Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-12
AN OPEN LETTER.
To the Board Of Supervisors Of Iowa
County.

Although Tile hOtdIC bOoId VI Oi4dA-
tiles caused a number of those IN
fortunates to be removed to Grant
county, again our wretched Poor
House is overcrowded, and again the
insane are suffering as a conse-
quence.
Every feeling OF sympathy for
this unfortunate class, each humane
instinct, ought to lead you to pro
vide for their proper care, especially
as this need not entail any addition
al burden on the tax payers; but on
the contrary be made a source OF
revenue to the county.
Two years ago the county board
informally decided to build proper
buildings for the insane, and as a
preparation purchased additional
farming lands. At that time the
State Board of Charities were as
sured by the present president of
your board, and other supervisors,
that this would be done at once,
and in consequence the most useful
of the insane were left at the Poor
Farm, instead of being removed to
Grant county.
Why, what was the then under
stood policy Of your board was
changed, you probably know better
than | do. Perhaps if these new
buildings were to have been erected
near some city or village, sufficient
local interest might have been enlist
ed to compel your board TO act.
| repeat, the erection of a good
county asylum, need not entail any
additional burden on the tax payers;
but on the contrary would pay for
itself in a very few years.
There are now Is insane at the
Poor Farm; 8 at Lancaster, and
there are about 80 atthe State Hos
pital. For those at the Hospital and
at Lancaster, the county pays S1.5O
per week per capita, besides the cost
of clothing, and it is to be presumed
that those at the Poor Farm cost as
much, or you must admit, that they
are not well cared for. This is an an
nual outlay 1922, irrespective Of
clothing.
Of the above 81 insane, 40 might
be better cared for in their own
county asylum and their care would
cost the county little or nothing, as
the State Aid would pay the cost of
running the asylum, and thus save
the county $4,000 year.
Gentlemen, sinking all questions
of sentiment, of humanity and of
sympathy for the unfortunates, let
US approach this as purely eco
nomical question, a question OF
dollars and cents.
The erection of buildings to &C
comodate 100 patients would be
cheaper in the end, than would the
erection of smaller ones; for at the
present ratio of increase. the time
when Iowa Co. will require as large
buildings for own insane is not far
distant; and in the meantime the
spare room can be occupied by
patients from other counties to the
profit of Iowa Co.
Two asylum buildings, each for
so patients, with third between
the two, and all connected by light
corridors, the latter to contain
quarters for the superintendent and
his family,-kitchen, dining rooms,
laundry and bath rooms-can be
built of stone or brick, with brick
partitions, and complete by furnish
ed in all respects as side institutions
should be, for $4,000 at the outside.
In such buildings your insane
would cost you no more than they
do at present, S1.50 per week, while
those from other counties, for the
care of whom, the county would
receive So. per week, would yield a
profit of $3.50 per week each.
Suppose the average number OF
inmates should be so, (and they
would never be less you would re-
ceive from the state, as clear profit
over your present system $6,24O. per
annum.
If you borrow $4,000 at 6 per
cent to construct your buildings, the
above income will pay it off, princi-
pie and interest III five years, and in
the meantime the cost of caring for
the insane will DO no more than at
present, and after that their care
will cost the county nothing.
| do not make mere guesses on
this matter.
The cost of running the Rock Co.
asylum during the past year was
S1.40 per capita, and we know the
patients were well cared for.
| am in receipt of the report of
the trustees of the Dane Co. asylum
which shows that it cost the county
nothing, not only that, but left a
small balance to its credit.
This asylum, while about the best
constructed, costs more to run than
any other asylum under the State
Board of Charities. In it are cared
for 60 insane belonging to Dane Co.,
yet the cost of this maintenance to
Dane Co., was nothing.
In view of these facts and figures,
may not | hope, gentleman, that
you will give this matter your earn
est attention, and provide at once to
the erection of decent asylum build
ings, so that these unfortunates may
be provided within our OWN borders,
where their friends can, by personal
inspection, assure themselves that
they are as well cared for as their
condition will admit. l am gentle
men, Yours Respectfully,
JNo. III. VIVIAN, NJ. D.,
Member of the State Board of Char
tiles and Reform.