The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-23
THE KNIGHTSTOWN FIRE.
The Trustees Arranging for the Tempo
rary Shelter of the Children.
Hindrances to the Immediate Erection of
New Building-The Use of One of the New
Insane Hospitals Suggested.

Governor Gray returned last night from
Knightstown, where he had been to investigate
the condition of the Asylum for the Feeble
minded, the building of which was burned day
before yesterday. He said the children who had
homes had been sent to them. and those who had
homes were CHARTERED in the school building.
The nun Der had been considerably reduced. The
trustees were having erected near the school
building shed to serve for dining room.
what do the trustees intend to dop was asked.
'If they can get the $25 900 insurance at once,
they will begin to build Immediately" said the
Governor. 81 know the question has been
raised whether they can do so without the pre-
vous sanction of the Legislature, but think
they can. At any rate, the Legislature would
be most likely to approve such action The
trustees can't wait till winter The children
must have some place to stay The building
can't be done in the winter consider it the
right thing for them to go ahead and build now,
provided they get the insurance money"
"What about the proposition to use one of the
new insane hospitals for the feeble minded chill
dren, and to leave the building to be erected at
Knightstown for the soldiers orphans2'
II think the Legislature should make that ar
rangement,n said the Governor UNLESS it does
SO there viii have to be another big building soon
for the feeble-minded. Ohio has an institution
of that kind with one thousand inmates. This
State ought to have a law providing that the
parents of these children who are able TO pay for
their maintenance shall do So and that if they
are not able, the counties from which they come
shall pay for part of their maintenance One
reason for this is that it is an educational
institution l think the Legislature will
make such law. There will never
be harmony so long as the two institutions are
together. The trouble is not so much in the in
stitution but there is great deal of outside
criticism. l think two of the new insane hos
pitfalls are enough for the insane"
Referring to the present management, the
Governor said men of all parties at Knights,
town spoke we'll of it. The trustees had paid off
the last of the indebtedness of the institution on
the 14th inst, and had begun to fix up the
grounds A fountain had already been put In
when the fire came. The institution seemed to
be very unlucky.
Attorney general Hord was asked yesterday if
the trustees would have authority to use the in
surance money which they would receive in
erecting new buildings. He replied that
he knew OF no statute giving any
authority for such a proceeding. The
insurance money belongs to the State
and cannot be disbursed except according to the
direction of the General Assembly. He had no
doubt, however. that if the trustees should get
in erecting new buildings. their action in the
matter would be sanctioned by the General As
sembly.
When the institution was partly destroyed by
fire in 1877 the trustees applied the insurance
money, amounting to 500 600 to the erection of
new buildings. the contractors trusting to the
Legislature for the payment of the balance due
on the work The action of the trustees was APP
proved, and the indebtedness contracted by them
was paid.
IL il doubtful ~ The trustaas 20 n cet fhe con-
sent of all the State officers to the insurance
money in erecting new building near Knights
town. State Auditor Rice expressed himself
very emphaticaly yesterday as opposed to the
location of any more State insti-
tut;ons at points where facilities
are not afforded for protection against fires.
The fact that the Knightstown institution had
been destroyed three times within eight years
ought to make ir evident that it would be mis-
take to locate another building there. Besides,
he believed that all State institutions should
be located at points where advantages are
afforded IN getting supplies at the lowest prices.
The Soldiers Orphans Homo has been the most
expensive, proportionately, of any of the State in
situations because it has been located at point
where there is only one railroad, aud in conse-
qence the trustees have been compelled to pay ex-
orbitant rates for the transportation of coal
and other supplies. He did not advocate loca-
but they should at least be built where the ad-
vantage of competing lines OF railroads ard fire
protection could be afforded. Mr.. Rice thought
instead of erecting new building, one of the
new insane hospitals should be.used.