New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-13
BRooKLYyS PROPOSED INSANE ASYLUM
PROJECT OF THE BUSINESS wOMENs UNION
OPINION OF CHARITY COMMISSIONER NORRIS.

PROJECT OF THE BUSINESS wOMENs UNION
OPINION OF CHARITY COMMISSIONER NORRIS.
The project of an insane asylum within the
limits of Brook n-uenton OF whcH has already been
made in TIE TIIBUNEOrginated with the members ~
tie local visiting committee Of the STATE Charities Aid
Association Mrs. Mary ". Manning and Mrs. Auna c.
Field. Mrs Field recently STATED TO TEtErAE reporter
that several buildings hay. been visited by the
committee having the work in charge, whch
consists OF Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Field, MIS-.
Il. Cornell White, Mrs. Alexander For!nan, Mrs.
sarah y. Parsons, Blrs. Dow, Mr. Mary II. Iolley.
and otDers. The committee wish to find building
large enough accommodate at least 20 patients. with
extensive grounds To do this they will have TO to q
considerable distance thickly settled por
lions OF the ely 10 j. Ot Thought possible to begin the
work without having secured 81 ODo whatever build
ing chosen viii have to be changed In many respects in
orc. render It fit for an insane asylum. The asylum
or home" il will DO cali d, will not be modelled after
any existing institution but tie better of
eral will adopted Tho committee declares that the
conduct Of tbs institution will be the best that il is pos
sibc to secure 10 Will not be "A charitable enterprise,
bat 1t is intended TO Do se,!supporting Ii tho paid
patients contribute than the running expenses of
tho require, few patients may DO received grat
itousy Mrs Field hopes that tho homo will be
opened before the close OF the month OF January.
Dr. Thomas L. Norris, President OF the Board OF Char
ity Commissioner. says that tho Flatbush asylum
had about 800 patients aud their present building
wac crowded, but new building had been erected
and WAS TO be- occupied, which would
cOInmodnte 800 persons About 100 patients
paid or their board. lie had no objections TO the esab-
slnent of any number OF private asy lus II there
any warrant that they would be properly conducted.
But this proposed homo was without wealthy men 10
support H. and thnTe guarantee whatever that IL
wonid be from the abuses complained Of In other
as lums The Bloomngdale Asylum was private nsti-
tuition very wealthy and yet complaints Of cruelty
on ths part OF nurses had recently been made. lie
thought that great deal OF allowance should DO made
whenever insane persons made complaints Of ltrcat-
men as such statements nearly always the rawlings
dsorcrod minds. In regJi4 10 the charges against
the Flatbush Asylum, which were investigated by tue
State Commissioner OF Lunacy about year ago. DIR.
Norris SAM they had been grossly exaggerated. For
twenty years before that time not complaint had boon
made. There patients ia the asylum whose friends
had taken them away from tho private YUM In Flush
Ing where 80 had been paid for their board be
she treatment at tiabush superior. DIR. Nor
ris said that he approved of plan FOR In
Brooklyn which promised 10 succeed. II the Woiuens
Union mad from $:}OOOOO To 100000 aud founded a
large asylum, IA be conducted good principles he
thought That SUCCESS was ccrial IT. however, they in
tended TO start small institution without OF
good conduct the project III his judgment, would prove
failure. The Figtbush Asyum, he said, more
economically conducted than any other the State and
in the main a charitable institution