Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-05-30
Secretary for the evening.
BARNEsvILLE, May Is, 1907

BARNESNlLlE, May 10, loo''
Pursuant to adjournment a number of
citizens met in Temperance Hall, ana
orgaiZed by appointing Hon. Coulson
Davenport President, and George Nc
Clelland Secretary.
The Chair stated that at the last ses-
sion of the Ohio Legislature law was
passed authorizing the erection of new
tunatic Asylum in South Eastern Ohio.
Three hundred thousand dollars were
already appropriated to build the insti- |
tuition, and two hundred thousand adnl-
tional would probably he expended. The
building would be the largest one OF the
kind in the Statc-capable OF accommo-
dating four hundred inmates. The law
did not provide for donations, but they
were considered in determining the To-
cation of the Asylum. From fifty to one
hundred acres were required: lie
thought that the expenditure of the i'm
mense sum necessary to build the insti-
tuition, and an annual outlay or sixty
thousand dollars after it was finished,
shOuld be sufficient inducement for us to
try to have it located in this vicinity. He
believed it fully as important work for
GAINESVILLE rs the building of the rail-
road. and was convinced that every acre
of land within ten miles of town would
be increased in value il we were so tortu-
nate as to obtain the Asylum. Marietta,
GAINESVILLE, Athens and Chillicothe were
anxious to secure it, but he thought
Barnesville had rs many advantages as
either OF these places. We had excellent
coal. good soil, pure water, fine building
sitos, and plenty of building material on
the ground.
MI. Collins thought that rs we are
money-making people, this was n subject
In which all should take an interest. He
had been in all the competing towns,
and this 10 n better site than either OF
them-we have better COAL water and
soil, and he thought II we made the et-
fort we could secure the Asylum. He
proposed to be practical, and offered one
hundred dollars as his donation.
DIR. Warfield said we ought to be In
terested in our unfortunate fellow citi-
Zens who are insane. No man should
hesitate in the work of helping them /;
but he deprecated and despised the plan
this wise Legislature had adopted in sell
ing the Asylum out. 1t was mean, low
plan to give this to the town that offered
the most money, and when he offered
money to buy it, he did so under protest.
AS they proposed to sell it to the highest
bidder, he was in favor of making an
offer. He moved that we pledge our
community to donate fifty acres of land
for the purpose.
Mr.. Davenport thought the Doctor was
severe on the act. The state was anX
ious 10 save money, but would not bt
governed by the amount of money given
II would take everything into considera
ton.
Mr. Smith was In favor OF the rcsolu
ton. There had been no meeting here
tofore, for any purpose, where more IN
terest WAS taken In the initiatory pro
ceodings than in this one. He could cal
TO mind no case here, when II had beeI
TO the interest Of this community to se
cure money, they had failed to respond
II the Lunatic Commissioners will taxi
things ~ they exist, they can find m
better place for the Asylum than Barnes
Vile The bare rumor that the Asylum
would be located here had caused nm ad
vance in real estate, and this afternoon
he had sold land that had been In tn
market for some time. Although tn
people did not come out In large mum
bers, there was an undercurrcnt at worl
that would manifest itself ~ soon rs
became evident that we could obtain tn
Asylum by raising money. We knoN
that II five hundred thousand dollars h
expended here, we shall surely get th
pitiable sum of five or ten thousand OF
fit. The erection OF such an institutlo
would double the valuo of property !
this neighborhood.
Mr.. King offered an amendment thu
the donation be one hundred acres
land.
DIR. Williams was afraid that after "
IA mere handful-had pledged this sun
the outside world would hold back al
allow the small number here to pay IL.
Mr.. King was OF the opinion that The
would he no trouble In raising the mo-
ey, and that 1t would pay Us to make Il
pledge.
Mr.. Bentz decidedly favored Il
toh "A Oh Ind
present. The Asylum Ia located here
condition that we furnish the land
we keep our promise we get the Asylum
II not, II will 20 elsewhere.
DIR. Warfield had heard men advoca
benevoience TO an alarming extent,
when the test was applied, It was dii
cult to get them to respond. Fifty aci
IuIn, and would probably cost more tn
one hundred elsewhere. The amer
ment was based upon the erroneous 81
position that fifty per cent. OF the co
inunity is benevolent.
Mr.. Reed did not consider II a mat
OF beneyolence, but entirely quest
OF interest. He would give three h
dred dollars for the Asylum, because
could make money by II.
Mr. Patterson thought we had
time TO go round aud solicit, but IL
were enough men in this community
furnish fifty or one hundred acres
land. For his part he would be will
10 give from two hundred TO five hund
dollars. There are enough men who
see 1t IL TO their interest to raise
Dr Wellons believed fifty acres v
enough for practical purposes.
Mr.. Bridgeman said donations
their effect, and one hundred acres W,
have more influence than hfty.