Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-05
THE ASYLUM SITE.
The Commission Adopts q MOdiiied
Form of the Rhodes Bid.

The Commission Adopts a Modified
Form OF she Rhodes BID.
The Insane Asylum Commissioners, or
Is they are sometimes called for short,
"The Insane Commissioners" met
again yesterday morning at 10 o'clock,
at the Nadeau, for the purpose OF taking
further action in the matter CT the selec-
tion of site for the asylum. All the
members we're present: Brown, OF San
Bernardino, who occupied the chair; !;
Severance, OF Los Angeles, who acted as
Secretary, and Fisher, of Santa Barbara; !;
Grant, Of Ventura, and Kerr, OF 'Ssn
Diego. The meeting was as usual q
secret one.
SATURDAY. morning as soon as the com
mission had taken action on the Rhodes
site. accepting the offer of $50 acres at
$3.50 900, word was sent to the Governor
explaining what had been done. An
answer was received in the course of the
afternoon. the nature Of which was
kept secret, it being the policy OF
this board to throw a solemn halo
of mystery about all its acts,
however commonplace and unimportant.
1t was very we'll understood that the
Governors telegram recognized the COM
mission as still having power to act, inas.
much as the notification of their removal
had not yet been received by them. 1t
is supposed also that Waterman ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with the price of
the land, for after telegraphing to the
Governor, Mr.. Severance left town for
San Bernardino.
Yesterday a new proposition, which
had been placed in Mr.. Severance's
hands with regard to the Rhodes tract,
was read and discussed. 1t called for
500 acres of land instead of $50, and
$4,000 instead of $150.000. This
makes the price per acre $3.50 instead ol
$3.50. Together with this goes eighty
inches of water. including power to oper-
rate all the machinery which the asylum
is likely to have.
Messrs. Grant and Fisher, who are oul
of the combination, although present al
the meeting took no hand in the pro-
ceedings. The others discussed the new
proposition, ard finally decided to ADOPT
it in the place of the one chosen last
Saturday. Word was then sent to Gov
ernor Waterman of the action which hac
been taken, and the commission ad
journed, subject to the call of the Chair
=
man.
II ia possible that the final conclusion
of the Governor in the matter may hav'
been hindered somewhat by the follow
ing dispatch, which wes sent to him yes
terday by the firm of Estudillo & Pico:
r. W. Waterman, Governor:
The commission appointed by YOU
Excellency to select a site for an insane
asylum in one of the southern counties
of California has declined to consider an.
proposition from Los Angeles county
Believing that you are actuated solely b,
a desire to further the public interest
selecting the cheapest and most suit
able site, we now offer through your Ex
cellency to the commission tract of 89
acres, we'll wooded and watered, and ad
joining the northeasterly corner OF tn
city of Los Angeles, being only thre
miles from the central plaza of the city
We will sell the whole tract for $3.50, 900
or 400 acres for $275 psr acre. 1t is need
less to suggest to your Excellency tina
inasmuch as most of the patients vii
come from Southern California, sit
should be selected at the point most cas-
of access. all other conditions bein
equal. We would respectfully sugges
that Los Angeles is that point, and W
challenge comparison with any of th
sites heretofore offered as to cheapnes
and suitability.
JOSE G. EsTUDILLo,
FRANCISCO Proc.
Mr.. Estudillo says that the tract i
question Is within three-quarters Of
mile of the Santa Fe road.
Nc answer was received last nigh
from the Governor as to whether he wa
satisfied with the amended proposition
1t is supposed that telegram will com
today and meeting will be held thi
morning.
Messrs. Fisher, Of Santa Barbara, an
Grant, of Ventura, have left the city fc
their homes. They have no further in
terest in the proceedings of the commits
sion.