Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-31
naur.v AND WEEKLY:
Seattle. June 10 1888.
wEPORT OF LEGISLATIVE COMMIT.
TEE ON HOSPITAL ROR TINE IN
SANE.

Mr.. President, your Committee oI
Hospital for the Insane, to whom wa
referred that portion of the Governor
message relating thereto, have had tn
same under consideration and report a
follows
In company with the committee o
the House we visited the hospital ana
examined into the condition Of It's at
fairs and management. We fount
them in good condition and well man
aoed. The treatment of patients
a humane and skillful, their wants
and comfort well cared for. Ths
ACCOUNTS of the institution are kept u
an Ineligible manner, and apparent,
with care and accuracy.
The premises occupied were formerly
used for a military post, and the buiid
ince were erected for soldiers barracks
and officers quarters. The purchase
and appropriation of these for theil
present use was wise measure at the
time il was done, and the promises have
served 10 meet all the requirements OF
the institution mp to this time.
The use to which the buildings are
nov devoted is 90 different from that
fsr which they were originally intend 30
that IL is not possible to administer the
sfairs of the Hospital as economica lily
in all respects as it would be in struct-
ure designed exclusively for the pur-
pose. This, among other things, mas
brought up, for the consideration OF
your committee, the urgent recon-
mendation of the Trustees and super
intendent, that the work Of commenc-
ino the erection of a large and perma-
uent building should be entered upon
ct once.
In view of the fact that the time is ap-
preaching when we may reasonably ex-
pest that our form of government may
be changed from that of the Territory
70 the State, and that the foundation,
care and management of public insti-
tutions may be modified by new con-
diti0us incident to that change, We
haSe not thought it advisable to recon-
msud any radical measures, requiring
large expenditures for improvements,
but rather to suggest that we should
ondeavor to provide such increased ac-
oommodation a. the present necessities
Of the case demand, keeping In view
due regard for the efficiency and
character of the institution and welfare
Of it, inmates, leaving the founding OF
permanent institGtions to tho State.
We learn that 40 ommodations can DO
provided for thirty additional patients
By fitting up wards in the upper part OF
some Of the present buildings, and We
recommend that sufficient appropria-
tim be made to effect this change.
The area Of land belonging to the Ter
rtt0ry and pertaining to the hospital, Is
nearly one mile square, embracing a
little over 600 acres. OF this large tract,
a. insignificant part, some six acres, is
all that Is susceptible of cultivation.
This smsll tract has been utilized to the
utmoat, and has produced very large
portion of the small fruits and vege-
tables required for the use Of the hospi-
~ The trustees have called attention
70 tract Of about thirty acres called
lake, which they think might be reclaim
q By draining, and made productive.
= order to drain this pond yer. deep
dttch, or for the most part q tunnel
would be necessary, something like half
= mile In length. The estimated cost Of
toi1 impr0vent Is placed bv the trustees
9 vAO0. Your committee are satisfied,
from the inspection of the proposed i'm
pgoyement, that it could not be made
e. less than the sum named. and prob
ably would require more.
Il 10 evident that when this institu-
tior shall be established permanently,a
ouoeiderable tract Of arabic land will be
needed for it, not Only TO supply prod
uces Tor its use, bat TO f0rnish suitable
o0cupati0n for large number OF its In
matea. The COMMITTEES are Of the upin-
I'm that this tract Of thirty acres. II il
epuld all be reclaimed, would yet afford
- insufficient atga to meet the needs Ut
nah An establishment rs this must ne
oem1afily come to be In the future, and
~ inclined to think that an appr0pria-
Nou Of the amount aaked for might be
nc!e tudici0usly expended in some 9TH
q direction. and conduoe more directly
= the benefit Of the inmates and It's
ulsfulness to the public.
10uI committee unanimously oonour
= eeatimsnt that theL LeRislatnre should
p Roserned BY no mean and nigRardiy
policy In providing for the support and
maintenance Of the hospital, bat that
"a 1ould In q liberal spirit, do all thai
~ b done for the ameli0ration OK the
dttt0n and restoration Of our unfor-
nAee fellow men Who are thrown upon
- oare Of the commonwealth by the
ssersnt afliction tnat can befail . hu-
man being.
Ne further report That We have under
nadorAtiun the matter Of appropria-
! - and such changes in the pfeaent
~ - We deem it important should be
-, and will soon submit them Tor
eo0sideratjon and action OF this
MY. ]. H. HouuHToN, Chairman.