The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-01-10

COlIeSo suAA2 Oc, WIEN IL OPSGep Al
that we hope for It finally; il b moi
likely that all Its departments wAl Il
once be put in successful operation.
But let it be started with the inten-
ton of making it, ultimately, grand
State University, whose instructions
shall be thorough and comprehen--
siye.
INSANE AsYLUHs.
There exists very pressing and
urgent necessity that immediate pro-
vision be made for the confinement
and care of our insane people. With,
in little more than four years two of
the State ssyiums have been ndsstroyed
by fire. The new building at Athens
will not be ready for the reception of
patients before September 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
covered with q new roof. This work
will occupy at least enc year. In the
meantime, We have in the State to-
day insane persons enough to ill all
these institutions when completed, and
four hundred IA excess. Many OF
these unfortunate men and women are
now confined in jails, infirmaries, and
work houses, or receiving such made
quate care a. it is possible for friends
to bestow at their own homes. Some
immediate;relief must be afforded, or
there will be great suffering. Il has
been found impossible to secars for
temporary occupation and use any
building which was regarded a. sIila-
BILE and safe. The only one offered
Ior rent was the Neff House at Ya-
low Springs, which, with an outlay of
twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars,
exclusive of the cost Of furniture,
could be made for the acoommoda.
ton of four hundred and twenty-five
patients. This i offered for rent,
upon 3 FIVE years lease, tor fifteen
thousand dollars per annaa. It could
undoubtedly, be obtained at q mucA
less price. But it is frame structure
designed, for q summer hotel, and 1t
would, as think, be exceedingly haz-
srdous to fill it with dsmentsd per
sons, many of whom have already had |
the experience OF two fires, and whose |
crazed minds are Glled with wild |
glee at thought Of the excitement at.
tendant upon q great conAagrstiou.-l
In the light of past experience, 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 Crcleyills 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 atten-
ton of the Legislature.
In rebuilding the Newburg Asylum,
and in finishing those at Columbus
and Athens, great care should De "a
ken to guard against fire, 1t is be
Iieved that the present design Of the
new buildings even does not make
them freproof, or as nearly so as pos
sible. And it is certain that the Day
ton Asylum needs very considerable
change to render 1t secure
Plans and estimates of cost will be
furnished by the Trustees of the New
burg and Dayton asylums for rebuild
ing and changing these Institutions In
accordance with present requirements
CONTRACTS FOR THE ERECTION OF PUB
Lie BUILDINGS.
You are requested TO consider
whether the present law, under which
cur public buildings are erected, can
not be so changed as to render their
construction more expeditions and at
the same time more economical. The
law, as it now stands, was intended to
guard against peculation and fraud
1t is believed this end could be Is
well secured were the law modified in
some important particulars. The pro-
vision which requires, or has been an
derstood to require, the contracts for
different kinds of work to be awarded
TO separate bidders, whenever the sum
total is less than the amount of any
single bid for the whole work, Is of
doubtful utility. A large number Of
contractors, acting independently, with
no community of interest, are often in
each others way; responsibility, when
ever there is unnecessary delay, Is
shifted from one to another if any
one contractor is unable, or for any
reason neglects to fulfill his agreement,
the whole work is retarded, more es-
pecislly as the Trustees in charge of
the work have 40 power, under the
construction which they have given to
the law, to substitute other employ
ees for those who flil in their duty,
without re-adveFtising, and proceeding
as with an original contract / think
it would be better, when the discrep-
sncy is not very great to allow
the Trustees OF discretion eth
er to subdivide the work, or
10 let the contracs as IA entirety
And when any contractor fails the
work should be prosecuted by The
Trustees; under proper restrictions
without delay, and without re-sdvsr-
Using, the original contractor being
made liable upon his bond for the dit
ference in cost, il there should BE- sn
excess. Ifthe contract to efess one
Of our public Institutions could be
awarded to single responsible busi-
ness man, who should be required to
give q good and sufficient bond for
the faithful performance OF his duty,
much time aad money could be saved.
The interest upon yearly expenditures
which bring no retarn, on account OF
the great leagth of time consumed ia
erecting one of our public buildings, |
would amount to an enormous sam.-
So far from saving money by the pres
ent system, the loss Is great and in
svitable. We have recently seen .
magnificent city, with immense blocks
of buildings, six and seven stories
high, attractive and durable, spring
out of the ashes ia six months's time
vet we consume five or six years N
constructing an edi6ce which ought
TO be finished in twelve months, or In
two years at the utmost limit, / do
not believe this to be any considers
BILE extent-perhsps it 10 not at all
the fault of the Trustees; they are
hampered by the law. and it ought to
be 80 changed or modified a. TO OBJ
yiate the difficulties which experience
has developed.
OHIO PKSTTRSTIARY.
A radical change in the construs-
tion of the cells Of the Ohio Peuitsn-
tiary is earnestly recommended As
at present constructed, they are in
five tiers, each cell being Six7 feet,
high. 1t is proposed 70 build them
in four tiers, and the cells TO be
s4x5t feet and feet high. There "a
is now q grated breathing hOls, ls
inches wide. for each cell and no arti
fetal means of ventilation Whatever.
The air, especially Ia GUNNER, is sick
ening and poisonous. Is ia 8 CRATE !
full relief for sick prisoners, TO get out
of their cells, TO engage ia tbs hard
est kinds of labor. The prison physi-
clan declares it is impossible to pre-
vent pulmonary diseases, a. long a.
convicts are kept m such yitiatsd
To use the expressive
language of the Rev. Mr.. Byers, .
~ - E.I aaFrN n