Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-09-01
A Needed Institution.

1t has long been apparent to those
best acquainted with the condition OF
affairs at Madison in regard to the car,
ing for the insane, that sooner or later
Grant county would have to provide
within its own borders suitable accom-
modations for, at least, ilcurable pa
tients of this class.
The state asylum for the insane, at
Madison, is now and has been for some
time oyercrowdcd TO an alarming de.
gree. 1t harbors within its walls
between one and two hundred more pa
tients than it ought to accommodate,
the result of overrunning their quotas
by the different counties. Grant coun-
tvs quota is twenty-five; it has to-day
forty-onc insane patients in the Madison
asylum, Of whom thrce-fourths, THE
HERALD is informed, are incurable.
But one other county, Lacrosse, shows
similar over-running of its Legitimate
quota. The result of this is that patients
of this unfortunate class can now only
be received at the asylum from
this county through the cour-
tesy of the superintendent; claims
it has none. Yet hardly week passes
but what an application is made to the
county authorities to take charge OF
persons alleged to be insane. So fast
has the list increased that in addition
to those now at Madison nineteen are
furnished with quarters at the county
poor farm while the Jail gives nominal
shelter to four more. These may be
ugly facts but facts they are, neverthe.
less, and in the face of them who will
say that the time has not arrived fol
decided action on the part of the county
looking to suitable provision for this
unfortunate class by the erection OF
suitable county buildings where the
incurable insane can receive proper
care and attendance.
In addition to the reasons suggested
by humanity in favor of county asylum
are certain economical considerations
which are well worthy of attention. BY
an act passed at the last session of the
Legislature each county providing suita
bic accommodations for its insane is al
lowed for every such person cared for
one dollar and fifty cents per week from
the state, said amount being deducted
from the state tax payable by the coun
ty. In addition to this, counties having
asylums are allowed, when they have
the room, to take insane patients from
adjacent counties, for each of which
patients they will receive three dollar:
per week, one-half being paid by the
state and the other half by the county
to which the patient is credited. In adj
| dition to this is the fact that insane per
sons can be cared for much cheaper anC
In better shape at home than in an over
! crowded state asylum. The place fol
incurables is undoubtedly in the coun
ties to which they are credited so as
to relieve the overburdened institution
at Madison, and thus afford chance
for the better treatment and more care.
full attention by the staff Of that institu
ton to the more hopeful cases. in order
that they may as soon as possible es
cape from the CALLING chains that bind
many bright intellect in a bondage
worse than death itself
The state tax of Grant county for the
present year will amount to about S12,.
000-this is an approximate estimate
of that amount at least one-fourth will
be for the care of insane. In addition
to this are the expenses of transporta.
ton back and forth, together with the
regulation two suits of clothing which
will again double the original estimate
Thus the annual expenses of the county
for insane patients at Madison would
provide good comfortable home fol
one of the most helpless and therefore
most exacting of the county'S charges
No reason worthy of the name can be
shown why Grant county should MOI
erect an asylum for the incurable in
sane. 1t cannot plead debts already
contracted rs it has none, being clear Of
any incubus of this kind. Other coun
ties, noticeably Dane, Rock and Jeffer
son, are already constructing building,
for the insane, neither being in
better or in fact as good financial con
dition rs this county.
THE HERALD has here presented bu
n hasty review of the more prominen
economical features of the case. TIL,
subject is one in which it feels assured
every citizen of Grant county takes
personal interest. Not only econom,
but humanity urges some favorable &C
ton being taken by the county board il
this matter The place, cost and othe
details can be left to this body to settle
What is first needed is u strong an,
hearty affirmative answer to this cues
ton: shall the county provide within it
own borders for the care of its incurabl
insane?
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Not Worth Much.