Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-01-09


institutions must have immediate
and substantial assistance or they
will die, and that very soon.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The Agricultural College will at
no distant day, be ready for the ad-
, mission of students. Generous pro-
vision has heretofore been made for
it, but the fostering care of the
State, whose child it is, will be re-
quired for some years to come. 1t
is expected that the State will ex-
tend the same liberality to this that
she does to her charitable institu-
tions. The Agricultural and Me-.
chanical College should be some
thing more than model farm, il
lustrating the art of cultivating the
soil, and the methods of improving
breeds of stock. If this shall be
the limit Of its ambition, few young
men will resort to it, and these it is
feared, without great profit. Its
foundations should be laid broad
and deep, and within its walls should
be taught the principles which un
derlle all the industrial, liberal and
ornamental arts. Its curriculum
should be so extended that young
men may there be educated for all
the ordinary walks of life. If it
shall be dedicated under generous
: system, and conducted in the right
way, it will soon attract donations
: from liberal and puhlic-spirited men
: will be an honor to Ohio and a
blessing to our people. If we fix a
low standard, and are content with
small results, it were better that the
peoples money were expended in
: some other and more profitable way.
: 1t is not, of course, expected that
the College shall be, whtn it opens,
. all that we hope for it finally; it is
not likely that all its departments
will at once be put in successful
operation. But let it be started
with the intention of. making it, ul
timately, grand State university,
whose instructions shall be thorough
and comprehensive.
INSANE AsYLUMs.
There exists very pressing and
urgent necessity that immediate
provision be made for the confine-
ment and care of our insane people.
Within little more than four years
two of the state asylums have been
destroyed by fire. The new build
ing at Athens will not be ready for
the reception of patients before Sep
, tember or October of this year, and
| the one at Columbus not before two
years from this time. The central
portion of the Newburg asylum
must be rebuilt and the wings GOV
! cred with new roof. This work
, will occupy at least one year. In
/ the meantime, we have in the state
1 to day insane persons eaough to fill
r all these institutions whencompleted
, and four hundred in excess. Many
= of these unfortunate. men and wo-
men are now confined IN jails, in
E firmaries and workhouses, or are re-
| ceiving such inadequate care it is
e possible for friends to bestow at
5 their own homes. Some immediate
: relief must be afforded, or there will
: be great suffering. 1t has been
found impossible to secure for tenn
porary occupation and use any
, building which was regarded as sui
. table and safe. The only one of
: fered for rent was the Neff House at
r Yellow Springs, which, with an out
! lay of twenty five or thirty thousand
dollars, exclusive of the cost of fur
niture, could be made ready for the
, accommodation of four hundred and
twenty-five patients. This property
!, is offered for rent,upon a five years
: lease,for fifteen thousand d dollars
per annum. 1t could, undoubtedly,
, be obtained at a much less price.
But it is frame structure. designed
for summer hotel, and it would as
L l think, be exceedingly hazardous,
to fill with demented persons, many
of whom have already had the ex-
perience of two fires, and whose
crazed minds are filled with a wild
glee at thought of the excitement
:. attendant upon great confagra-
tion. In the light of past expert
ence, it is objectionable if the insane
are confined in any other than
buildings as nearly fire-proof as
they can be made. There are brick
'' buildings at Circleville and Alliance
!. which can be purchased, but not
= rented, and>which could be made
, safe. 1t is possible there are others
in the state. This subject should,
- however, receive the immediate at
. tention of the Legislature.
u In rebuilding the Newburgh Asy-
: lum, and in finishing those at Co
u lumbus and Athens, create care
against fire. 1t is believed that the
. present design of the new buildings
Il even, does not make them fire-proot
or as nearly so as possible. And
it is certain that the Dayton Asylum
need very considerably changes to
y . render it reasonable secure Plans
u and estimates of cost will be furnish
ed by the Trustees of the Newbura
- and Dayton Asylums, for rebuilding
and changing these institutions in
:. accordance with the present require
nents.
e CONTRACTS FOR THE ERECTION OF PUB.
Lie BUILDINGS.
You are requested to consider
q whether the present law, under
4 which our public buildings are erect
$ ed, cannot be SO changed as to rem
/ der their construction more expedi
# tious and at the same time more
RI economical. The law as it now
: stands,was intended to guard against
peculation and fraud. 1t is believ-
, ed this end could be as well secured
!, where the law modified in some i'm
n portant particulars. The provision
q which requires, or has been under
q stood to require, the contracts for
!. different kinds of work to be award
o ed to seperate bidders, whenever
il the sum total is less than amount
| of any single bid for the whole work
c is of doubtful utility. A large
4 number of contractors, acting indie
# pendently, with no community OF
# interest, are often in each others
e way, responsibility, whenever there
G is unnecessary delay, is shifted
" from one to another, if any one con
. tractor is unahle or for eny raosnn