The daily gazette., 1880-02-26
FIRST EDITION.
the Himshouse Of Delaware

| S0dutys
The ancient building known as the
"Men's Insane Department" OF the New
Castle County AlmshOuse is a part OF
the original Almshouse building, and has
served its various purposes through sew
eral generations. IL Is now In such
dilspidated condition that economy, as
we'll as the health and comfort OF its in
mates, demands its removal for better
and more roomy and suitable quarters.
Of the average number Of two hundred
and sixty inmates of The Almshouse,
considerably more than one-fourth OF
the whole are in the l. sane Depart
mem, which, as regards the men, Is un-
comfortably crowded.
The Trustees have hesitated TO begin
the work because Of their reluctance to
involve the county in expense, and
have, for few years past, res0rted TO
shifts and expedients in order to accom-
modate the increasing demands. Tenn
porary cells have been constructed and
these have encroacbed on the exercise
grounds, are inconvenieDt of access and
difficult 10 heat. The Levy Court un-
officially advised reconstruction, and
| two sessions of the Grand Jury init
mated their purpose of indicting the
building as a nuisance. The Women's
Insane Department, formerly section
of the same, was rebuilt some twenty
years since, and 1t is now p opposed TO
rebuild the Mems Dep ,-tmenI III some
what uniform style, having in view all
modern improvements compatible with
the means at the disposal Of the Trus-
| tees.
The economical administration OF the
poor affairs for the past five to seven
years, calculated per capita of the pau
pers, as compared with the cost Of an
equal period proceeding, has resulted In
a saving that will 60 far toward paying
the proposed cost of the erection Of the
new building.
With this evidence the Trustees ap-
pointed Building Committee with in-
structions TO procure plans and esti-
mates, which, If approved by the Board,
will at once be acted upon and the
building finished with dispatch. The
committee have carefully considered
plans and have made visits TO similar
institutions most noted for modern con-
venience and economical construction.
A recent visit TO the Almshouse Of
Delaware county, Pa, has suggested
many improvements in regard TO the
health and comfort of the inmates and
in the diminished cost Of their maintain
an1e. These buildings are all new, sub
stantially built of stone, and situated on
an elevation that ovcrloOks their farm Of
one hundred acres and wide scope Of
country beyond. The inmates, at pres
ent, number one hundred and sixty-two,
Of which about forty occupy the Insane
Department. The farm and gardens are
models of culture and management even
In this county, so largely peopled by the
the fine old Quaker stock noted for
thrift and large practical views. A ram
supplies the house with abundance of
water, which is so distributed by pipes
throughout the building that any part
can be instantly flooded in case OF fire.
There is workshop on the premises in
which repairs TO farm machinery are
made, beside much OF the mechanical
work about the place is done there. A
,arpet mandatory, worked by the in
mates, turns out such superior work thet
its carpets have several times taken pre-
miums at the County Fairs. The larger
rooms, areas and many of the sleeping
rooms, especially in the Woman's De-
partment, are furnished with these car
pets, and there was stock on hand for
sale,
The Trustees are intelligent and prac-
tical men, and are demonstrating as far
as they are able, the benefit Of keeping
all their available forces usefully en-
ployed. This is exempliied in the di-
rection of partially self supporting IN
stitusion, and in the sanitary effect upon
the inmates. An expression Of con-
tentment and even Of cheerfulness was
noticeable on the faces OF the busy ones,
for, as the Superintendent observed, ait
gives them an interest in life" An IL
lustration to the point was the case OF
the florls. who presides with ability over
the greenhouse, in which are propagat-
ed and reared many beautiful and are
plants and flowers. This man idle (to
use the language of Trustee) is crazy
: employed is rational, and 50 successful
: that revenue is delivered from the sale
OF the flowers &c, beyond a supply fol
the grounds of the house.
Some of our Trustees had recently
q visited the new State Hospital for the
insane at Norristown, Pa, designed fo
the maintenance and cure OF the lnsan'
of seven counties of that State, Pbiia
delphia included. 1t is here claimed
tha: seventy five per cent Of the case
taken in early stages. can be cured; ant
|, the main reliance for cure is based upol
exciting and keeping up an interest II
the minds of the patients, or Of keepin
mind and body usefully employed. Thi
is the plan, so far as practicable, in tn
Del. Co. House, and with beneficial re
suits. There is a school house in thi
department at which all the children
- and many of larger growth, are oblige,
n daily to attend.
e. The interest of the people of tn
c. county in their model institutio
Q. was evidenced in the attendanC
r. of representative from each of til
,r three county newspapers, Count
as Commissioners ex-Trustee and other
ar all of whom cheerfully assisted the Tru
~ tees and Superintendent to make II
I'd visit of the Committee both pleasaI
and profitable.