The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-29

St4tc purposes will be no increase in
taxation, and will b. grsl. sasing Of
labor in the Auditors Office, to the a.
SCISSORS and shc,ifs.
If the finances are properly regulated
and managed during this fiscal year. SO
as to leave no debts in arrcar, hercaf.
ter the current expenses OF the State
can be met and the construction Of
public buildings carried on without
difficulty.
FREE SCHOOLS.
The School fuud amounted, Sep
TENDER, so, 1871, to S2SO.2sj -, Of
which S275, loo had been invested IN
bank stock and U. 5, bonds.
pELNeUGST LANDS.
Our laws on tho subject Of delin,
qu,u' lands are intricate, and net well
understood by the mass of the people
in fact few lawyers in the State are well
versed in them. The lists Of these
lands returned by the shcriTs arc often
incorrect lands haze been returned
delinquent in cases where the taxes
have been paid, and even when re-
deemed before sale sheriffs have failed
to report the frct 10 the Auditor,
These causes have necessarily produced
errors in the records Of tho Auditors
Office, aud subjected land.holdsrs Il
expense, annoyance and great incon'
venicnce. Were it not that a Conven,
is about to assemble to propose altcra'
tions 10 our Constitution, would
recommend the appointment Of COM
mittce or commission to revise and
modify the laws on this subject, and tC
report their proceedings 10 the next
session Of the Legislature.
HOSPITAL TOR THE INSANE.
The new Board Of Directors Of tho
Hospital for the Insane, appointed IN
der an &C, passed last winter, entered
into Office in April last, and at thciI
first meeting elected Dr. 4. b. Cam.
den Superintendent, to gil the vacancy
occasionei By the resignation Of DR.
Hills. DR.. Camden, with his assist
ants, who we're elected at the SAME
time, took charge Of the Hospital or
the first day Of July; aud notwith'
standing there was an entire change il
tho officers. with the exception Of the
assistant physician, there was not the
slightest confusion thereby. 1t viii
not be uugcnerous to the former in,
cumbcnts, and it is due to the prcseu
officers, to say that the changes thus
effected have produced no detrimOnt tC
the State. Tho friends Of the PATIENT
eau feel well assured tina the uufortu
nate inmates of the Hospital are kindly
aud tGnderly cared for.
The report Of the Board Of Directors
exhibits tue gratifying fact that since
the last session Of the Legislature room
for eighty-fve additional patients has
been provided. This was effected 10
part by the completion Of the centr,
building, but the result is largely
owing to the fact that the Board have
utilized some apartments which werc
not intended for the use Of patients.
The Hospital contained on tue first G
July, two hundred aud ten patients
aud on September 80. two hundred anl
forty.oue. Since that time all luna
tics confined in the jails throughout
the State, except possibly q few col
ored people, have been ordered to be
brought to the Hospital. You will,
therefore, learn with pleasure, tha
these unhappy people no longer Ian
guiSh in our COMMON jails; and | trust
The day is not Tar distant when suitable
accommodations may 10 provided fol
} the insane colOrcd people. The com,
pletiOn Of the buildings is a most de-
sirablO object.
The wants of the State will gradu
ally compel its completion. The fore
going exhibit of the finances, however,
will readily show that it is not in YOU
power to make the appropriation n'kec
for by the Board. If 10 ycur iudg
mcnt you should deem it prudcn. to do
30, an appropriation might be made tc
procure the necessary material to b
used hereafter in building the Gre
! section .f tho north wing. The lum,
Der used in such building ought t.
be laid in Mt least u year in advance
sud thoroughly seasoned. The labor
Of conyicts, both skilled and uuskilled
sould be used with advantage. And
recommend that the Board Of Director,
DO authorized to employ at least il
purt, convict labor, under such regula
! 'ions as you may think just ant
proper.
You will sec by the report Of til,
Board that there is IN indebtedness.
contracted by tho former Board be,
fore the passage ef the act apprOpria.
ting money for tue further ccustruc.
ton Of the Hospital" amounting tc
Sl3,392 81. The Attorney General,
At the request Of the present Board,
gave it as hi. opinion that this debt
could not be paid ont of tue last up.
preparation. Although this deb, wa,
created without authority of law, vet it
is dee innocent parties, and ought to
be paid.
There are no doubt many patient.
now confined in tic Hospital who have
been insane for many years; they AT.
hOpclessly iucurabIc. Some of these
are uict, harmless beings, destitute