
day so.that the labor may not be sus-
pended.
In addition to the buildings erect
ed by the State for the benevolent
Institutions, Hamilton County has
purchased AMI relittcd, at an expense
of twenty thousand dollars, suita
bic building adjacent to the Long
view Lunatic Asylum, and connect
ed it with that Institution, under The
same management, as an Asylum foi
the Insane among the colored people
OF that county.
PENITENTIARY.
The resignation Of the former War
den, in the early part OF the year,
imposed upon the Directors of the
Penitentiary the necessity of select.
ing new man for this important posi-
ton. Gen G.. G. Walcut was up
pointed, and the present condition
OF the Prison shows that good dici.
pline, system, humanity and econo
my have been exercised in it's man.
agement.
The expenses of the institution
have BEEN little less than IN the pre-
ceding year, but still exceed the re
ceipts from the labor Of the convicts
by the sum OF Sl6,230 SO. This is
owing to the fact that the existing
contracts for the labor of the priso
ners were, under the law, nearly all
made when the value of labor was
much lower than il now is, and,
therefore, while the Pcnitcntary has
the increased cost of food and cloth
ing to meet, 1t has not the balancing
advantage of the increased price of
labor.
Several improvements are urged
by the Directors and Warden as be.
ing of manifest necessity. Among
these are steam engine, for the pur
pose Of grinding bread sluffs, throw.
ing water in case of fire, pumping
water for use in the corridors and
cells, washing clothes, &c. This ap.
pears to he a real Decessity, and IN
the end would prove real economy
The removal of the old and nearly
useless engine house, and the substi.
tuition Of larger and somewhat dif.
terent building, is also Recommend
ed. Under existing laws the Chap.
lam Is required, in addition to his
other duties, to keep records aud fur