Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28

Custer, the oldest town in the Black
Hills, wants the insane asylum for west
ern South Dakota. Custer, your altitude
is 279 feet to high. Your mountain
scenery is too terrorizing to the feeble
minds that would be inmates of an insti-
tuition of that kind. The rocky fastness
of your mountain gorges would make
incurables out of the currables, and nee
essitate the claiming TO the wall the
frantic unfortunates who have been
pronounced beyond the reach of all
medical relief
The effects of high altitude can be
quickly discerned, in the Chief of the
CHRoNICLE-whoi is the strongest advo-
cate of the location of the above named
institution-by perusing his pleas for y
home for the demented, To be located In
Custer, where its sheltering roof may
afford a near retreat tor his oyerworked
and fast wasting form, that supports a
brain once bright and progressive. but
owing to high altitude, has become
feeble and weak, and in its last dying
thros', crys out in the voice Of the mad,
oh for home for the insane
Medical advice is always against high
attitudes for insane patients. The at
mospheYe is not damp enough. Rugged
mountain scenery has bad effect upon
diseased brains. The deathly singing Of
the wind through the cone laden pines,
sends a shudder over the weak brains
of the poor unfortunate. Low attitudes
are necessary to the cure of the de-
memted minds. Quiet and sunshine,
and scenes more ruralistic green mea-
dows and fields of waving, billowy, vel
low grain, brings relief to the minds OF
those, who from trouble and overwork,
are placed in homes supplied by public
funds from the treasury Of the state.
Such can Minnesota offer, and in offer
ing asks that our new state legislature
study the matter WELL and then give the
public favor 10 the only suitable location
in the Black Hills for it-Minnesela.
The foregoing article, taken from the
Butte County Star, while it was doubt
less written with a view TO disparage,
rather than commend the "oldest town
in the Hills" for the location of the
proposed insane asylum, is nevertheless
accepted as being an argument too strong
in favor Of this place to be ignored at
this time, when we are so desirous to
Call public attention to our sterling adj
vantages in this direction. The Star has
undertaken to champion Minnesota in
the coming contest for the location of
the public institution above referred to,
and its ambition in this regard is con-
ceded to be entirely laudable, but sound
judgment and correct taste would die
tate the better and more consistent
policy Of confining itself TO description
of Minnesela's advantages, rather than
calling public attention to the imcom,
parable advantages of rival town. as in
the present instance. The earnest
thanks of the CHRONICLE are due 10 the
Star for its forcible reference to Clusters
seniority of rank over all other Black
Hills towns, for its delightful mountain
scenery" rocky fastnesses," etc.
1t desires to further express its un-
feigned thanks for even a passing refer
ence to our sublime heights. where, as
shown by well authenticated statistics,
VIC ptI NCut vi ptIsoHS W TIC
whole population, as compared with
Lawrence county, the average altitude
of which is many hundred feet lower
than this place, is not one-fourth as
great. 1t il sufficient for the Star to
designate Custer's special claims, we
cannot expect, nor do we especially care
that such mention should be supple
mented by favorable comment We are
only too willing to submit the effects of
Clusters altitude and sublime scenery
upon the minds of the demented to the
intelligent reading public; not except
ing the patrons of the Star.
Ofthe effect of our great (?) altitude
$500 feet above tide) upon the humble
editor of the CHRONICLE, in whose behalf
the Star man so feelingly and pathetic
ally writes, we deem it unnecessary to
speak, for, admitting the truth of his
statements concerning us to be true, we
could then see no reason why that
should cut any figure in the matter of
locating the insane asylum at the
loftiest, the grandest, the most health
ful, the most beautiful and picturesque
of all the cities of the Black Hills
Custer CITY.