Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-08-03
THE NEW INSANE ASYLUM.

We publish below the proceedings OF 6
meeting held at Neenah on the 27th ult O
delegates from Appleton, Green Bay
Neenah, Menasha and Fond du Lac to pro-
test against the action of the State commits
sioners in locating the Insane hospital al
Oshkosh.
1t appears that the site selected is not
eligible, and by no means comes within the
terms of the law providing for the lnstitu-
ton:
At Delegate Convention of the people OF
Fox River Valley, held at Pettibone Hall,
Neenah, Wednesday, July 9th, 1870, to
express their disapproVal of the recent action
OF the Commissioners for the location Of the
Insane Asylum
The meeting was called to order by Hon.
A. l.. Smith, of Appleton, and Mayor c. <.
Pier, of Fond du Lac elected as Chairman,
W q. Riteh, of Neenah, was chosen Secre.
tary.
Sixty -four delegates were attendance
A letter was read from Hon. Anton Klaus,
Mayor OF Green Bay, sympathizing with the
objects OF the meeting.
A committee of which R 2. Mason, of
Appleton, was Chairman, reported the fol-
lowing resolutions:
Whereas, The law authorizing the estab-
fishing Of new Hospital for the insane
OF the State of Wisconsin equires that the
location of said Hospital shall be within
Two miles of railroad station and
Whereas, The site now agreed upon by
the commissioners is at least four and one
aalf miles from any station and
Whereas, In order to render such site suita-
ie for such purpose, it shou have facilities
or the most perfect drainage at all seasons
{ the year; and
Whereas, The most eligible spot on the farm
low chosen, four and one-half miles from
Oshkosh, is not more than eight feet above
Ugh water mark and this spot is only 400
:fet IN extent in the longest direction, and
too near the lake for sufficient frontage, and
Whereas, Such site should be chosen with
'pecial reference to the present and future
"cilltles for travel not only from North to
eUuth, but from East to West; and
Hhsreas, The present selection can never
unge an East and West line of railroad within
ca miles on the North and twenty-three on
be South and
Whereas, Such site should be chosen as
GEAR as possible to the natural probable cen
Ter OF the future population of that portion
ot the State designed to be accommodated,
other things being equal and
Whereas, Said site should combine all the
facilities for getting building stone and 9TH
er material and
Whereas, This condition is not fulfilled by
the necessity Of crossing lake twelve miles
long, instead offnding the said stone on the
ground, or at most mile and quarter
distant, on the river bank, as could be done
in other places; and
Whereas, They were offered eligible sites
in every way superior to the one now chos-
en-, consisting Of from $50 to GAO acres of
land, combining all the advantages which
the commissioners and the law required,
to wit Nearness to railroad station, COM
piete and perfect sewerage, in the language
Of the law, facilities for cheap and excellent
building material and conveniences Of ac-
cess, and proper and suitable frontage and
Whereas, 1t is the plain duty of the COM
miSSioners to accept the best offer made the
State both for extent and quality of land for
said Hospital, other things being equal; and
Whereas, One-ffth part of the 800, acres
as by Government survey in the tract chosen
- dhACI NatSI dG ali Seasons Oh Tue year
since The Improvement Of the Fox river;
Therefore,
RssolDs d. That in the Judgment Of this
convention the commissioners have accept
ted the most inferior site offered
ResoJDed, That the past history of the
present Hospital at Madison teaches us that
a delay in making permanent location
is vastly less evil than the choice of an ell
igible site.
ResoEved, That as representatives of our
respective localities and the interests CT the
State we distinctly protest against this Sc
lection as injudicious and unwise in every
essential parncular.
ResoJUed, That in the opinion OF this con-
vention the locality of the Hospital by the
Commissioners is illegal and void and that
expenditure of the public money on the site
selected endangers the collection of any State
taxes whatever.
Rso5ued, That we respectfully request His
Excellency, the Governor, as the represent
alive of the peoples interest, to withheld his
Of the site as a measure Of least