Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08
THE NEW ASYLUM.
MEETING OF THE COMMISSION WITH
REFERENCE TO LOCATION.
Dnrlington's Claims Presented Morris
Vile Wants the Asylum Because II is
Central Point, st. Johnsbury Be
cause 1T HAS no other state
InstitUtion.

The commission appointed in connection
with the proposed new insane asylum held
a meeting in this city Wednesday to listen to
the inducements which residents of this city
had TO offer for the location of the asylum
i'll this city or vicinity. Tho commission
was met by number of our residents in
the smaller dining room at the Van Ness
house, y. G.. Whittcmore, secretary of the
Burlington board of trade called the meet
ing to order. Or. John NJ. Clarke was
elected chairman and Robert Roberts secre-
tary.
Remarks were made 10y Dr.. a. F. Grim
nell, DR.. j. NJ. Clarke, A. G. Whittcmore,
Joseph Aud, Robert Roberts and Archi
bald Taylor. 1t was shown that the loca
ton of the asylum near the lake shore would
result in large saving in the cost of fuel
alone as it could he brought here by boat
and would not have to be transferred by
rail, as would be the case if some interior
town were selected for the site. Coal could
also be bought more cheaply here, 50 that
double saving would result. Other advan-
tages of location near the lake shore were
also pointed out
DR. Webbs coax Ledge farm, " the Bax-
ter farm on the road TO Williston and the
farms of Messrs. Foster and Strong on the
able sites 1t was thought that $4,000
would buy coax Ledge" with its fine build
ings, spacious grounds and water works
complete. The Foster and Strong farms
lying Oh either side of the street near the
Home together would aggregate 23O acres
and it was ascertained that they could be
purchased for %22 000 The commissioners
came here from Morrisville where they met
Tuesday at the office of Hendee & Fisk
Judge H. H. Powers and ex-Gov. G.. w.
I1endee presented the claims of that town.
1t was argued that the southern counties of
| the State would continue to patronize the
asylum at Brattleboro, and that the eight
counties in the northern portion of the State
| could be better accommodated at Morrisville
! than at any other point. Wednesday morn
ing the commissioners were driven to vari-
Gus farms in the vicinity of Morrisville
which were regarded by the residents as the
most favorable sites.
1t appears that the st. Johnsbury people
are the most anxious to secure the asylum
while III the other towns as well as in Bur
lington, number of persons have said that
they would he willing TO pay modest sun
to have it located outside of their respective
towns. At the meeting of the commissioners
at st. Johnsbury, in the ST. Johnsbury
house, speeches We're made by Messrs lde
Smith and others. 1t was shown that st
Johnsbury had no State institution, while
Montpelier has the capitol building, Burlng
ton the University of Vermont, Yer
gennes the Reform School, Ben
nington the Soldiers Home, Rut
land the House of Correction, Windso
the State prison, Brattleboro the insan
asylum and so on. The residents of ST
Johnsbury paid taxes for the support of al
these institutions and it was no more thar
fair that st. Johnsbury and the northeas
portion of the State should have the new asy
lum. The beauty of the location was alsc
shown and other inducements offered.
1t is probable that the members of tn
commission will be guided in their choice b,
the facts outside Of any claim which a plac
may present, selecting that location whicl
seems to offer the most for the appropria
ton which has been made, having due re
gard for the growth of the asylum and flu
ture contingencies.