The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-04
THE NEW INSANE ASYLUM

state. Under this law it is only necessary
for overseers of the poor to prove that their
idiotic, non-compos, and demented paupers
are dangerous to enable their towns to re-
lieve themselves of the burden of support
by sending them to the state insane asy-
lum. The states attorney of each county
represents the state in these matters, and
presumably investigates carefully all APP
plications for commitment of this class of
persons. But as Il matter of fact investi-
cations are often practically ex-parte, and
the towns, with the shrewdness proverbial
in such cases, too often find little orno diff
ficulty in making such showing as will
secure the commitment of its paupers to the
asylum. The supervisors of the insane are
supposed to correct the evil growing out of
this tendency to shift the burden from the
town to the state; and to their credit be it
said, they have been faithful defenders of
the treasury, and a large number of the
paupers improperly committed, have been
returned to the towns from which they
were sent. 1t is however undoubtedly true
that a large number of the inmates of the
asylum would be cared for at home were it
not for the fact that by sending them to
the asylum the towns avoid the expense of
their maintenance.
/
humanitarian standpoint, it is not right
that many of these unfortunate persons be
taken care of at the asylum rather than at
home; but, unless some additional safe
guards are provided, we must squarely
meet the only alternative. to wit, the ex-
penditure of half million dollars within
the next five years in the building and
equipping of an asylum capable of caring
for five or six hundred patients. This I'M
pleasant fact was brought to the attention
of the legislature of 1888, and an appropri-
alton of 100000 was made for the pur-
pose of building and equipping new
asylum. Under the act of 1888, site was
selected at Waterbury, and a contract let
for the erection of the building, the aggre-
gate cost of which, including the site and
architects charges has been in round num-
numbers S9S 900 An additional appro-
! priation will be Immediately required to
heat, light, and furnish this new asylum,
the estimated expense thereof being $780,
! 600. When the $50, 900 shall have been
expended, the institution will be in condi-
ton to care for from 125 to $50 patients.
After consultation with the supervisors
OF the insane and the trustees of the asy-
! lum at Brattleboro, it seems clear to me
that no further addition to the new asylum
should be made during the next two years.
They are of the opinion that the relief
which the new asy lum with it's present
capacity will afford will enable them to care
for such patients as should be properly cared
for by the state until the legislature of
1892 can make further provisions therefor.
l therefore recommend that sum not
exceeding $4,000 be appropriated to
finish and furnish the new asylum, and if,
at the end of two years, it is deemed expe-
dent to make further appropriations for
the purpose of enlargng the Institution, it
can then be done The annual expendi-
ture on the part of the state for the insane
was, in round numbers, $4,000 in 1879
$4,000 in 1880; $4,000 in 1885 while
the bill Just paid to the Bratteboro asylum
for support of the insane the past year is
S72,697.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE FUND.
In 1865 the university of Vermont and
state agricultural college became the re-
cipient of an annual income of S,130, from
what is known as the state agricultural
college fund. In 1887 the national con-
gress passed what is known as the Hatch
bill, by virtue of which the state agricul-
tural college has since received annually,
for the benefit of the experiment stations
the sum of $4,000. In August of the
present year another bill, introduced by
our own senator, Hon. j. s. Morrill,, was
passed by the national congress by which
| the state is to receive the further sum of
| $4,000 annually, this sum to be increased
81, 900 each year until it reaches So, 900.
! The spirit of these various acts of appro-
! priation clearly is that these sums, amount
| ing i'll all to S3S, 100, to be increased as
above to SIS, 100 annually, shall be used
Tor the purpose of building up an industrial
and agricultural school, where those who
desire to engage in agricultural or indus
trial pursuits may obtain, as nearly free
from cost as possible, higher and more
distinctively agricultural or industrial
training than can be had at our ordinary
schools | urge upon you the necessity of
careful and earnest consideration of the
needs of the agricultural department of the
university 1t seems to me that the cause
of agriculture in Vermont should receive
wonderful impetus from the wis, expen-
diture of the muniicent sums which will
hereafter come to us by virtue of these
grants. | know of no body of men more
competent than the present legislature of
Vermont, composed as it largely is of prac-
teal farmers and business men, to consider
and mature wise plans calculated to secure
the important ends which are attainable
under these most liberal appropriations. 1t
is a matter which should receive your i'm
mediate and careful attention. to the end
that ample discussion may be had before
the hurry of the closing days of the session
shall divert your attention to matters of
infinitely less Importance.
If in the development of any project
connected with this important subject,
even larger sum than will come to us
under present grants is necessary, it should
be remembered that legitimate and judi
cious expenditure in the cause of agrcul-