The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-12-08

ofthe present locality has been Q matter
of discussion, while the want Of tadapi-
ability Of the buildings to their present
purposes is generally admitted. In con-
sequence ofthese deficiencies, the South
Carolina Lunatie Asylum, which at.its
establishment stood Ct ths head Of
similar institutions in this country, has
entirely lost that pre-eminence, and
lags lamentably in the rear. Among
those who have been most urgent for
the abandonment of the present site
aud buildings, are Dr.. D. q Treserant,
the former, and DR.. ". W. Parker, the
recent supcrintendents Of the institu-
ton, Who unite in condemDing them
for ant Of space in the grounds aud OF
suitableness 10 the buildings. TO. these
gentlemen, whose long connection yith
the institution renders their opinio6' i
.thorilatiya, may noWbe eaded those of
DR.. j. +. Ensor, the present superin-
tendsnt, who says thatou taking charge
Of it, the Asylum, on August 9Th, he
found it far behind the times in almost
everything that is now considered ne
oessary in a we'll appointed asylum Its
buildings ars not Of proper capacity or
construction. No greater blunder was
ever made in architecture tEan the
plan upon which this gloomy, incon.
gruous pile was erected. The; most Of
the rooms are mere cells or chincks in
the walls, dark and lily ventilated, aud
those on the ground floor SO damp and
unhealthy that it would be, to say the
least, the greatest inhumauity to re-.
quire the patients to occupy them
In eoroboIation of bis own statement
Dr.. Ensor quotes DR.. Wilkins, commits
sioner Of insanity for the State of Cali.
fornia, who is now making tour oftbe
United States and Europe in quest Of
information touching the subject Of
insanity and institutions far the insane,
who spoke of our Asylum Gas furthest
behind the age Of all that he had visit.
ed in this country" with one excep.
ton. With these concurrent remarks
of medical men Of the highest authority
it may we'll be inquired whether it is
is consistent with policy or sxpediency
to patch up an old and generally con-
demned building, by c1pending large
additional amount of money on it, and
thus perpetuate the institution in It's
present unfit locality, or TO make the
necessary investigation as to whether a
suitable location could not be selected,
WI ere ample grounds could be secured,
and snituble buildings erected for q
moderate sum. in addition to the prize
obtained for the present premises. +
;cnnnaend The asIaj
and deliberate iDyestigasiou. s,,i
oUARANTINE. Z.
The annual report OF DR.. Robert Lebs
by, health officer of the Psrtof Char
lesion, will be found highly interesting.
and satisfactory, as exemplifying be-
yond all cavil, the Important fact that
with an attentive and vigilant quaran-
tine officer the City of Charleston may
be considered pcrfectly safe from the
visits of tropical cpl denies, which have
occasionally desolated her streets and
paralyzod her commerce. Her exemp-
tion from pestilential diseases, her gen.
eral salubrity, her accessibility at all
seasons, with her other signal advanta.
ges and facilities, present brilliant
future to Charleston, which, if properly
improved, cannot fail to place her at
the head of Southern seaports. DR..
Lebby, in report, makes a number of
suggestions and recommendations
which are entitled to the highest res
pect, and are recommended to your
favorable consideration.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
The report of the commissioner of
agricultural statistics contains much
valuable information in relation to the
soil aud productions of the State, em.
bracing the various crops, mode of cul-
tivation, the value Of the numerous fer.
tilizers, the culture Of fruits and the
grape, and the formation of roads. 1
recommend that liberal appropriation
be made to be distributed in premiums
as prizes for excellence in agriculture
and the mechanic arts among the seye.
raj counties, and the State fair at Co.
lumbia, with the understanding that an
equal amount, from private sources, be
raised for the same purpose by the State
fair and county fairs respectively.
PHosPHATEs
Attention is called to the elaborate
and suggestive report Of Professor G.
U. Sheppard, Jr., inspector of guano
aud fertilizers. 1t presents 10 most
forcible aspect the magnitude of this
new field Of enterprise aud industry, its
rapid growth and probable extension.
In this connection Your attention ma
be usefully given to the law Of last ses-
sion, granting to certain parties therein
named, the right to dig and mine in
certain navigable streams of the State
for phosphate. The receipts thus far
to the State from that company have
been nineteen hundred aud eighty nine
dollars. In my iud gment, further le-