Daily Republican., 1889-02-02
THE INSANE POOR.
SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF A
STATE BUILDING.
A Legislative Visit 10 the New Castle
County Insane Asylum. Speeches
biadd ~--'.'a".. A
,y,.ita, Library of Congress,

except Senator Moore, of eusseI, nearly
all the Levy Court of New Castle County, |
all the members OF the Board OF Trustees |
of the Poor OF the same County, except |
President Baldwin, large delegations |
from the Levy Courts and Trustees Of the |
Poor from Kent and SUSSEX Counties, q |
number OF State and County officials,
members of the City government of VII |
mington, aud large number OF physi-
clans and citizens In general from all
parts OF the State.
Handy, William Cooeb, William A.
Comegys, William Smalley, Henry NJ.
Barlow, william II. Quinn, William T.
lyman, ESQ, Thomas Holcomb, Esq.
Henry G. Conrad, Esq, Walter II.
Hayes, Esq, Thomas Davis, Esq, III
burne Chandler, Esq, John II. Rodney,
Esq., J. l.. Cavender, Joseph II. Cham
bers, h. NJ, Burrows, II. q. Carpenter,
i H.. T. kahs1Y, Slate Treasurer Herbert,
Nathaniel Williams, Robert Mcfarland,
Clerk of the House OF Repres eutatIvts vii
| liam A. Gum Clerk Of the Senate Abraham
Vanc egriii, n. B. Frazer, j. Y. Towns
end, John T. .Dickey, Patrick Neary,
lsEac Dilliu, the Rev. J. Il. Kidney, DIR.
T.. q. Shortlidge, DIR. John llamilton Of
Odessa, DIR. q. II. Richards OF George
town, DR.. j. G. MeJ y of Kirkwood, DR..
Frank Springer Of Chrlstlana, DIR. n. q.
Hughes, DR.. Nathan Pratt of Mlliold,
DR.. J. q. Fahey, Dr. Willard Springer,
DR.. ]. 3. VallaLdighsm OF 81. Georges,
DIR. Howard 0g,e, half dozen reporters
and q score or more others.
The object of the gathering is well
known by all who keep posted In the cur
rent eyents of the day as published in
the daily papers-to inspect the insane
department Of the almshouse IN regard
to Its adaptability to State insane asy-
lum, and to discuss the proprle,y OF the
State purchasing II for that purpose.
The train containing the Legislature
aud OTTER visitors flom the lower part OF
the State arrived atf Farnhurst station
about 12.i5 o'clock, and the visitors were
immt dRtely narshaled to the nlmshous,
building, couple or three husdeed yards
distant, where q bounteous dinner had
been spread by Superintendent Guthrie
and Matron Guthrie in their usually un-
. except. nable style. II Is needless to say
that full Justice was done TO the grand set
out, aud even though the tables were
; filled tsrce times there WAS abundance
left for many mere.
after dinner the members of tho Leg!s
lature and other visitors were escorted
through the insane department building
, by the Trustees cf the Poor oil this county,
who were assidlous in their tentlonl
/, and ready 10 respond with all desired In.
formation. IL took at least an hour tC
- go through the building, the vlsilort
being dispoIed to stop and tarry at every
point to gain the fullest information
: Nothing but words OF praise aud com
mendAtiou could be heard from every
tongue. The extent Of the building, IL
strength, handsome finish and complet,
n equipment were matters Of surprise Il
|. many OF the visitors, as they had no idea
= there was such building in the State
Alter u thorough insps, tlon of th'
building had been made, a meeting wa
called in the superintendent's parlor fo
the purpose OF having free interchab x
OF opinion In regard to th> purchase o
the insane department building on tn
part OF the State. j. W. Cooch wa
called upon TO preside, but as the meet
. ing was informal no secretary was ap
pointed.
y Governor Biggs being called upon Il
express his views said he was glad to Sc,
such movement made to provide bette
accommodations and better treatment fol
the unfortunate insane of the State. Th
was the first time he had betn In tht
!, bui dlDgs since they were first opened 70
the reception OF inmates. He was most
agIeeubly surprised > find q more com
plete building tan he expected 10 find
He had been all through the building
and he had failed to find crack in any
of the walls or anything whatever wrong
with II. Some years ago he had been
trustee, but the buildings, then in VIII
m'ngtop, were very small. The presen
structure was indeed superior. No ON
= who had gone through the insane depart
meht, he said, could help feeling keenl,
the necessity ior something bsing done II
behalf of the unfortunate ones. No maj
who was unfortunate should be unearet
for by the State, and he was glad to sucl
dt monstration made looking toward
better treatment towards the States un
flr,unate ones.
The first question to ask, Is, do III
people of Delaware desire such an asylum
Tor their insane as is proposed in thu
object Of this meeting. This question
being answered satisfactorily, nothing
should be thought o! the dollars an,
cents that may be needed.
He referred to - letter recently put
llshed, written by Dr. ID. A. Harrison o
Brooklyn, in reference to the hOrrlbl
condition of the insane asylum in Ken
county. No one ever saw place KEEP
better than the New Castle asylum. ~
It Is a question of dollars and cents gen
tlenen of the Legislature, just figure
little. What does 1t cost IN Kent an
Sussex for the care of the insane? Ad
the two sums together and substrat
from the whole, and you will find ths
that the Increased cost would be nothing
The Governor said the State was NJ
asked to take this building, because
was here, and nothing whatever shoul
fe.thought OF the loose assertion tbs
New Castle County had got herself int
q hole and wanted the State to pull hi
out. What is wanted is for the State /
have building for the use of the insan
somewhere In tie State, locate 1t wher
you please, Dover, Milford or Georg,
town. Location Is nothing compared |
the necessity cf building like this. I
sum II all up, this building is credit I
New Castle County and would be cred
to the State, and he did e OF believe 1t ha
an equal in any State in the Union.
Every State In the Union had alta
insane asylum; no did not believe thel
was an exception except Delaware al
he felt humillated when he thought tn
the little Diamond State had no instIt
tlon OF that kind.
The Governor suggested the appoin
ment of u committee by the Legitla u
TO wait upon q similar COMMITTEES. of I
Trustees OF the Poor of New Cast
County 10 see what arIagements could
made and upon what terms the buildi
could be purchased. He thought tb
the Trustees would be found ready
make an offer to sell for q considerati
sot more than half what the buildi
cost, nor more than half what such