Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-03-16
An Important Question.

An Important Question.
The action of the joint special com
mittee of the legislature in reviewing tn,
plan of state hospital for the chroni,
insane brings that subject again prom
inently before the public. From thu
tone of the resolution reported it would
seem that the committee itself had some
doubts about the security of the ground
on which they stood, and had taken this
| step under strong pressure from the
friends of the proposed plan. The Mil
waukec Republican in referring to this
| action of the committee takes occasion
to again urge the increase of the capa.
city OF the Milwaukee asylum. That
an addition to the capacity of some OF
the present institutions is not only the
most feasible but also the most economi.
cal plan none, who have given the mat.
ter careful thought, will deny. THE
HERALD some weeks ago urged this plan
as way out of the present difficulties,
But this ought not to operate against the
county plan proper There are many
counties which either do not wish tc
build or are not financially strong enough
to build, which have chronic insane that
must be cared for. The most expedi.
tious way to provide for their necessi.
ties is to enlarge one of the existing hos.
pitfalls. The erection of another large
building at cost of several hundred
thousand dollars would be piece OF
senseless extravaganza and it is motto.
able that this plan meets its strongest
support from those counties which have
quite a number of chronic insane and
which do not care to provide themselves
suitable county buildings. Hence they
make jack pot of their chances and
trucSt to the one having the heaviest
hand to capture the site and thus have
practically county hospital built at the
state expense.
The total cost Of erecting the State
hospital for the Insane at Madison was
in round numbers 100000, the actual
cost being a little above this amount.
'Ehe Northern Hospital at Oshkosh cost
like sum. Now the advocates of the
state system come forward and ask for
the approp riation of another $500, 00C
for the erection of a third asylum.
Yet if we could draw a line here and
say thus far will we go and no further,
objections might not pile up so thickly,
but the evil will not stop here Only a
few years ago, comparatively, the Osh-
kosh asylum was erected with promise
that this would furnish accommodation
for all the insane. This promise has,
in the light of fact, proved of no ac-
count. Experience teaches us that j!
the state enters upon building era there
is no telling where it will stop. But a
few years will elapse before another
| asylum will be demanded, then another
! and still another, until in the end W,
have practically system of county asy.
lums technically known as state institu.
tons and built by the public money. II
is always wise to look before leapinc and
it will take but a single glance to show
the yawning pit that opens mp under the
proposed plan, rs a receptacle for public
money.
On the other hand by Il wise encour.
agcment of the county system, at one,
the most sensible and economical sys
tenn, the erection of county asylums will
he continued. Each county can build
to suit the demands made upon it by the
number Of pitiful unfortunates which
are dependant on it for support. b,
having them thus at home their welfare
can the better be looked after by their
friends. who will thus be able to pa,
them periodical visits without a larc,
outlay of time and money Again tn,
financial circumstances of the friends Of
the insane will be closer examined. anf
when able, they will be tenfold NOR,
likely to be taxed rs they should be fol
their support, thus relieving the coun
ties of burden which is an lmportan
item.
1t Is not necessary to continue urpine
arguments in favor of that system un
der which many counties have alread,
began to build. That it was felt to h,
the best solution of the accumulat;n,
difficulties IS shown not only bv m,
immunity of feeling with which the Law
OF last year was passed but by the deci
sive vote of a few weeks ago when tn,
numerous bills brought forward in In
interest of the new inroad into the pub
lie treasury was indefinitely postponed
At this distance away it can hardly h
seen how or by what means so complet
a revolution could have been worked a
to cause a reversal of this decision an,
when the final vote is taken possibly i
viii be found that the friends of tn
measure have counted without tbei
host.
As regards the benefit TO the patient
themselves there can be little doubt tina
when cared for Understandings the
would be much better off in count,
homes .hau in large state institution
The Milwaukee Sentinel speaking on til,
subject says; lin large institutions
when the interest upon original invest
nentS is taken into consideration. tn,
insane are never cared for SO eheapl,
and seldom SO comfortably as they
would be among their friends at home