The Placer herald., 1872-04-20
BRANCH INSANE ASYLUM.

In noticing the appointment Of a Commis-
sion to select a site for a branch insane asy-
lum, last week, we invited the attention of
the Commissioners to Auburn as the most
proper point to locate such an institution.
We did this because the interests Of the
State and patients demanded such "a location,
and not with any sectional Or local view of
gain or ambition. The Sacramento Union
objects and wants the asylum taken to San
Luis Obispo, or somewhere in that part Of
the State, because there will be population
there sometime, and then when they lose
their rcason by sandstorms or siroccos they
will have an asylum handy, we suppose.
The theory Of distributing the public institu-
tons o. the State all over its territory, in Or
der to accommodate the people at the ex-
pense of the State, finds no sympathy with
us, or with any man whose head is sound
and heart right, in our view. There are but
two considerations that should have weight
in the location of this branch asylum. The
first should be charity and humanity to the
poor reason bereft patients. The idea of
locating an asylum in an unhealthy location
with dismal surroundings merely to save
mileage is inhuman and brutal. The Union
suggests that Auburn is too hot during the
Summer and Fall. This is new TO US, and
if the Union is sincere it should at once
Stockton The thermometer does not
reach over 800 for thirty days in any
year. and not 1902 for ten days in the
year. Indeed, there is not a point on the
whole coast that excels Auburn in uniformity
of climate, healthy temperature, pure atmos-
pherc, good water and diversified scenery, if
it can be equalcd. From the point'we had in
view the whole mountain and valley scenery
of the State is in full view. We are free
here from both mountain and masmatic dis
eases, and never have been visited by an
epidemic of any character But why multi
ply words on these points when they will be
so plainly visible to the Commissioners if
they take the trouble to visit u.s. If Sacra-
mento was suitable in climate, scenery, health
and water we should advocate the location of
the asylum at that point, because we believe
in locating such State institutions where they
will be right under the eyes Of the Legisla-
ture, State officers and visitors to the capital
but this not being the case we insist that the
most suitable place nearest the cap tai should
be selected, and that is Auburn. No com
mittee Of the Legislature should ever be sent
to, through or near San Francisco to exam
inc and report on a public institution. The
capital of California is probably fixed for all
time, and although in disagrceable and mn
healthy locality, there it ought to remain.
If some members of the Legislature OF
State officers should scken and die the
country would be the gamer, if all are to be
such as we hcvc just experienced If other
educational, charitable, retormatory or slni-
tary institutions are to be established they
should be as near the capital and easy Of
access as the fitness and adaptability of the
site will justify. If we did not honestly
believe this to be the most proper point for
the asylum, in every point of view, we would
be the last man ever to ask the Commis-
soners to give it consideration; but feeling
confident that it has claims over all other
points we have thought proper to say this
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