The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-22

Annual Report OF the Central Lunatic
Asylum.

Annual Report Of the Central Luuati'
Asylum.
The following is the report Of the Boar'
Of Directors OF this asylum to the Gov
ernor
CENTRAL IuyATrc AsyLUx,l
RICHMOND, Va, October 10, 1882.
To His Excellency Governor William 4
Cameron:
The Board Of Directors OF the above
named institution desire respectfully 3,
submit their report for the fiscal year end
in September 80. 1882.
The very full and excellent report Of Oh,
Sun rintendont, with the statistical table,
ACCOMPANYING the same, furnish full infor
nation as 10 the workings OF the institll
ton. To all OF these your attention Is espe
cially directed.
The wards have been crowded quit,
closely during the greater part OF the year
but. Y rigid economy OF space, all meri
torious eases have generally been received
TIE farm has been a success, as will BE-
seen from the farmers report.
The iinlncial status OF the institution Is
good. We would call attention to the
comments 81 the Superintendent upon this
subject. ~ Is stated. all OF the debts
which were contracted prior TO the ap-
poinincnt OF the present Board have been
paid. They amounted in the aggregate tC
$6,S2256. From the statement Of monthly
expenditures II will be seen that the sum
of $4,000. the amount appropriated fol
support Of tie institution for the current
fiscal wear. will be insufficient If the popu-
lation remains as large as at present. The
strictest economy is being practiced by the
efficient administration OF the asylum, but
we cannot require n restriction OF eXpen-
diturcs which would work harshly or
seemingly cruel TO the unfortunate people
we have in charge. This will not be done.
believing ~ we do that their maintenance
and care viii be esteemed pleasure and
not Il burden by the people who pay for the
same.
In pursuance OF special acts Of the Gen.
eral Assembly the Council OF the city OF
Petersburg has purchased and donated to
the Board OF Directors a suitable site for
the new asylum buildings. The site SCI
lectcd was the "Mayfeld" farm, lying
near that city, and in westerly course|
thcreirom. The immediate spot on which,
the main building Is to be erected is the
highest in the whole surrounding country
The plan adopted for this building is the
well.known "Lanear plan," and will be-,
comfort, safety. and economy. The sum-
the purpose of erecting these build-
ings-yiz., S1OO,0O0-is insufficient tol
complete the work upon the buldings|
or thst Of removal Of the property and in
mates TO the new location. DR.. Randolph
Barksdale, the former superintendent, REL
commended the appropriation Of $500, 000l
o. ha Of
new Asylum farm has upon it no buildingsj
OF consequence, and a number must bel
erected. In view OF this fact, remembering!
and estimating the necessary costs of rel
moval, should say that the figure fixed by;
Or. Barksdale, above mentioned, is not eX
eessive. The completion of the centred
building and two adjacent wings is all that
will he attempted at present. These will
accommodate only two hundred patients,I
and temporary quarters will have to bel
provided for the rest OF the inmates untll
two other wings are added. We may bel
allowed TO express the hope that prOyisionl
will be made at once for the addition of theE
two wings. The work on the main build-f
ing and two adjacent wings will be conf
tracted for in the course Of the presents
month. Owing to the unavoidable delay}
in the purchase Of the site, the Board hasS
abandoned the idea Of completing thcI
buildings by the 1st OF January next, asi
contemplated by the act OF the General Ash
bly,. As this provision Of the law mustE
necessarily be ignored, it is the purpose of
the Board now, in the exercise OF its dis-s
erection in the NATTER TO extend the timed
with some Of the contractors to the fall oil
1884.
All of which is respectfully submitted ong
behalf OF the Board.
STITH Boiling, President.
Then follow the reports OF the superin-s
tcndent, farmer, &c.
The following are the officers Of the in,
stitution: David +. May, NJ. D., supcrin-:
tendent and physician; J. C. Ferguson, NJ!
d., first assistant physician; r. +. Tanoil,;
NJ. d., second assistant physician and Ell
oficiO clerk and storekeeper; 5lrs. Harris, /
matron; John l.. Schermerhorn, stew-s
ard; Phillip J. Tricc, farmer. BoardS
Of Directors; Stith Boiling presdenO,3
Petersburg; Josiah Crump president proI
tenn, Richmond; William NJ. Flanagan
Secretary, Powhatan; i. b. JeflrieS,!
Halifax; Alexander Sims, Chesterfield Il
u. Taylor McCue, Richmond; James CT
Drake, Petersburg; Samuel \. Gilliam,'
Dinwdde; Douglas johnson, Petersburg i
David a. Windsor. Alexandria; John Il.
Anderson. NJ d.. LOusa.