Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-17
yAMk1oM
oAko1A
oAkoIA's INSANE n

vited BY Maj. J. H.. Burdick, steward of the
hospital, TO 60 out and spend q night with
him at the Dakota hospital for The insane.
We gladly accepted the invitation, and AFTER
. delightful ride Of nearly three miles over
the beautiful prairiss surrounding the capt.
tai, We reached our destination and we're
introduced to the superintendent, Dr.. Nc.
G%lumphy, who We found to be . very affable
and courteous gentleman.
Soon after our arrival Col. B. F. Camp.
bell Of Sioux Falls, Gen. Beadle and anoth.
er gentleman whose name We can not recall,
arrived at the asylum and we're thrust in
side and the doors hastily closed upon them.
They conducted Themselves 90 we'll howev.
er, that they were allowed to depart in the
course of an hour and We doubt not they
are wiser II not better for their visit.
The hospital 10 large one story structure,
east and west at the north end Of the main
building, the wings being equal in height to
the main part. AZ you enter, the 6rst door
to the right leads into the Office which
though plainly furnished is q nice cheerful
room. The superintendent has his desk and
miniature drug store on one side of the
room and the other 10 occupied by the stew.
ards desk.
Opposite the ofEce at the left as you enter
is the ladies reception room and the next
two rooms on the left, are the private apart
ments for the superintendent and family.
Two rooms directly opposite OF the right
side Of the hall are used by the steward and
his wife, who by the way il matron of the
institution.
The next room on the right is the officers
dining room and opposite this is the Spare
room"
At the north end of the hall and extend.
ing nearly across, is ward robe of fine
proportions put in since the completion of
the building, when it's necessity became ap.
parent. The north end of the main build.
ing is partitioned off and affords a nice
roomy kitchen, a pantry, storeroom and a
large and convenient laundry.
The east wing is used as a ward for the
female inmates and the west wing for the
males.
A hall runs through the center of each
wing and on each side of these halls are
sleeping apartments. Each side of and ad.
joining the kitchen is a dining room where
the inmates take their meals.
After each meal the dishes are washed
and carefully counted so that those inmates
who might be dangerous are thus prevented
from securing any weapons.
The beds, sleeping apartments, and in
fact all the rooms are kept ecrapulously
clean. The beds are good and an abundance
of clothing is provided.
Two large cisterns supplies an abundance
of good soft water and a we'll ninety feet
deep furnishes an unlimited quantity Of ex.
%cellent hard water.
Two tanks holding twenty. and thirty.ive
barrels respectively, are placed above the
oo;l;ro ovo. tho E;tohoo onN oro kopt full hu
means of powerful force pumps. A supply
in case of fire. The utmost caution ia used
to prevent a confagration. A lady, in the
female ward and a night Waterman for the
other portions of the hospital are on duty
from nine o'clock p. NJ. till six o'clock q. m.
There is a bath room in each ward, and
pipes from the bath rooms and from the
laundry connect with the main sewer which
is constructed of verified tile and is some
twelve hundred feet in length and empties
into a ravine.
A root celler 16 by 81 feet is we'll stocked
with vegetables and is a model Of conven-
fence.
The property belonging to the hospital in
the way OF live stock, consists ottwo horses,
three cows, ten pigs and q fne lot OF pout-
try, among which are many of the best
breeds.
Maj. Burdick is a genius and very few
will appreciate the vast amount of labor be
has 10 do with his own hands in order to
make the scanty appropriation suffice.
He Is very handy with carpenters tools
and The LAUNDRY which has nearly all the
modern improvements, the kitchen with its
novel -four boz, its cupbosrds and tho gen
eral excellence of it's internal arrangements
bear witness OF his skill.
As an example of the careful wav be
makes expenditures We mention the dig
ging and finishing up In good shape, in-
Guiding tie stone wall for the outside
doorway. Of q cellar under the kitchen, Il
BY 81 feet in size and eight feet deep at {
total cost Of $l2,75.
A record is kept Of the income of the
institution a. well as the expenditure.
From the 10Th Of April, to the 30th o1
September, their twenty seven hens laid 2,
Ill egge.
From April 23j to October Isl, the thre.
cows furnished 1910 gallons of milk, iron
which go pounds of butter we're made.
Supplies of all kinds are contracted fu
every three months and the lowest responsi.
! BILE bidder being awarded the contract, loy
. prices are at all times secured.
"A NAcChiuuk uIm COLt 0SSSO " IuIulel
wood at 1915 per cord and potatoes at 2:
cents per bushel. Contract prices for al
kinds Of supplies include the delivery at tn
hospital.
, The legislature appropriated $1,000 t
complete the building but with all the rigi,
economy that has been exercised, $4,666 la
been expended to get the building in it
present condition. $1,000 was appropriat
ed to provide for the removal of Dakota pa
tients from the Lincoln, Nebraska. and s
Peters, Mimi, insaue asylums; Of thi
amount but $34l was necessary to defra
J the expense of puch removal.
For incidental expenses, which includ
fuel, lighs. tools aud expense of trustee.
: books and stationery and all else not spec
6cally named 10 other appropriations, tn
sum Of So, 400 was set apart.
OF this amount $4,000 has already bee
expended.
These appropriations we're to cover
period Of two years.
Great credit is due the trustees, Messr
Ward, Sanborn and Hughes, for their jui
cious and careful management.
81