Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-06-17

| if you examine the matter, that it is not
fit place for so many people to eat in
and battle in. 1t doesn't make a bit of
difference to the state board, but it
would be much better for this county,
and the state board have much regard
for the counties which built asylums,
when they were so badly needed, when
that was an experiment which is now q
success. Wisconsin is the only state
which has such system, and it is the
best in the world. Patients often say
to him, Don't take us back to the state
asylum" Not one wants to 60 back
there.
One member of this board said he
saw no reason why the state should not
take care of the insane. As a matter
of dollars and cents will tell him why.
Work is great benefit to the patients
and great cure for them. 1t will make
the most turbulent man quiet nine times
out of ten. Under the county system
work can be furnished the patients; but
when they are all crowded together,
work and especially outdoor work, can
not be so readily furnished. You
haven't enough land with your asylum.
A section would be better You need
for the insane more than for the paupers.
Most of the latter are born tired and
won't work. Nine-tenths of the work
on your county farm is done by the in
sane. Every time go to one of these
county asylums am astonished by the
improvement which has been made.
Mr.. Llmore then read statement of
the receipts and expenditures of our
asylum. He said the county saved So
a week on each patient, and it now cost
less than 50 week and soon would cost
less than $3.50. AS question of dol
lars and cents the system is great sue
cess, though as question of humanity
it is a much greater success.
Mr.. Eastman asked if the state board
didn't furnish plans for our asylum as
it stands and accept it when built.
Mr. Gilmore said the board had fur
nished no plan. 1t had accepted the
building because that was the best that
could be done.
Mr.. Kidd inquired about the assur-
ance for the future filling of the asy-
lum and the continuance of the system.
Mr.. Elmore said it was 100000 a
year cheaper for the state than for the
state to take care of the insane, and so
it is for the interest of the state and
the counties with asylums to continue
the present system. He said the coun-
ties with asylums are now in majority
and have controlling influence. The
only fear is that they may combine and
make the other counties pay too much.
The county system is cheaper to the
state and cheaper to the counties. He
severely condemned the state system of
crowding large numbers of insane to-
gether. He knew more about them
from the fact that his brother had died
in one. He is an old man but he hopes
to live to see them abolished. More
than 100 persons are employed in the
Northern Hospital for the Insane
Very few of that number have gone
there for the good of humanity, but to
see how little they can do and how
much money they can get for it. But
the county asylums are near home and
can be watched. Few men can 90 be-
hind the scenes in the state asylums,
and he is one of the few
Mr.. Beebe said the county board would
like to know just what additional room
is required to meet the views of the.state
board. We must know what more room
is required. Before we go to visit the
asylum we ought TO have some plan to
discuss when we go there.
The Chairman said the additions
needed could be better pointed out there
than here. The addition must be 66x36
feet-the first story ten and the second
story nine feet high.
Mr.. Gilmore said he had visited La
Crosse and the La Crosse people were so
well satisfied with the manner in which
their insane were cared for in Grant
County that they had concluded not to
build.
Mr.. Bartly inquired the probable cost
of the additions
Mr.. McFall said no architects plan
had been obtained, but q workman had
made a rough estimate that the expense
would be about $500 OF less. The
committee preferred to have something
left than to exceed the appropriation
and have to call for more. There had
been much disposition to find fault for
exceeding the appropriations. The laun-
dry was to be separate from the main
building and be of cheap construction,
and used for drying purposes in winter.
The cost would not be more than 800.
This was included in the estimate which
had just been given.
Mr.. Whitcher thought if the commit
tee had a plan it would be better to dis
cuss it at the asylum
Mr.. McFall said the architects plan
and specifications would cost consider
able and without such plan a very
close estimate of the cost cannot be
made. 1t makes little difference what
the internal arrangements may be, pro-
yided they don increase the cost. When
the members 90 there they will probably
see what is required.
Mr.. Eastman asked how much of a
building would be required to meet the
demands of the state board.
Mr.. Elmore said they wanted only a
kitchen and laundry. But while you
are about it, il would be better 20 put
on the sleeping rooms above. The state
board didn't ask it, however. The
county board could do as they pleased
about that.
Mr.. Beebe asked the committee on In
sane and the Chairman of the board to
report to the board their plans and re-