Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-03-09
The County Asylum.


a county insane asylum, was held last
Thursday, the I'd inst, at the Office of
Colonel Clark, in this city. The men,
bers present were Clark, Hubel, Rob.
bins, Grimm and Rodolf, Messrs Ry-
land and lIier not being able to attend.
The bug bear Of state interference still
lowered over the deliberations of the
committee as win be seen by the follow
ing report of their proceedings When
the committee was called to order a
resolution as follows was introduced by
Mr.. Robbins Resoiced, That it is the
sense of this committee that the state
ought to to take care of its chronic in
sane at the present hospitals by increas-
ing their capacity to that extent by eX
tension thereto. Adopted unanimously.
Plans for the asylum, consisting of
one building, substantially built, pre-
pared by Mr.. II. Z. Thompson were
submitted to the committee by the
Chairman and met with the approval of
all the members present. The following
resolutions in reference to the future
action of the committee were introduced
and adopted unanimously:
BY Mr. Rodolf ResolUed, That we,
the committee, decide to-day upon the
plan after which we will build by non
action Of the Legislature to provide for
suitable buildings forthe insane.
BY Mr. Hubbell ReSolUed, That
the plan submitted by Ii. p. Thompson
for a building for the chronic insane of
this county be adopted by this board,
provided it does not exceed the sum
of 9l2 900, and, provided further, that
the legislatufeI at the present session
make no provisions for the care of the
chronic insane of the state; and the
chairman of the committee be author
lied to advertise for bidders for the said
building afterthe fifteenth day of March,
1882, if the legislature take no action as
stated, and to call meeting of the com
mittcc when bids are received. Said
bids to be received or rejected by said
committee as thought best.
After instructing the secretary to send
a copy of Mr.. Robbins resolution to the
county's representatives at Madison
the committee adjourned subject to the
call of the chairman.
The building provided for by Mr..
Thompson's plan is substantial but
neat and imposing structure about 45
by no feet in dimension, consisting of
two stories and a basement, the latter
nine feet in height The foundation
and basement is meant to be of stone,
the building itself of brick, with slate
roof. It's very well arranged for the
purpose designed and is capable of ac-
commodating siXty-fiye patients. The
basement contains the kitchen, laun-
day and dining rooms, together with
the furnace and bunkers for coal and
other fuel. The first floor of the build
ing is divided in two parts by Il recep-
tion corridor or large hall, one side be-
ing devoted to the males and the other
to the females. On this floor are three
dormitories for each sex and rooms for
the attendants. The second floor con-
tains the remainder of the domitories,
with attendants rooms located at each
end of the corridor where they can have
a clear view of the corridor which is
also meant to be used as sitting room.
The hospitals for each sex are also on
this floor, occupying corner rooms.
The building is well proportional and
the space utilized to the best advantage.
| Two extra stairW avs, besides the main
4 stairway in the center, lead from the
second story to the basement, so that in
ease of fire patients can pass from one
ward to the other and descend in safety
The estimated cost of the structure is Il
tritle less than $4,000, and properly
erected will not only be solid and COM
/ Portable but combine with these quail
ties certain degree of elegance as will
make the new asylum, in outward APP
pearance at least, an institution to
which county residents can point with
pride. As soon as the legislature has
dropped its waYering policy and
decides that the state is not to be made
the catSpaw of the half dozen impecun-
ious counties, as it evidently will do, the
committee will advertise for bids and
when the contracts are once let the
work will be pushed with all the rapid
ity possible. Every day of delay at
present will result in misery to the in
sane when the hot winds of summer
commence to blow If it was the legis-
lature and not these poor creatures who
had to suffer, the question would have
been decided long ago.