Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-09
A FEW FACTS
IN RELATION TO INSTITUTIONS
FOR THE FEEBLE.MINDED.
Present Status of the Work in Cali
fornia and Its Future Needs
Some % Expert" Opinions.

Present Status OF the Work in Cali
fornia and Its Future Needs
Some "a Expert" Opinions.
The first legislation for the feeble minded in
America was on January %, 1916, when a COM
mittee of the House of Representatives in Msssa-
chusetts was ordered 8" to consider the expedi-
ency of appointing Commissioners to inquire
into the condition of imbeciles in the common
wealth, TO ascertain their number, and whether
anything can be done for their relief" The
Board was appointed, Dr. 5. G. Howe Chair
man, and on their report money was appro-
priated for the Experimental School This Act
founded the first State institution in America
The report has been widely spread through
Europe and America, and furnishes to-day the
basis of clyclopadic literature on this topic
Prior to this date, in 1889, public and private
facilities for this neglected class began to be pro-
vided for in Europe Eduoard Seguin, NJ D. a
brilliant and accomplished young physician
established the work at the Hospice des Incura-
bles and Hosoice de Bicetre in France He re-
ceiyed from the Academy of Sciences in Paris
after several years of patient labor, the highest
commendation for his work. declaring that up
to the time when he commenced his labors
(lS37l, imbecileS could not be educated OF cured
by any means previously known or practiced
but that he had
SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
Coming to America in 1850, he visited and
aided by his suggestions in the more complete
organization of the "School for Imbecile Chill
dren" in South Boston. the institution for
Feeble-Minded Youth" at Barre, Mass, and the
Experimental School, then Just being estab-
lished by Or. e. B. Wilbur at Albany. In our
own country Massachusetts took the initiatory
step. DR.. H. B. Wilbur, the pioneer of the work,
opening private school in his own house AT
Barre, Mass, in July, lS4S and the Estate Insti-
tuition" conducted by DR.. Samuel G. Howe, or
ganizing and opening at South Boston in October
of the same year. New York State was the next
to legisate in the interest of this class by estab
fishing an Experimental School, at Albany i'm
1851, to which work DIR. H. b. Wilbur was called.
This work two years later became the perma-
nent institution at Syracuse. The private school
at Barre, Mass, opened by Dr. II. B. Wilbur,
still continued to be successfully conducted by
DR.. George Brown. Following this came Penn
sylvania, 1867; Connecticut, 1885, Ohio 1857.
Kentucky, 1860; Illinois, 1867 Iowa 1876; Mime
sofa, 1879; Indiana, 1850; Kansas, 1881; Michigan
private school, 1888; California, 1884; Nebraska
1886; Maryland, private school, 1856; New Jersey
1887. Thus far fifteen States of our Union have
committed themselves to
To establish institutions on as liberal footing
as those for any other of the specially defectiye
or diseased. while Delaware Name, Rhode
Islsnd and Georgia send children to Penpsyl-
vania and Mas sachusetts institutions making in
all nineteen states or whose statute books these
saving Acts appear. From this record of Ameri-
can institutions it may be asserted that the ex-
perimental period has passed, and we now call
upon our state to legisate for these detectives
on permanent basis and on the following
grounds:
l. That the idiotic or feeble-minded child is
human.
2. That under rightly directed influences he
may be lifted to higher grade
3. That he has an inalienable right to these
helps.
A. That if the common forms of education are
inapplicable to him special means shall be pIo-
vided
5. That he has equal, if not superior, claims to
6. That universal testimony is against aims
house custody of these helpless ones
7. That county officials are urging upon us the
care OF many now confined within their walls;
and
8. hat affi cted families oppressed with these
dead weights are making piteous appeals.
a still stronger reason for permanent and
suihclent aid to meet the scope and require
ments ofthis work is shown by the fact that our
wards are innocent of crime or fault: they are
the feeble and deformed expressions of Dc rental
sins or sorrOws, and in many instances the re-
Election of woes which the State has directly or
indirectly caused. From the woe of intemper-
ance, innocent children are doomed to an exist
ence of helpless imbecility. There is no field in
political economy which can be worked to bet
ter advantage for the decrease OF crime pauper-
ism and insanity than that of imbecility
OUR PREDECESSORS IN THIS WORK
Testify TO the importance of industrial training
as the chief formation of mind and morals, and
the great need of acreage sufficient to devotion
capacity for agricultural labor which materially
diminishes the cost of support Ohio with its
LOCO acres, asserts that the amount of land nee.
essary Is at the ratiy of one acre per pupil and
abundance OF pure water a desideratum at
least hity gallons per inmate per diem: the
buildings fre-proof, with most modern and best
approved methods of ventilation heating
ground, accessible to a city or l-rye town and
yet sufficiently isolated. Our present property
is within the town limits of Santa Clara and
consists of but fifty acres, and TOO low for oh
tanning proper drainage. The water supply is
also insufficient, and our buildings are ali of
wood and can be considered only as ten porary
structures. The present Home is overcfowded
With l0S inmates. We have 200 awaiting admis-
sion: The state has expended outside Of the
original purchase (S15l0O but S30.OOj-rne-
thlrd fully OF that amount has been spent on
the sewerage and water probiems-parC OF the
remainder in such improvements that can be
moved to q new location The rest has been ex-
pended with view to improve the grounds
thereby making them more eligible to sell The
present system OF cesspools has been considered
the best possible for this tract Unless cess
pools be multiplied indefinitely new buildings
cannot be satisfactorily. severed. The fall in
present sewers in certain places is so slight as
to render frequent stoppsges with attendant
leaking or escapes of gases.
WITH BUILDINGS SUITABLE
For the number of children and aft necessary
to meet present demands, to ssy nothing OF th.,
future, the cesspool system crowded upon living
quarter would be not only disgrace 10 an
advanced and wealthy State but absolutely
CRIMINAL from hygienic standpoint. The dis
position OF sewerage IS but oue of the many
reasons advanced in faNn rfnfo ,,-e;,..
The work needs more isolation that at present
is possible. Parents and relations Justly object
to their child en- being objects of public criti-
clsm and ridicule while ut play or exercise
More land is needed to afford p8sturage and
range for stock; the pr ducing of milk being OF
the first Importance, this article being the al
most tot al diet of fully ninetenths of the child
rem OF the lower grade, while to all it is an in
dispensbie adjunct of food supply 1t has been
a serteG that the fans belonging to Eastern iu-
situations a'e merely so many extravagancies.
where money is lost to the respective States
yearly.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE,
And can be advanced only by those VINO are
grossly Ignorant of the state of the work else
misrepresent aud falsify. The fact is that By
the utilization OF the larger boys about the in.
stitntlons these farms yield as pro6tably for
their investment as any other, besides affording
occupation, training, relief, comfort and salts
faction to class of cases too old for school
dril, perhaps too vicious for mixed association
anu Noo Olu VI 100 slIDDg LOT SOLITARY COuf1ne-
ment without passing rapidly into either acute
mania or hopeless dementia. The asylum, at
Agnews has already half dozen cases OF feeble.
minded men who ought TO be thus utilized
Their Continued incarceration with the insane
VIII prove disastrous in every Instance.
THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE MOVEMENT
Looking to the establishment of the Home anon
broad acres suitable elevation and its further
continuance within the lines OF modern re
search and improvement, are those who have
had no previous experience were never in or
never saw any other institution for this class
are bound by personal prejudice to the present
location, and unable or unwilling to grasp the
idea OF the Homes future extension or its ulti
mate aims. SO far the objections to the in
PRODUCTION of Industrial pursuits-the teaching
OF trades, eic.--have come foul persons totally
unacquainted with the possibilities and the
progrt IS OF this work. On the other hand those
who are Interested in its removal 10 a higher
and better site, and are endeavoringto establish
1t upon the best foundation possible are those
who know by personal eSpericnce-see the
practical side of the question-who have visited
kindred institutions and know their advantages
ana requirements, and who are actuated solely
by Iniiuences for the best good OF the greatest
number OF the poor afflicted children they
would care tor. No work that is worth doing
can be well done without
A LIBERAL EXPENDITURE
1T the State assume this duty, il may exercise
the night 10 lessen the drain on its resources
wnen II can be proven that more than half the
Df a mis- tie