Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-09-08

total of mt least ll9 insane persons in
this county since its organization in 1877.
| am indebted by the favor of Probate
Judge Gordon Of this county, for a cor
respondence with probate judges of the
other four counties in the Black Hills,
and the following Is the summary for
the same period, so far as the records
show, but which were not, and mostly
imperfectly SO, kept for tbs first years
in those counties, viz: Pennington
county, 80 insanes; Custer, 10; Fall
River, B; Butte, 5, making a total Of 1853.
The territorial hospital for the insane
at Iankton was established in 1879, and
| have before me the second biennia, re-
port Of the trustees and superintendent
for the two year ending Nov. 80, 1892.
The number in this hospital, Dec. /,
1890, was 36 admitted during the suisse
quent two years, 74-whole number
under treatment 10. OF the "a admit
ted in these two years, IL were from
Lawrence county. OF this total Of IT it
should be remembered that twenty-five
Of the inmates were from northern Da-
kota and the balance, 40, from southern
Dakota, 50 that Lawrence county alone
u illSllCd IlOIC Id oiO Vi IN
total inmates from the entire territory,
and yearly one-fourth fromsouth Dakota,
for that two years oftbe existence of the
institution.
An examination and analysis of these
facts, will convince every intelligent
person That there is no very urgent de-
mand upon the people of Dakota for q
legislative appropriation for a Soldiers
Home, especially when by aSoldiers' Re
| lief ihnd better provision can be made not
oniyfor the brave INDECENT soldiers, but
also The widows, orphans and dependent
parents of such, and at much less cost
and expense.
| 1t is clear, also, that the number of un-
fortunate insane in the five Black Hills
counties to day is much in excess of the
number in the whole territory at the
! location of the asylum at Iankton : II
1919. The number now in the Iankton
| asylum from this county is about 20,
and there are probably nearly as many
more from the other four Hills counties.
The distance of travel to Iankt0n, the
| great expense and length of time re-
CURED to make the trip, are strong IN
~tiuences, with both the boards and the
friends and relatives of the afflicted of
unsound mind to avoid going to the
asylum only in extreme and unavold-
able cases. Probably more thar as
many more would have been entitled to
treatment and sought it with decided
benefit had we had such an institution
here in the Hills in the past three or
four years | know that our county jail
here is never without an inmate Of this
| cha rnptnr Whnr tho ARA ualnnnt Ig
such that unavoidably they are put I'M
der u restraint and treatment that is
more cruel and inhuman than that in
nicted upon the worst Of criminals, a
treatment and restraint that is offensive
and revolving to those who are com
PEELED to inhict it, and which they would
only be too glad to be relieved of and
see a~meliorated and changed to Lhe kind
and ~soitening Influences and surround
ings Of a well regulated, organized and
| disciped asylum where medical s~cieuce,
aided and supported bv the wlsest and
kindest Of hearts, cooperated and united
for the care and restoration to the
privileges and blessings ola sound mind
Even if the number of insane in the
Black Hills to-day is only one-half o
the numDer aggregated herein, the nee
@.ssNy So ~. --gl.". 40 - - SiuS ana i'm
perative one, and the knowledge 0
these facts to the people throughout the
territory surely Will receive their favor
able sympathy and interest for a liberia
appropriation from the next Legislature,
for the establishment Of an asylum here
in the Hills.
Some correspondence had with Gov
Church early IN the year of 1887, relat
ing TO this matter, jnstities me in stain.
assuredly, that had an appropriation 0
this purpose been made by the las
Legislature it would have received hi
approval, and | have no doubt that suci
an appropriation if it can be secured a
the next legislature, will meet at hi
hands his official signature. The pres
Of the Hills can render no better servic
to our people than by giving these fact
and others relating to this subject am
pie attention and publicity, as they ca
thus bring the object to the attention Q
the people of the territory in a way (
secure the public interest and favor i
behalf Of such Il public institution in on
locality. Very Respectfully,
WM. L. SN.DET.