Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-12-15

as that of the Institution for the Deaf
Dumb and Blind, which are herewith sub
mitted. exhibit most satisfactory condition
of affairs in each one Of them. They chal
lenge comparison with any institutions o
like character in the country. The Western
under its able superintendent. still maintains
its character as one of the first institutions
of its kind, and the Eastern never IN Its his
tory attained to the position it now occupies
Its capacity for usefulness has been largely
increased the past year by the addition o.
new buildings.
The Board ask for an appropriation te
provide a heating apparatus, which think
should be granted. The Central is accom-
plishing more for our colored insane than
could have been reasonably anticipated
| [ believe it to be the first institution oil
its kind established in the United States
The report of the superintendent and board
Of directors is worthy of your careful peru.
sal The accommodations for the white in
sane. notwithstanding the enlargement Of
the Eastern Asylum, are still insufficient
for the reception and care of all those thus
unfortunately afflicted in the State. Dur
ing the last fiscal year 6,439.68 was ex.
pended in the support of the insane confined
in our jails and prisons
One or beth OF our present asylums must
be enlarged, or new one erected The
Western has sufficient capacity for the ca
commodation Of over 300 patients, and the
Eastern, with the recent additions for about
275. The latter ask for an appropriation
for still further enlargement. / cannot
recommend this or the enlargement of the
Western. There is limit to human capac-
; ity, and | am convinced that both these asy-
lums can now accommodate all the patients
that any one man, no matter what his ca
pacity, can properly attend to. In my
opinion, if we make any further expendl-
lures whatever in this behalf, it would be
wiser to erect a new asylum. Our State is
naturally divided into three sections-viz
Tidewater, the Valley, and the Southwest.
The two former have each an asylum ample
for the accommodation of all patients in
their respective sections, and the Southwest
has none In fact, there is not State In
stitution Of any kind located south of the
James river. When this fact is taken into
consideration, and the further fact that this
section constitutes the larger portion of the
State, and that from the peculiar location OF
a large part oft, transportation Of patients
to either of the now established asylums is
a very considerable item of expense, togeth-
er with climatic and other reasons, it ap.
pears to me that we must be convinced of
the propriety and justice, if not necessity,
Of establishing another asylum at Lynch
burg or some other point equally accessible
to that portion Of the State.
The same amounts which would be requl-
site for the enlargement of either Of the 9th
er asylums would be amply sufficient for a
commencement of new asylum, to be add
ed to from year to year as the increasing
wants of our growing population may re-
quire, and the additional expense of sup
porting the increased number Of patients
would be of little if any greater amount at
the new than at the old asylums.
PENITENTIARY.
The report of the Board of Directors and
officers Of the penitentiary exhibits marked
improvement in the affairs of that institu-
ton. This is due in very large measure
to the energy and capacity of the officers,
and the fidelity and honesty with which they
have discharged their respective duties.
l cordially endorse the recommendations of
the board and superintendent for the extern
sion OF the prison accommodations, both on
the score of economy and because of the ia
cilities it will afford in keeping separate the
different classes of convicts.
This can be accomplished without heavy
expense by the use of the materials of the
cid workshops and the labor of the convicts.
In summing up the cost to the State Of the
penitentiary during the past fiscal year
there should be added the sum Of SIS, $780,
SO for the salaries of the exterior guard,
teamstel, engineer, and the guards Of the
convict~ employed upon the Capitol Square
all Of which was paid out of the civil con.
tingent fund and there should be deducted
from the credits $3,273 for labor at the
penitentiary and at the armory. The total
cost of this institution for the last fiscal
year was $40, 1913 80, but there should be
deducted from this amount about $40, 900
for permanent improvements made to the
buildings, and about 81, 500 for the hire of
convicts prior to the LIST Of January last,
thus reducing the actual cost below the sum
of $50, 900, l have been, and am still, ex-
ceedingly solicitous that this institution
should cease to be an expense to the State,
and | hope to be able to announce that fact
at your next session. -.....
10 accomplish this, however, some
changes must necessarily be made. The
salary of the superintendent is $4,000, aud
of seven assistant keepers $500, and the
commissions of the general agent amount to
So, 1865 in all, $11, 1868. Now, it
appears to me advisable to abolish the office
Of general agent, and devolve his duties
upon the superintendent, who, instead of a
salary, shall receive five per centum com.
missions on all sales Of manufactured arti-
cles sold by him, but nothing upon sales at
auction made by order Of the Board and
that of the assistant keepers there shall one
be appointed to each branch Of manufactur-
ing carried on, who shall he skilled in the
same, and who shall receive five per centum
commission upon all sales Of articles manu-
featured in his department, and no other
compensation. A very considerable sum
may thus be annually saved, and the eff
cheney and proftableness Of the several
branches of manufacture promoted. A very
considerable reduction can also be made in
the number Of exterior guards when the new
wall is completed, and new system Of
guarding adopted. With these reductions
in expenses, and with the employment Of
all those able to labor either in manufacture.
ing inside Of the walls, Or upon public works
Or in stone quarries outside, as authorized
by law, I believe we shall be able in anoth.
er year to support this institution as self