The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-11
the contract may be let at once. Referred TO |
committee on roads and bridges.

:. INSANE.
Fox called the attention of the Board to tn
r tact that the hour had arrived tor the propose,
investigation of the truth of the report Of tn
State Board of Charities for 1880 touching TIT
condition of the building used at that time a
place of confinement for the insane whom |
+ was necessary to contne. After the reading
of all the papers and documents at hand bear
ing on the subject, MIR, Whip, assistant secre
tary OF the Board and their agent to examine
the aims houses and jalls of the state, wa.
called on to make a statement. He said ht
had nothing to add, hut would answer any
questions put to HIM.
The portion OF the report objected to by the
pauper committee and the Board Is this:
The condition of the building for the care OF
the insane is horrible The impression upon
spectator is inexpressibly disgusting Six
OF them, most of whom are entirely naked are
confined IN an clubhouse, where they lie upon
the floor in their own filth, without care or at
tention other than that which an aged pauper
is able to give them. Their appearance re-
minds one of hogs upon the floor OF pig .stye
AT the time of our former visit, two years ago
QS'S), the officer representing this Board was
prevented from going to this house by the
county agent, who falsely informed him that
all the inmates had been seen by him. Since
that time the agent has beeen changed.
In answer to a series of questions, Mr. Whip
said Mr.. Flaherty in 1878 had told him he had
seen all the insane inmates, and that he did
not see the clubhouse. That when in 1880 he
did see it, Ee put his impressions into his re
port,-impressions received from its filthy
smell and the general appearance of the build.
ing and Its floors and furniture; and while it
may have been cleaner before or after his visit
Cor rice persn), yet Its general appearance made
the impression on his mind that the rooms
were not properly cleaned, and that the in
mates did not have proper care and attention
when toG that one man had charge of them,
as he was told. The building ought to have
been properly ventilated; the inmates should
have had more attendants and should have
been dressed But this could not be done in
that building, which was only fit for the torch
The main building he reported in excellent
condition-the best of its class IN the state;
and everything about the place, save this out
house, was conducted in excellent manner. In
state institutions clothes are kept on the most
violently insane by making the clothing strong
and by having attendants to see that 1t IS en-
inmates bodies.-Beng shown the report Of
the pauper committee presented at the last
session on this subject denying the truth of
the report as above and being asked to state
what he thought wrong about it, he repeated
his statement that the place was filthy and that
its appearance when he saw it lett the impress
sion Of perpetual filthy condition. However,
his report is simply statement ofthe impres.
sions secured by visitor. His duty did not
include an opinion on the general manage
ment of the establishment, and is not so in
tended.
Mr. Arnold said there has been in this
building since Mr.. Flaherty's before July TO-
time constant flow of artesian water carried
to the house from the well IN al inch pipe.
There was an attendant for each inmate of the
house. John Cruise being superintendent, hav-
ing charge of the doors, etc. Leather hand
cuffs had been made for the most of them, but
they could not be kept on the men. There are
nine windows and two doors in the house,
while the ceiling Is sealed overhead under the
roof, and is eight feet high. He was never
told by Mr.. Flaherty not to show the building
to visitors; and since in 1878 Mr. Flaherty and
MIR. Arnold were not on good terms, the latter
suggested It would not be reasonable to think
they would be over confidential. Beside Mr..
4, 81, 1,,,.1x
which latter statement Mr.. Flaherty also SAID
was true.
Major Gibson, county agent, SAID he was
with MIR. Whip when he visited the asylum
July Z, 1880, which visit gave HIM the i'm
pressons stated in the report of the State
Board. He SAID he thought always the build
ing was not n proper place for those confined
there, nevertheless 1t was the only place at
hand. However, the officers in charge used
all due diligence to keep the place in fit con.
dltlon. II was washed and scrubbed and filth
removed as fast as It came; yet it would get
filthy, having board floors with cracks, and all
the water of the we'll couldn't have kept the
atmosphere perfectly pure. He told Mr.Whip
ne was piiihS ~ vi pIet'y lnick, snouSh ho
thought single and hasty visit might have
given Mr.. Whip impression as to NTH. He
was sure there was no neglect of the inmates.
Mr. Carter, of the Peru schools, the gentle.
man whose opinion was quoted by the presi-
dent of the State Board in the correspondence
read on Monday as above stated was present,
and addressed the Board. He was 10 Ottawa
in 1880 attending a teachers institute, and
having an old acquaintance with Mr.. Whip
was invited to go down with him then, and
did. This winter after the Board had made q
report denying the truth of Mr.. Whips report
and sent 1t TO the president of the State Board
th nj holy To defend their rennrt asked Mr.