The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-06-06
THE ASYLUM.
a Few Additional Sabbath Sug-
geStiOns on this Subject.

zNHN1SAO va I11O OuOlOOts
: 1t seems as though the question o
- the location of the territorial asylum
= has not been settled yet. So far as
appears at present there is general
! Dissatisfaction at what has been done
Ia regard to the matter. That Davis
, County should be awarded the insti-
tuition is more than her people ever
! anticipated, and the vote that sgiVes
it to her was doubtless as much a sur
! ! prise to her representative on the
! board as to any oftbe others. Some
time ago the HERALD gave many
reasons why this county should have
; the building. and while not desiring
to be captious, we are OF precisely the
same opinion to-day as then, and still
think it should be located mere.
Without any desire whatever to re.
feet on the judgment OF the board,
or on its integrity, there is yet to ap-
pear the first reasonable denial of any
of the assertions made in the article
published in these columns just two
weeks ago to-day; and claiming as is
done that every statement made
therein vas based upon facts that
were not to be controverted, there was
no legitimate excuse for giving the
asylum to any other county. 1t |
would seem that the matter is not yet
irrevocably settled, and if such be the
case, there are few more points that |
may be advanced for the consideration |
of the board. There were runners |
before the first vote was cast that |
| some members OF the board would be |
governed by the general custom in
other states and territories of locating
public buildings In different counties,
and thus distribute them. While
this Is perfectly proper generally, it
should rightfully have had no weight,
If it did, in this connection, as the
law which gives the board being and
which authorizes the construction of
the asylum, does not admit of any
such considerations being entertained;
members could have voted with as
much legality to put it in Washing
ton County, or even to have aban-
dOned the project, az TO have been
actuated on this ground. As regards
ease of access, it has been asserted
that at the time the bill was being
considered in the Legislative Assem-.
bly, the propriety of engaging a ply
slclan TO remain with the asylum
altogether was discussed and sban-
doned, as the expense that would ac-
crue therefrom would be more than
the conditions would justify; for this
reason it has been alleged that to
locate the asylum on the DR.. Young
asylum grounds would necessitate Just
such a state of affairs as was at
tempted to be avoided by the legisla-
tors. Even if this we're correct,
which is denied, Davis County does 3
not improve the matter a particle; in |
fact, it takes the institution a dis {
lance Of twenty miles from any ply t
stefan who would be employed, max. L
ing his permanent engagement an S
absolute necessity. l
Statistics show that there are more y
patients sent from this county than I
from all the other counties put TO- t
gether, and where the economy Y
exists in e1pending the peoples C
money for sending a majority Of the s
probsbls inmates OF the asylum from b
the county which pays for them to Z
another, is q conundrum that will re- a
quire deal of logic 10 answer. Tns Z
questions of healthfulness, accessi- 2
biiily and cheapness OF material need t
not be enumerated, as the odds are Il
Enthusiastically in favor Ct Salt Lake il
County. In all the sites offered, not E
one has been of the value of that e
offered by Salt Lake, and if we il
gather Alright from remarks that il
have been made, in only one OF all t
the sites rendered the commission g
was there clear, valid, uDques-
toned and sufficient water right, and
that one was the site offered by Salt a
Lake County. These are all state C
ments which will bear scrutiny and \
thought, and looking at the whole f
matter from as dispassionRte stand. h
point SIS possible, and with these \
facts standing uncontroverted, 1t is
difficult to see wherein the commits
sion has exercised the good Judgment
It's members are known 10 possess; in
fact, it looks as though bias had been b
allowed to sway little too freely; l
and We venture to state that the gen j
tleman representing the fortunate O
county would not give it as his cool Il
judgment that the best selection had
been made . in the choice Of his
county, while other members would
not say so either.
The expenditure OF such a large
sum OF public money as seems lnevi- (
table in this case is n serious matter, e
ore which the members of the beard =
must fully appreciate, and one which b
is likely to be felt for many years d
SO that mistske made il the start is I
likely to bring lasting discredit on 2
their Judgment; and If it is net their /
better Judgment that Davis County I
should have the asylum, it wo lid be b
much wiser to recall what has been Y
done. Better reetify blunder in a
matter of such magnitude while it
can be done than persist in it rather
than admit the error. But if the
decision be the result OF calm and
judgment, then of
course the board will stand by il.
The gentlemen composing the
board are now public officers; their 6
acts are open to criticism; they must ]
expect it: they will be subjected to it,
if they are right they can afford to 9
be criticised, and if wrong can GER
tainly take no offense when these 8
criticisms are made in a gentlemanly '
manner. In this matter, at least, (
there is net, and never has been, any I
jealouay in this county against lite I
competitors; Salt Lake could afford to I
rest on its merits under the law. =
Outside of this county, Davis would i
Internationally be the choice of our s
citizens for the erection OF the asy-
lum; It is nearer than any of the {
others, and we would not only furnish
nearly all the mechanics and ell the
material, bat We would receive in con-
sequence a greater return Of means
than if it were located in any other.
Besides, We can afford to be without
it as far as that goes, aud it would
consequently benefit US less than any
of our competitors. for which reason
ne have less occasion to be jealous
But these are considerations that 60
not enter properly into the matter.