Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-15
SEND IT TO SOME OTHER COUNTY.

The Home for Feeble Minded Children,
now located at Santa Clara, is to be re-
moved from its present site. Upon that
the Trustees, the Governor and all who
have examined the situation are agreed.
The Home was converted into a State
institution in March, 1885, and is there
fore not yet three years a State charge.
The reason that moved the State to adopt
ii was the conviction on the part of the
Legislature that it is the duty of all
States to provide for the care of imbecile
anil feeble-minded dependents as much as
fol The insane; that the State cannot af-
ford 10 lay itself open to the reproach of
neglect of these classes; that it is economy
to group them instead of allowing them to
remain in county infirmaries where they
cannot have the care and training their
condition demands; and, finally, that it is
the policy of all civilized countries to so
train and educate these classes that they
vii not sink into utter b-utishness, but
mas IN degree be lifted from the condi-
tion of entire dependency and be given
car@city for measurable degree of self
pru.eetion, and to provide, in part, at least
for themselves.
Ia 1885 the State appropriated for the
Home $45, 000for site, buildings and equip
meat, and this was so applied that the
Home was opened under State auspices in
December of that year with twenty in
mates. 1t now has 10S and is full to over
flowing, and has on file $50 applications
for admission. The brief life thus far of
this public charity has demonstrated the
vision of its adoption, and the economy
OF It's administration and that these de-
pendents can be greatly improved and
made self-helpful. But a mistake was
made in locating the institution. The
acreage is wholly insufficient to carry ont
the plans of experience in making the in
mates industrious and improving their
physical and mental parts. The site is too
low, the drainage bad and incapable of
permanent improvement, except at enor-
nous cost, if at all. The buildings are of
but slight character and not sufficient to
meet the demands for admission. To erect
additional buildings the Trustees estimate
would cost $4,000. Of the investment
made upon the present site fully two-thirds
can be saved if not more. The simple
question then is, since removal all agree
must be made, to what point shall it be {?
The economic and wise reply is, to some
other county where there is no other State
institution.
There are now in the heart of Santa
Clara county three State institutions
that are wholly dependent upon the
Staie for support. One of these
has been founded at immense cost and
always will be a pensioner upon the
State Treasury, and call for large sums for
Its support. Now the third institution in
that county that must appeal to the Legis
la,ure fof extensive buildings and for most
of its support, will embarrass Santa Clara
demands. The county in which State
Institution is located is expected to stand
Its friend and in the Legislature to present
and favor its rightful claims. But where
there are many State institutions in one
county, the effort in their behalf will be
suodivided. The county representatives
must feel that for all three institutions the
aggregate of claims they are called upon
to present are heavy. The effort will,
therefore, naturally be directed in favor of
oiie or two to the disadvantage of the
weaker. This is precisely what is happen
ing IN the case of the Home for Feeble
Minded Children.