Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-07

after the inspection OF the Insane hospital
Ut FarnbuTst or Friday brought out q una
nimtty OF expression upon the point that |
tho State should conduct an asylum for the |
care and treatment OF Its Insane. There |
was, etlll further. general aeqntesoence In I
the opinion that the county's bnilding |
offered the State was in every way adapted |
TO tie pressing needs, ample in eiHs, ap-
polntments and flttings. After the ipspsc- |
ton OF the building an informal meeting was
called, ever which ]. Wilkins Cooch pre-
sided.
Governor Blggs was called upon for an
expression OF his Views. He cited the oo- |
ioct of having the Legislature visit the |
building. His excelieney stated that this |
vas his fret visit to the building and he |
wus most agreeaby surprised Mt i,s con-
struction, spacicusness, capacity, cleanli-
ness and general good order which WAS
noticeable throughout. No fnnn With feel
ior tho uniJrtunates. He inquired, do The
people desire state asylum tor the insane2
II so the question OF dollars and cents
should not be seriously considered. The
mnln thing to be taken into account was
the proper care and treatment of tha In
sane. The governor emphagiz9d the asaer-
ton that the county did not ask the State
TO take the building of1 its haDds, ,butsimply
10 Ii we the three counties uAited and have
the insane under the cere OF the State.
The location he did not consider of any
importance In these days OF rapid travel
End splendid raiiroad aqcom0o CATIONS aud
tho building would be credit to
tho Slate. II the Legislature docs not thiuk
the location good, In the mama ot heavsn he
urged the erection of 4 building at q pO'nt
witch all c0ulA agree upon. The governor
cited that he did not kno1 IT strata IN the
U1ion which did not care for Ito insane
wards and he hoped Delaware would meet
her fall measure OF lesporeibilit} In this
direction. Hs suggested that the levy court
and board OF poor trustees meet with u
committee of the General Assembly, and to
confer further about the purchase. The
county, hs thought, was prepared 70 make
the State an ofisr OF the building at perhaps
half ii5 cost OF erection. There is not u men
I who oppreciN'es the needs of the insane bnt
would approve OF the purchase OF the build
+ irg. II could he secured and maintained
I without costir z Kent and Sussex countless q
penny more than they now pay for the caro-
I Uf their unf1rIunates. Politics do not enter
Into tue matter. Ii Is a question OF common
I humanity, q flow OF soul TO make comfort
/ able and alleviate the mentally stricken.
/ New CASTLE county doesn't esk favors In
I peeuniaIy way, but only deSires the Statsto
4 take charge OF tho matter that It can treas
1 to q better advantage the Insane. Don't let
! Delaware stand alone In negecltng her
/ wards, hut give the Steta an Institution
4 where her wards mGy be we'll cared for.
/ II. A EoWland, trustee OF the uoor, en-
| phasized the point that trey Here a1Slous
lar the State to take charge Of the fnsaue
| bscause she could bettar esforrn the duty.
1 Speaker Hoffecser OF tho lower house of
tho Legislature. stated that he h4d been
gratihed beyond his expectations by bis
visit, and WIS surprised at the size and
capacity>of the building. He thought II
would 10 ample In $50 ss Il Sfat9 instttu-
tion for the next century. Tbs building
would meet the requirements In every way,
! ana he hoped the IuemuBrs OF tn5 Lsgisia-
turo would say aye TO aye upon PROPOSE
ton for Its purchase. Tho letter to Gov
ernor Dlggs (ceceutly published in these
colunne), ns thought, was true present.
ment OF the condition OF the Kent county
almshouee. Referring 10 recent visit TO
that institution hs stated that the sights
presented and the foul and filthy condition
Of the insane were enough TO cause the
human heart TO turn away and leave a sick
enln9 Impression indeli1lY upon the mind.
Whether the STATE purchases this building
or another, the speaker hoped something
would ba done, as he was in hearty accord
with tde growing sentiment that the State
should look after Its insane.
DIR. Lewis, speaker OF the Senate eS-
pressed himself as being heartily In favor
OF q State institution and willingness to
vnte for any meusura which WIS aimed ut
lettering the condition and care OF the In
sene.
Dr. Richardson Of Dover gave hearty as.
sgnr to every argument that bad been pre-
ealted. ard thought the building ample In
every way for Il State institution. He urged
thBr patients could be much better cared
for by trained nurses, Competent physicians,
who we're specially skilled In nervous dis
esRee.
Or. Nathan Pratt Of Milford spoke In boz
half OF the physicians to the Insane hos
pitals of tho three counties who had held
an IN ormal conference Just previously. He
said that they mad agresd that d State
and treatment Of the insane. Physicians,
he held, recognized the difficulty IN treat
ting insane patients oS they are now man
aged. Many of them given over 10 the
counties care are Rmennble to treatment,
but can'C be- reached under the present sur
roundings. Insane soEt 10 other states for
rsatment2 do not always get cared for as
they should, but hero just among US tho
matter III In the peoples hands, and any
evil could be corrected at once.
Thomas McCracken, levy oourtnan from
Peneader hundred, expressed himself in
hearty accord with all that had been said
Is was not speaking merely IS a citizen of
New Clsrle county but In u BROADER sense, a
sawareau, and he hoped the Diamond
state would rive her unfortunate wards the
beet treatment that could be bestowed
upon those so afflicted. He did not want
the Legislature to Ebus9 Its mind with the
belief that the county had building 1t
wanted to unload; 1t only aimed at tho
bAitarment of tho condition ofits uaf1rtu-
mates such as the S;ate was ahie to provide
for. II this location "a not suitabis give Us
State insane asylum somewhere else
These poor people cannot come before you
with memorials but God Will bless such o
good work. The Same judgment and
mercy as You uiete out to thsm shall be
mcted out TO you.
McKendree Dnwnham, member of tho
House of Rspress natives, from Sussex
county, expressed himself well pleased with
his visit and care Of the insane. As a rep
resentatiye from Sussex, he Inuet repei In O
measure the charges made against the
county. The county has small building,
but the insaEe are well cared Tor. He
wished Delaware was prepared 10 acquire
not only an insane asylum but nlso state
house and pehitentiary. Il will not
pledge myself"
Representative Wallace was pleased with
ths hospital and favored the State taking
charge OF tho insane.
Senator Richardson OF Dover heartily
subscribed 10 everything that had been
said, and expressed himself as pleased with
the building and its appointments.
preventative CLARK stated the meeting
reminded MIN OF the late senatorlal ngnr
In Dover, as he understood come OF his coi-
leagues had been instructed by friends at
home. He was also I'D 20 believe. that
ike that same contest what this Cen
erai AS emily would do would meet with
the same response from friends at home:
"It's all right, and WIS the best thing that
could have Oesn DONE"
Nathantel Williams. ex-memher OF the
Board of Poor Trustees, was called upon
10 give some ilgures ralatlve to cost. 'Sa.
From memory hs quoted the cost Of fhe
two buildings (aiushouse ami insane
hospital) ct S2s5, 900, the former costing
about (by estimata) si30,00O and the latter
Slg5 COO, exclusive OF tho land. He thought
the building would accommodate about 500