The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-19


intendent of this Institution is before US
from which we learn that additional room
for 80 patients has been added to th'
building, and that the Superintendent
has been enabled to keep jails clear o
| these unfortunate persons for the las
year. A good substantial brick building
tor the accommodation OF the colored in
sane has been erected out of the sppro
priation OF SIS, 900 made last winter fol
that purpose. The bakery, laundry anc
smoke-stack have bet built with view
of answering all the wants of the Institu'
tion. The necessity Of making
provision for the colored insane va;
long felt, and it is gratifying to
know that their comfort is to
he looked after. The Directors in their
report say:
The operations of the Hospital have
been highly satisfactory. The cost Of
keeping the pstients has been at the an-
usually low figures of $2.38 per capita,
per week, for the past year, and when
compared with the average cost OF other
hos pitfalls in tho United States, which Is
$500 per week. should be gratifying to
the tax payers of the State. In COM
pairing the number OF officers OF this in
st,tution with that of other institutions,
We find that we have fewer Otfcers and
psy less officers salaries than any other
institution .t the same size. For in.
stance, the officers salaries at the
Staunton Asylum, which accommo-
dates about the same number of patients
ss this, is S92225, while the aggregate SAL
aries paid officers here is but $1,000. DR..
Camden has, in addition to his lsbors of
Superintendent and without extra com.
pensation, performed the duties Of
experimenting the construction OF the
engine house and colored asylum, and
has performed that duty TO the entire
satisfaction of the Board"
The report of the Superintendent
shows tha, ON the Both day Of September
1876, there were 397 patients in the
hospital. OF these 222 were males, and
It's females. During the year l24 had
been admitted and Is discharged, of these
80 were cured, "a have died and 10 I'M
proved. During the year the hospital
suffered an epidemic of typhoid lever
caused from q deficient. sewerage. Two
of the attendants died from this disease
but none of the patients.
The old wooden sewer, which had be-
come rotten, has been replaced by ter
"a Gotta one, and no apprehension of q
repeated epidemic Is felt by the officers.
The Superintendent urges the necessity
for extending the Hospital, as it is now
about full and the jsils are likely to be
soon filled up again, and he urges an sd-
ditional levy on the taxable property of
the State of cents on the 100 dollars
for this purpose.
The Superintendent's plan is this:
To place an annual tax of three cents
on the ($l0O) one hundred dollars OF
taxable property, and it be allowed to
run until the hospitaEis completed. This
tax, believe, will amount TO near S4;.
coo per annum, and would be about a.
much rs could be judiciously expended
in working year, and 10 prepare for
the next Year. With this amount
available every year, the work could
be done more cheaPly. The tools
and appliances would always
be on hand and cared for, and would in
this way be q saving to the State. To
have to make q new beginning every
few wears, everything has to be re-
newed-toois, ropes, derricks, carts, and
hundred minor necessities. No one
would complain Of such tax. No one
ever complained of the five cent tax on
the Sl.0O that did run for year or two,
and as this would be less, not one dis
senting voice would be heard for so
great charity, and an act Of the Legis-
lature creating it would meet with uni
verssl approval and favor, and ! respect
fully a. that such 8 bill be presented to
the next Legislature. Such an act, if
passed, would also enable the hospital TO
buy tbs Bsggess lot and the Flesher
property, which the hospital must own
sooner or later. 1t would also furnish
means to grade and besutiiy the grounds,
which they are sadly in need Of"
We think, however, if the Governors
Recommendation OF making the institu-
tuition 3 hospital and not an asylum is
adopted the necessity for this additional
ta1 will be done away With.
Patients who are incursbly insane
should be discharged and give room TO
such as will yield TO medical trestmeRt
This institution in CONF ection with the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum appeals
more strongly to our sympathy than any
Others. Yet in taking care of this and
all others the State must use economy
and make no appropriations that are not
absolutely demanded. The hospital is =
credit to the liberslity of our State, and
it has been under efficient management
WHY:
Editors OF the Register.