The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1873-09-24
The Morristown Gazette.
Wednesday Morning, September "a. '73.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
WHERE SHALL IT BE LOCATED

w q QeSTe TO call the attention OF
the citizens Of Morristown and vi
entity to the provisions Of an act of
the last General Assembly, author
fzing the establishment of an Asy-
Ium for the Insane in Fast Tennes-
see, the first, second and sixth Sec
hons of which are as follows:
SECTION 1. Be 1t enacted by the
General assembly Of the State Of Ten
nessee, That the Governor shall ap-
point three directors to select site
and build Hospital for the Insane,
in the Eastern Division of this State.
That said Directors shall not receive
any compensation for the services
herein imposed upon them, except
the actual travelling expenses incur
red in the discharge of their duties,
NOT shall the said Directors be con-
eerned in any way in any contract
for.the erection of said building, or
for furnishing supplies Of any kind
for the same.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted. That
the said Directors shall select and
purchase within twelve months af-
ter the day of the date of their APP
pointment for and in the name of
the State of Tennessee, a farm or
tract of land Of not less than three
hundred acres. The said farm, or
tract of land, shall be good tillable
land. with a bountiful supply of free
for drainage from the Hospital site.
The property shall be within a con-
venient distance of some city or
town, and easy of access by railroad.
The farm, or tract, so selected shall
be reported to and approved by the
Governor in writing before the pur-
chase money shalfbe paid, but, moth
ing herein contained shall prevent
said Directors from receiving a deed
In fee simple for any land presented
for the purpose aforesaid and other
things being equal, preference shall
be given in the location OF said In
Stitution to any community or cOun-
ty presenting a suitable farm or
tract of land for the said Hospital
for the Insane.
Sec. 6. Be 1t further enacted,
That to enable the said Directors to
purchase the farm and make all
necessary preparations for the build
ing provided for herein, the sum Of
seventy-five thousand dollars is here
by appropriated.
The law appropriates $4,000 for
the erection Of the Hospital-an In
stitution that will not only be an
architectural ornament, but source
OF wealth to tie place that proves
30 fortunate as to secure it. The
Governor is required by the provis-
ions of the act, to appoint three
Commissioners, whose duty it will be
to ascertain and secure the most
suitable site for its location-a re-
quirement that will probably not be
delayed much longer.
The building of this Institution is
intended to obviate the necessity of
forcing the immediate friends Of the
unfortunate insane of this division Of
the State to send them so far be-
yond their reach, as is the case at
present.
If the law is carried out in its
true spirit, the Institution will most
probably be located either in Morris
town, Knoxville or Sweetwater-at
least these are three points most
prominent in liberality and enter
prise in this division Of the State
and we have every confidence that
the enterprising, liberal and public
spirited people Of Morristown and
surrounding country can secure its
location here by exercising proper
diligence and activity in the matter.
Pecuniarily, it is a matter of nc
ment to each and every one OF us,
and one that requires a united effort.
Seventy-fve thousand dollars ex-
pended in our midst for this lauda-
BILE purpose would of itself prove a
great element of wealth, but when
we consider that other appropria
tions will be made to enlarge and
render it still more attractive-to
say nothing about the amount to be
disbursed annually. for all time, in
its general management-it assumes
a character that should stimulate an
enlightened public sentiment to look
we'll to it's interest. The geographi-
cal position of our town-its reli-
gious and moral tone-its railroad
facilities-and it's unsurpassed eli
mate and healthfulness will render
it beyond a peradventure the point
that will be most attractive to the
Commissioners, and the question to
be settled is: what inducement will
We offer to secure it? Here is an
opportunity standing at our doors.
Don't let US stand back with our
hands in our pockets and whine that
sit will go to Knoxville" without
making an earnest effort to have it
located at this point. That other
towns in East Tennessee will con-
tend for it most vigorously is to be
expected and unless we bestir our
selves, they will outstrip us and gain
the prize. Let merchants, mechan-
les, lawyers, doctors, farmers. labor
ing men, and all. step forward and