The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-08-08
THE INSANE ASYLUM.

AhtvoSo ~ tuo AostAtotsOa AAOoPas"s
for the Insane, near Steilacoom, were
never in q more prosperous Or encour-
aging condition than al the present
time. and the humane system" has
proved Q great success in our Territory
a. elsewhere. The great aim Of DR..
willard. the superintendent OF tue
Asylum, seems to be to iDpart the most
good to the patients at tho very least
expense to the Territory, and to assist
him in this laudable en,leavor he 10
surrounded by an efficient corps Of Of
ficers and backed by the endorsement
Of our entire people. The improve
ments which have been made there
during the past six months. and which
are still in progress. ere very great.
There are now three distinct and sep.
arste wards for the male patients. and
. large aud comfortable ward for the
females. Each Of these departments is
presided over by one or more expert
enced wardens, whose desire seems to
be to promote the comfort and wellbeing
Of the unfortunates under their especial
charge. A largo tank. capable of sup.
plying all the buildings incloscd within
the grounds with an abundance of pure
water for domestic as we'll as fire pur.
poses. is being erected in the northern
portion Of the enclosure. The tank will
be supplied with water from Chambers
creek. raised by hydraulic ram to
hight Of some thirty feet above the old
tank. A. soon rs the new waterworks
are ready for use. each building will be
supplied with the necessary hose and
attachments for expeditions use in case
o! fire. The old skating rink has been
overhauled, sealed. papered. painted,
and converted into pleasant ward for
convalescent patients. Transoms have
been put in over the doors Of the vari.
Gus sleeping rooms throughout tho hos.
pital, aud other improvements made in
the way of ventilation. The female
ward has been enlarged and made more
convenient aud comfortable The Asy.
lum library now contains nearly three
standard works. besides files of almost
I'll the Territorial papers. Many of the
patients can read. and seem to enjoy the
library very much.
Although the soil about the Asylum
Is light and gravelly, yet we doubt If .
morp shsiity-looking garden than that
belonging to this institution can be
found any where in the Territory. From
q little patch Of strawbsrry vines they
gathered this season nearly thirty bush.
els Of delicious fruit. We have seen
many thrifty looking gardens this sea.
con. but none that equals the one men.
toned above. From il enough vegess-
blss and small fruits will be realized to
supply the culinary department Of the
Asylum for several months; and such
things A. potatoes. beets. parsnips and
turnips will probably sufficc for the
whole year. The labor In this splendid
garden is almost exclusively done by
insane patients. who enjoy and take 0
deep interest in the work DIR. Willard
states that IL the Territory could pro-
cure little farm Of good land. not too
far from the Asylum. il could be worked
by the patients nj no additional expense.
aud from it al the vegetables and farm
produce for the Asylum could be OBJ
tanned. In many cases il is much better
for the patients to be out at moderate
work 10 the open Dir than confined IN
the wards Of the Asy lum. The number
Of patients, Of coarse, increases with
the increase Of our population. Two
years ago there were 6s patients at the
Asylum; aow there are IS; bat during
the coming week three or four will be
discharged 40 cured. Under the present
system ths whole expense Of keeping,
feeding. clothing and medical attend
snce. aud ell the ordinary expenses
connected with the MANAGEMENT Of the
Asylum, amounts 70 only 20 cents per
day for each patient. Under the COM
tract system It cost the Territory 81
cents per day for each patient. besides
the salary Of . physician aud other ex.
penses. which brought the cost up TO
nearly ono dollar FER day for each pa
tient. The accounts snd books Of the
institution are kept BY Major Alden,