The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-22

lunatic asylum was provided for. the census |
OF 1910 taken by the general Government re
ported 2il persons IN the state OF Indiana IN
sane.
On the ith OF January, 1871, Mr.. Robinson, |
Of Jefferson county, In the House or
directing the committee OF wsys ana means |
TO Enquire into the expediency OF providing
some enectual meanssor the custody ana care
OF such persons as have lost their reason" No
report was made by the committee, and IL Is
after introducing this bill Mr Robinson Iell
sick and died OF acute mania. On the 7th day
sesson n The o ~ s y, shf saser
referred to the reservation of land In the city
of Indianapolis donated by the general Gov
eminent for a iunatic asylum, and noticed the
fact that other states had been making pro
vision Tor their insane. out made no specific
airy, 1872, one month later, Mr.. Hann' gan, OF
Fountain county. presented "A memorial OF
DIR. John Evans and Isaac Fisher. In relation TO
the establishment OF an Asylum for the Insane,
which was referred To the committee ON edu-
cation. On the 23d of January, isis, DR.. James
Kitchen, chairman of the committee on edu-
cation, made an able and appealing report,
followed by joint resolution requiring the
governor OF the state to make Inquiry and
report to the next Legislature the PROBABLE
cost OF construction, accompanied by plans Tor
building an Asylum for the Insane. The reso-
lution passed both Houses January 81, lSi2
On the eth of December, 1872, early IN the
next session OF the Legislature, Mr., Buel, OF
Warren, presented communication from
DIR. John Evans and Isaac Fisher, suggesting
an appropriation OF lndianas share OF the
proceeds OF sales of public lands for the cree
ton OF an Insane Asylum, which was referred
TO the committee on finance. The committee
consideration of the subject, which
was concurred in by the House.
On the 5th day Of December, 1873, Governor
session, requiring him to collect Information
etc, said ia his message that The duty had
been performed; that he had employed l. +.
Smith, Esq, OF New Albany, to prepare pans,
etc, which would soon be ready for submis-
sion. On the 18th day of December 1913, be-
Mr.. Smiths plans were submitted, MIR.
Read, OF Clark, lad before the Senate "A COM
munication from James Matthews. on the
committee on education. On the IS h Of Decem-
per, ls4S, the committee reported MIR. Carr. OF
Lawrence, chairma ul, that sit would be In
expedient 10 legislats upon the subject at the
present time, on account OF the great expense
Mr. Buell. OF Warren, moved recommit-
ment of Matthew'S communication to the
committee on education, with instructions
10 report probable expense, and time required
for construction of an asylum, which motion
carried On January Y, Isii, DR.. Ritchey,
ported Mr.. Smiths plans and estimates, based
upon the plans of the Worcester, Mass, and
OHIO Lunatic Asylums and recommended
tax OF one cent on the SlU0 property assess.
ments, 10 provide means for buying farm
and constructing building for the insane
This report was concurred in and the revenue
bill was so amended as 10 provide Tor this one
cent levy.
In December 1874, at the opening of the
next session of the Legislature, Governor
! Whitcomb in his message, referred to the SUBJ
! ject of providing for the insane lntelii9ently
! and arnestly. That portion OF the governor
message, and another memorial from DR..
John Evans, were referred to the committee on
education, which with Dr.Rttchey ,tnen in tho
l ) male, at its mead, seems to have been the
friendly committee on this subject, DIR.
| Ritehey reported recon m ending act to
| erection OF n state l.unatc Asylum. From
| SO 900 10 Sl2O 900 has accrued to the treasury
| from the first years collection or the one cent
tax. The act passed and became law Janu-
/ airy -. 1915. DR.. John Evans, Or. Livingston
! Dunlap, and James Blake were constituted a
board OF commissioners to execute the pro-
! visions OF the law. Such Is an epitome OF the
Hospital for the Insane. How much credit
| should he given to the distinguished philan-
thropist-Miss Dorotha l.. Dix-how much in
| fuence, direct or indirect, her work eXerted
IN the foundation of public sentiment, and
promotion of legislative acts looking to the
relief of the insane of Indiana. / can
| not, from present kno Wedge, state. 1t Is due
| TO her while living, and to ner memory when
she shall have disappeared from her familiar
haunfs-the halls of our American hospitals
for the insane-to state that her life was de
voted intellisently to the interests of tins
CLASS of unfortunate citizens, and not a small
| proportion OF il to the people of our state. L,
is due, also, to truth, to science and to civiiZa
ton 10 say that no one person is or could be
entitled to all the credit of accom- plishing such
results. In the month of Decemo per, 1913, foul
of commissioners, which appointed DIR. John
Evans superintendent, two wards were open
ed for the reception of patients DIR. Evans
resigned the SUPPLEMENTARY soon after the
opening of the house for patients, and DR.. r. /
Patterson, Tor many years connected with tn.
Columbus Asylum IN Ohio, was selected, anC
his services secured for the position.
The provisional board consisted o
his excellency, Thomas A Hendricks; DIR.
lent institution; Drs. George F. Chittender
John /. Richardson, commissioners, ant
Orpheus Everts, superintedent of the Indian,
Hospital for the Insane, by virtue of thei
a distinguished physician, and for
appointed by Governor Hendricks in accord
ance with the provisions of the law. Tina
board met early in April, few days after tn
adjourn ment OF the Legislature ana entere,
at ouce upon the duties assigned them. :.
Downey, ESQ., was chosen , secretary, and Or
had been approved by the Committee of be
nevolent institutions two years before, whic
was the result of extensive observation an
, careful consideration OF requirements, wer
} were thoroughly familiar with the merits an
/ defects of American hospitals and placed II
i tect, for elaboration of working details. Con
tracts for excavation and the stone masonr
were let at an early date, and the worK begu
, year to year smoothly, with s
little jar or friction, that only thos
to notice the grand proportions OF the structui
as it assumed form, and consistency senme
r TO be aware that anything was being done i
! this direction. The contract for excavatio
was let and filed by Messrs. Hanna q irwin.
of indianapolis The stone masonry of bas,
{ Ricnter, and the cut stone work by Wilson
j Co of Indianapolis. The rubble stone use
d was from the fiat rock quarries OF Decatr
r county, and the cut stone from Eietsvill
$ Ind. The brick masonry, material and wor
q was contracted for by John Martin, of Ind
i annapolis, the brick being manufactured With
d two miles of the hospital The iron work w,
k let TO Neal & Co.; the timber WORK TO Charl,
8 Dallman; abe plastering to Griffiths
o Williams; the slate and tin wor
a to Johnston Cros.; the galvanized 1ro
e to Purcell & Lang, all of Indianapolis. I'll
/, contract for steam heating was awarded
i Baker, smith d Co., of New York City, TIL,
II of water distribu ion and plumbing to Wa
:. worth Manufacturing company, of Bosto
!, The wood finishing of the interior was dor
a in mixed W y. The materials was mile
d cut, Joined and made ready by days wor
l. under the supervision of a trusted forema
n using machinery owned by the Hospital, bi
= put in position by q contractor, Peter Route
IS The painting and wood finish of center bull
e Ing was done by day labor, under the supe
,e vision of G. w. Doss, for many years employs
n as Hospital painter, The glazing was done /
= contract, let to Frank Carpenter, and Il
ii woodwork of the wards was finished in va
e iish by NJ. Green, contractor, of Indianapoli
rn II..~..