Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-11-26
State Charitable InStitutions-AotiOn of the
Military COmmisSfOn-IntereSt Facts

Military misunderstanding Facts.
Pursuant to Special Order No PA,
military commission, composed of the super
intendents Of the Eastern and Western Lu-
matte Asylums, (Drs. Brewer and Stribling)
the Superintendent of the Deaf, Dumb, and
Blind Asylum, (Maj J. c. CovelD Mr. J.
W. Lewellen, of Richmond. the Medical
Director of the First Military District, CDR.
Moore and the surgeon in charge Of How
ards Grove Hospital Or. De Lamater,)
met in this city on the 18th inst to take
into consideration the financial condition and
present necessities Of the above-named in
stitutions, and to submit an estimate of the
means required to meet their necessities un-
til the Legislature of the State shall be ena-
bled to act upon the question.
The commission were further instructed to
consider the subject of making temporary
provision for the insane and the deaf and
dumb, and blind, of the State not provided
| for in the asylums, and report suggestions in
relation thereto. III
The commission organized by calling Dr.
Stribling to the chair: and appointing DIR.
Brewer secretary. .5H
tF WESTERN ASYLUM.
DR.. Stribling, from the Western Asylum,
gave an interesting account Of the institu-
ton under his charge, and the management
of its inmates. He had about three hundred
and forty patients always on hand, the places
of those discharged being promptly filed by
new subjects DR.. S had been compelled to
reject the applications Of eighty-on lunatics
--ffty-fve females and twenty-six males
for want of accommodations Some Of that
number had probably gone to asylums in
other States, whilst others were provided for
by their friends at home, or confined in coun-
ty prisons The Legislature had annually
appropriated $50, 900 to the Western Asy-
lum, besides the amount received from pay
ing patients, which was inst sufficient to meet
its expenses. ......,
The commission then resolved to recon-
mend appropriations to meet the expenses Of
the various institutions, for six months Of
the present fiscal year, beginning the LIST
| October, 1869
On motion, an appropriation of o,ooo
was recommended for the Western Asylum.
! EASTERN ASYLUM.
DR.. Brewer stated that the Legislature
had annually appropriated 500, 900 for his
| ASYLUM, and that he asked no increase for
| the present year. Hehad about 21O patients,
| none Of whom were able to pay. Were the
buildings and grounds in complete order.
S45 900 would pay the current expenses.
but that was not the case. Besides the des-
! truction of property incident to its occupancy
by the two contending armies during the late
war, no repairs were made from 1859 until
1868; and, as consequence. the buildings
became dilapidated, the furniture broken and
destroyed, the water-6xtures worn out and
| useless, the MASTERPIECES DISTRACTED, and
! the basement of the asylum submerged in
water.
Out of the annual appropriation. not on
ly the buildings, but the grounds had been
improved and beautifed, new sources of at
traction for the inmates had been procured,
and he hoped and believed that most of the
needed improvements. could be finished this
year, and paid for out Of the annual appro-
priation. The asylum svas filed to its utmost
capacity, and he had been compelled to re-
iect the applications Of forty lunaties who
desired admission.
D. Stribling concurred in all that had been
said relative to the previous and present
condition of the Eastern Asylum, and COM
plimented DIR. Brewer very highly on his
admirable management and sound judgment.
None knew save those who had the work to
do, the thousand and one repairs and aitera-
tons necessary to insure the health and
comfort of the unfortunate persons confined
in the asylum. He thought the annual APP
preparation small enough for the present. and
hoped the usual amount would be recon-
mended
The commission thereupon recommended
an appropriation Of $50. 900 for six months.
DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND.
Major j. G. Covell, the superintendent,
gave an interesting account of his helpless
charge, and the embarrassments under which
he labored, for want Of proper Legislation.
He now had 1913 scholars entered for this
year, each Of whom, for feeding, clothing,
etc., would cost 5000.
Before the war this institution received an
annuity Of $25, 900, gold value, which gave
about $500 each for the pupils. Since the
war $25, 600 in currency only had been sup
piled, and to meet the current expenses he
had been compelled to draw on the treasury
in advance, until there is now left but $780,
900 to meet the demands of the present ifs
cal year He asked ap appropriation Of
81 800 to meet the expenses of the current
quarter ending 31st December, and the like
sum to meet the expenses Of the quarter
ending 31st March, 1870.
On hearing all the facts, and estimating
the increased cost of all the necessaries Of
life, the commission recommended that an
appropriation of $15, 900 be made to this in
stitution.
DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND UNpROvIDED FOR.
Major Covell reported that he knew Of
none Of this class of persons. When the
Legislature meets he designs urging tho es-
tablishmcnt of permanent home at the AS
YUM for such Of the blind pupils as may de-
sire to remain there and be useful. The ed
ucated deaf and dumb could generally pro-
vide for themselves
TUE INSANE yNpkoYIpED FOR.
Drs. Stribling and Brewer. after full and
free conference, came to the conclusion that
there were about fifty phite lupatics in the
State who had not been provided for. Of
cozored lunatics there were now about 1870
unproyided for by the State, and forty in the
Eastern Asylum. This number. it was fear
ed, would be largely increased by the suffer-
ing and starvation Of the coming yinter.
Of the 100 lunatics referred, to above, II
were now confined in Towards Grove Hos
pital, and provided for by the Freedmen's
Bureau, but General Howard himself could