The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-16
u completion and equipment OF the several

The Southern hospital. ZOO 90
The Eastern hospital 20 600 90
1t is a source of congratulation, however,
that the board has been able 10 complete the
construction of each of the hospitals, but on
account of insufficient appropriations has
been prevented from equipping any of the in
stltutIOns, except the Northern hospital. This
hospital was fully equipped and made ready
for occupancy, rules were adopted for the ad-
mission OF patients, and, on the 10th day OF
June, 1888, a proclamation was issued by me
announcing that said hospital was completed
and equipped and would be ready to receive
patients and after the list day of July, 1855.
The hospital was placed in charge or DIR.
Joseph G.. Rogers, as medical superintendent,
with an organized corps of assistants. Up to
the LIST day of November there had been adj
mitted 1S9 men and 100 women, in all 800, of
which number eight men have died, and five
and four women have been discharged.
leaving on the 3lst day OF October. 1855, l76
men and 116 women, in all 292.
On the 31st day Of December, 1855, there
were In the institution lSS men and 150 women,
total S2S. The estimated capacity of the hos
pital is S66, but 400 could be accommodated.
The superintendent in his report to the board
says that most of the patients admitted came
from the county poor houses and jails; others
from private charge. 4 majority of these came
with history of violent tendencies and al thy
habits. A large number had been confined In
cells, and many had been in state of nudity
Tor long periods"
He further says that he notes "a marked i'm
provement in this rather hopeless class: nearly
all have learned habits OF relative neatness and
decerrcy, subOrdination to regulations has
largely been substituted for unruly language
and action; many have been taught or induced
to assist voluntarily and regularly in the work
OF the institution, both indoors ana on the farm,
garden and grounds"
Upon information received from many cOun-
ties it is estimated that no less than 500 insane
and diotic people are in need OF the care and
treatment that can only be given in an inStitu-
ton organized for such purpose. I need not
urge the necessity OF an early completion OF
the hospitals in order that these poor unfor-
tunates may have proper care aand medical
treatment.
In order to add TO the symmetry of the
grounds of the Northern hospital, to make
more convenient the access to the same, and
prevent the construction OF any Objectionable
building in front OF the wOmens department
OF the hospital buildings, the board recon-
mends that It be authorized to purchase tract
of ten acres, now vacant and lying at the north
east corner OF the present tract, at cost OF
$4,000. The board cannot make the purchase
without additional authority, and L would
recommend that it be granted and the neces-
sary appropriation made.
The Soldiers and Sailors ORPHANS Home.
The Soldiers orphans home and the institu-
ton for Predetermined children were, on the
Dist day of July, 1856, destroyed by fire, and for
the purpose of rebuilding and charging the
Soldiers orphans home, and entirely separat-
ing the inmates of the home from the feeble
minded children, the general assembly, by an
act approved Feb. Is, 1SS7. directed that there
should be established and maintained an insti-
tuition at and upon the property owned by the
state, near knightstOwn, III Rush county, To be
known as the Indiana soldiers and sailors Or
phaus' home and made the following appro-
priatlOns:
For the purchase Of land........,....... 5000 90
For completion OF main building..-...-.. 5000 90
For school house and chapel.-.--.-.-.-.- 1000 90
For shops, machinery, 10000 90
For ornamentatOn OF grounds.............. 5000 %
For library ........................... 1000 90
Total. Sl2ZOOO W
To the above should be added:
Insurance money and interest collected
thereon SZo4lI 90
Miscellaneous l4s5 6Z
Total Slio'9OO l.
The main building, the chapel and school,
house, and the industrial building have been
completed and are occupied. They seem TO be
we'll adapted for the purposes intended. They
are heated by steam, and, with the exception
of the industrial building are lighted by eec-
tricity. Two natural gas wells on the home
farm supply all the fuel for the institution, and
the necessary llIll lot tie luuuEtIldl buiihluS.
The rooms are well lighted and ventilated.
The schoOl-rOoms are admirable, and presided
over by an efficient corps OF teachers. There
are many industries in successful operation,
and good government seems to prevail through
out the home.
The trustees and superintendent are entitled
To- commendatiOn for the faithful manner in
which they have discharged the trusts cOnhded
to their care.
The trustees report that the number in the
home at the close of the last fiscal year was $40;
that no more children can be received unless
the capacity OF the institution slncreased; that
100 applications have received favorable action,
and that number would be doubled were it
known that the children would be received.
For increasing the capacity of the institution
TO about six hundred and providing for the
present needs, the trustees ask additional ap-
preparations as follows;
To build six cottages. ... 900 90
To enlarge dining-roOm 1000 90
To build hospital 1000 on
Total 900 90
For detailed information you are referred to
the report OF the trustees, which | commend to
your favorable consideration.
Soldiers and sailors Monument.
The state soldiers and sailors monumental
commission, appointed in accordance with the
law passed by the last legislature, organized on
the 2Sth day of June, 1887. On the 9th
day OF January, 1883, it adopted a de-
sign for a monument furnished by Bruno
Schmitz of Berlin, Prussia, which is now in
process OF construction. the central foundation
having Deen laid the past season at a cost OF
S31 .6S5.11 and advertisement having been made
to let the work of building the superstructure
on the 30th day of the present month. 1t is ex-
pected that il will require two years to erect
this superstructure, and the addition of the
ornamental work will occupy at least one more
year. IL is the hope OF all concerned to make
this monument the pride of the state, since it
will commemorate the most heroic epoch in
our history, and serve to excite patriotic de-
yotion to the country and its laws. The report
of this commission embracing its work in de-
tail until the close Of the past year, will be laid
before you.
Indiana school For FeebIe-NIinded Youth.
In my last biennial message | recommended
q separation of the Soldiers orphans home from
the Institution for feeble-minded children. In
accordance with such recommendation the last
general assembly passed an act to establish and
maintain the Indiana school for feeble-minded
youth as a separate institution, and located the
same at or near Fort Wayne, Allen county.
The law provided that said institution should
be managed by board OF three trustees; that
one member shall be a woman and that the
other two members shall be voters of this state
and not adherents of the same political party,
but each shall be an adherent of one of the two
political parties casting the greatest number of
votes at the general election next preceding his
appointment