San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-07-16

lum, was also for time n resident oil
San Marcos, but We did not have the
pleasure of meeting her. on the pres
ent occasion. We however made the
acquaintance OF DR., Giveps, tho asso-
ciate physician, and Mr.. Weeks, the
steward; the right hand mon OF the
superintendent, wo presume, in their
respective spheres.
Soon after our arrival, DIR. Denton
was so kind as to start with us on n
survey of the different buildings and
wards, pending which, just after din
ner, he favored us witt the perusal OF
manuscript historical sketch OF the
institution, which he had just pre-
pared ut the request of a daily paper
of Northern Texas, giving us permits
sion to use the facts therein set forth,
So before proceeding to report what
we saw, we will give synopsis OF the
Doctors Ms, which will be found in
teresting in itself, and will render more
Ineligible what we may further have
to say.
The Lunatic Asylum was erected
by act of the legislature of August 20,
1856, which took effect in November
following. DIR. j. c. Perry was the first
superintendent, and was appointed by
Gov. Pease. An appropriation of $780,
600 was made for buildings, etc. In
February, 1858, Chas. G. Renan was
made superintendent by Gov. Run
nels, in place of Perry, who brought
suit against Renan for possession,
which reached the supreme court,
and was decided in favor of Renan.
(26 Tex. Rep.) Two years later, DR..
b. Graham was made superintendent
by Gov. Sam Houston, but in little
over a year was removed by Gov. Ed.
Clark, and DR.. Renan again came i'll.
This change was owing to Houston 8
own removal, just prior to the seces-
sion of the state. The old buildings
(without the wings) were about this
time completed, and were formally
opened for patients March II, 1861,
during the administration of DIR. Re-
nan, who was superseded, November
6, by DR.. Steiner. From the open
ing of the institution to 1861, there
were but IS occupants-27 males and
8 females. Prior to IA there were
never as many as 100 patients. DR..
Steiner presided from Nov. 81 to
Sept. IS, when DR.. Graham again
came in, by appointment of A. j
Hamilton, military governor. Ora
ham held till August '66, when DR.
Beal succeeded by appointment Of
Gov. Throckmorton. DR.. Graham
was again appointed in CT by Gov
Pease. DR.. James Cody was next
appointed by Gov. Davis, who in II
appointed DIR. Weisbaugh, who was
succeeded by DR.. Wallace, appointed
by Gov. Coke. DR.. Wallace held I'LL
70. What is known as the NORTH
Building, having capacity of 65 oc
cupants, and the Pavilion y, accom-
modating 40, were erected about this
time. The latter was destroyed by
fire in 1881, and Recreation Hall
built in it's place. During Wallace's
administration the number of patients
increased from less than 100 to about
300. DR.. Landers was put in charge
in 10 by Gov. Roberts, Dr. T.. j. Ora
ham in 81 by the same, who held tc
Jan. 'S3, when DR.. Denton, the pres
ent superintendent, came in will
Gov. ireland, and was recently reap
pointed by the Board of Managers.
1t will thus be seen that there have
been fourteen distinct administra
tons of the Asylum during the q
years of it's existence-certainly a bal
state of affairs for the success of sucl
institutions, and one which is discoun
tenanced in those states where they
have been most satisfactory. The ad
ministration of such institutions
should be divorced from political con
siderations, and fitness and efficiency
govern in the appointment of theil
managers. 1t is but simple justice tt
DR.. Denton to say, that although ht
came in according to the old rule, hi
has proved himself pre-eminently the
man for the place. His naturally
grave and earnest temperament, il
seemed to us, has been intensified by
a sense of his present responsibilities
While evidently ambitious to excel, he
manifestly feels n deep interestin the
welfare of the poor unfortunates un
der his charge Although so thoro
a Southemer, he has been ready
to profit by the Yankee notions