River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-04-25
Published April 10, 1878.

AN ACT to further provide for the care of the
insane.
The people of the State of Wisconsin, repre-
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as
follows:
Section l. Whenever the total number of
insane persons in this State shall exceed the
total number of such persons who can be con-
veniently and properly cared for in the State
institutions for the insane already existing,
under the laws of this State, the board OF
supervisors of any county in this State, upon
the conditions hereinafter named, may pur-
chase, or otherwise provide proper site, with
in said county, for the erection OF county
ASYLUM for the care of insane and inebriate
persons said site TO contain not less than
forty acres and when said site shall have been
approved by the governor, such board OF SUI
pervisors may proceed, as hereinafter proVld-
ed, to erect thereon suitable buildings for the
nroper care of a number of insane and in
ebriate persons, not lsss than thirty nor more
than fifty per centum greater than the entire
number of insane persons then belonging to
such county, as such board of supervisors may
determine.
yisors of any county shall determine to pur-
chase site, and erect buildings for an in
sane ASYLUM, as provided In the preceding
section OF this act, 1t shall be the duty of the
county clerk of said county to file with the
governor and State board of charities and re-
such board of supervisors relating to such
determination; but no county shall be au-
thorized, under this act, to purchase the sic or
erect the buildings specified in the first sec
ton of this act, until the governor ana SAID
board of charities and reform shall have first
ascertained and filed a certificate with the
Secretary of State that necessity exists for
such additional asylum; and 1t shall be the
dutyfof the governor and said board OF char
tiles and reform in such case to make and hle
rNfGs ato .fJah Hra OF oe
aforesaid, whenever it shall appear to the gov
ernor and said board that, for want of room or
other cause there is insufficient provision for
the proper care of the total number of insane
In this State in the hospitals previously ex.
listing under the laws OF this state, and the
asylums previously erected or proposed to be
erected under the provisions of this act; but
in making such certificate the governor and
said board, as far as practicable, shall give
preference 10 those counties containing the
largest number of insane persons under public
charge.
Section s. Before proceeding to the con-
struction of the buildings, provided for in the
first section of this act the board of supervis-
ors OF any county proposing TO erect such
| buildings shall cause to be prepared complete
plans, drawings and specifications of the
buildings proposed to be erected. which plans,
drawings and specifications shall be submitted
| to the governor aud State board of charities
and reform for their approval, In respect 10
| the number and sanitary care of inmates to be
| provided for: and after the approval Of said
| plans drawings and specifications by the
governor and said board, said board of snper-
visors may adopt said plans, drawings and
specifications, aud proceed to contract for the
construction OF said buildings with the lowest
bidder or bidders for all the work and ma
/ terial required therefor.
| Section 4. Upon the completion of said
buildings, and their acceptance BY the gov-
ernor and State board of charities aud reform,
as aforesaid, the governor shall appoiEt three
4 trustees, aud the board OF supervisors Of said
county tTo trustees. all OF whom shall be
resident citizens OF the county Ia which said
asylum is located, who shall constitute a
/ board OF trustees for the government Of said
asylum, and who's terms OF Office respective
] " shall be the first determined BY lot and
thereafter conform with the terms of Office
provided BY law for .lle trustees of the State
Institution for tho insane. The treasurer OF
| the county shall be the treasurer Of said
! asylum. upon such conditions 80 the board Of
| supervisors of said county may prescribe, and
said board OF trustees shall report to said board
Of supervisors, Is often as said board u super