The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-04-20

1t will be seen that the amount az
gregates nearly five thousand dollars
from which, however, may be deducted
the amount collected from friends oil
those who are inmates of the Northern
Hospital, amounting to $399.51, as will
be seen by reference to my annual
statement of account as having been
paid into the county treasury.
In relation to our insane we now have
in the Northern Hospital more than our
quota, and consequently whenever it
becomes necessary to commit person
from our county to the asylum they are
accepted through courtesy. And in case
that the hospital could not accept new
cases, the question becomes a serious
one as to what can be done with the
patients. The only thing we can do is
to provide for them in the common Jail
of the county, or find places for them in
private hospitals or some county hospi-
tai in the state where accommodations
can be secured.
From what / can learn of our insane,
a very large proportion are chronic cases,
and, under the direction and guidance
Of q proper person, could be made
partially, if not wholly, self-supporting,
if some profitable employment was pro-
vided for them.
In many counties in the state the
chronic insane and homeless unfortu-
mates are taken care of on poor farms
(so-called), and, where judiciously man
aged, are nearly self-supporting.
Whether the poor farm system is the
best or not I am not advised, but an ex-
animation of the results in counties
adopting this system may be advisable.
These suggestions are presented, not
with a view of giving my opinion as to
the best methods to adopt, but that the
figures brought before the people of the
county may stimulate investigation of
the subject, to the end that the increas-
ing demands from year to year may be
met and provided for in the interest of
humanity, and to the relief of those who,
by payment of taxes, furnish the money
to pay the expenses of the care of these
unfortunates.
The foregoing was written some time
ago, and the liability of having the in
sane returned to our county has been
realized in an order directed to the Hon.
Anthony Van Wyck, County Judge,
ordering the removal of ten inmates
from the Northern Hospital of Insane.
AS County Clerk, 1 was Immediately
notified of the order by the County
Judge, and, after requesting the Judge
to delay the placing of said order in the
hands of the Sheriff, I Immediately
communicated with our honored citizen,
E. G. Timme, Secretary of State, laying
the facts before him. He Immediately
placed before the State Board Of Super
vision the matter, presenting the subject
in its true light, that to return said in
mates would be to consign them to the
common jail of our county. The result
of that conference was stay of execu-
ton of the order and an application on
behalf of the county OF Kenosha to the
State Board of Charities and Reform to
assign those ordered removed to some
county hospital in the state where &C.
commodations can be found for them,
and as result the immediate danger of
troublesome burden was averted. In
the present instance we were peculiarly
fortunate in having so able an advocate
to represent the county's interest before
the State Beard of Supervision, but had
it not been for the timely aid of our
worthy Secretary of State, even now at
this present writing there would be in
our Jail ten of our chronic insane.
The immediate danger is bridged
over, but we may not always be able to
avail ourselves Of the influence brought
to bear in the present instance, and the
liability of seeing the insane incarcerated
in our common jail in the future is Ger.
tain unless the people of our county
make some provision to meet necessi
ties that are sure to come.
In order to fully understand the stu
alton let us examine the record:
We have in the Northern Hospita
Inmates to number of ....................2 q
Rock County Hospital. .................. II
"