Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-02-20
Board of Se1ectmen.

| Or. NJ. C. White On the Care OF the
Insane Committee to Purchss e
| Supplies for the AlmshOuse Appointed
Other Business
| A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
| held last evening. Present, Selectmsn
English (presiding), Reynolds, Feldman,
Beecher, Treat. Faulhaber and Tyler.
The Committee on Roads and Bridges re-
ported of work being done on West Chapel
| and Martin streets on the approaches to the
! bridges over West river for protection
| against accident.
The Committee on CONSTRUCTION and Re.
pairs reported that they had attended the
hearing before the Committee of the Legis-
! lature on Cities and Boroughs on the matter
of Strengthening West river. AS the hearing
was not finished and as 1t was inconvenien t
for the whole committee to go to Hartford
again Selectnan Treat was empowered to ap-
pear for the whole committee The com
| mittee approves of all that the city han said
about the matter.
DIR. NJ c. White appeared before the board
| in regard to the care of the insane He said
| when the proposition to enlarge the asylum
at Middletown was proposed the medical
faculty of the State were divided on the pro
priety of enlargement. He said they were
nov almost a unit that there should be no
| more large buildings erected in Middletown
He said that that institution was now over
| crowded. There were in the New Haven
almshouse about forty who were more or less
insane and eight or ten of them should be in
some insane retreat. There should be some
did not erect one somewhere else then New
Haven should erect one at their own expense.
| The almshouse was a miserable place
for insane poor. They should not be locked
up in cells like prison Prompt action the
doctor thought was necessary. he thought
| two cottages should be erected on the lot
south of the wing to the old building. They
may be built of wood 60 feet long and 30
| feet wide, one for men and one for women
| He said that the cottages could be built in
one month as we'll az six months A fence
should be built around the buildings when
| they can get sunlight and air. The doctor
| urged that there should be no delay in this
| matter. It would be cheaper and more con-
venient to build the cottages two st cries hiQI
| and passageway could be run from the ser
| ond story over the driveway to the main
| building.
Selectman Fe1dman not in favor Of
the project. Selectman Trea thought the
| public saw the necessity of some action In
| the matter On motion of Selectman TYLER
| the committee on asylum were instructed to
! draw up a petition asking for an appropria-
ton for an asylum and get all the signers
possible and present it to the committee OF
legislature.
| The committee to whom was referred the
matter of purchasing supplies for the aims
house reported in favor of appointing a
committee to purchase beef and bread and
other things by contract, such commit not
| to receive any pay for their duties Town
| Agent Reynolds. a member of the committee
did not approve of the report, and said that
| he did not care to have an imputation cast
upon his work. Mr. English said
| that there was no such intention in the re-
port. They thought that the Board of Sc
lectmen should have the control of making
the purchases Mr.. Reynolds said that the
selectmen were there to watch the town agent
and if they find anything wrong they should
reprove him. Mr.. English inquired who
made him the purchasing agent of the town
Mr. Reynolds said that last years board ap
| pointed him. Mr. Faulhaber Thought that
| Mr.. Sanford was best qualified to do the
purchasing. As the rspart was only signed
| by Mr. English he offered 1t resolution.
Selectpaan Tyler moved to strike out all but
| contracts for bread and beef and all supplies
| that can be contracted for. Inc motions
were Withdrawn to give TovA Agent Rey
nolds chance to introduce motion which
! he thought would be satisfactory.
| communication from II. @. Rowe was
read and placed on file asking for the extern
| sion of South Quinnipiac street TO Center
street. and for q sidewalk and curb on the
west side of South Quinnipiac street.
Voted. that committee of three be ap-
pointed to contract for the supply of fresh
beef and bread for use at the almshouse and
| 10 purchase all supplies for the almshouse by
contract as they shall consider for the best
interests of the town. Selectmen English
Reynolds and Fsldman were appointed by
nomination as such committee.
The petitions TO go to the Legislature ask
ing for an appropriation for the purpose of
erecting buildings for the care of the insane
poor will be ready for signers at once, and
the Selectmen hope that large number will
interest themselves in the matter enough to
sign them.