The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-07

The first annual report of the contractors
will be hereafter placed before you.
Insane.
The insane of the state are supported I'M
der a contract between the territory of
Montana and Doctors Mitchell and Mussig-
brod, at Warm Springs, Deer Lodge county,
Montana, at So per week, making an ex-
pense to the state of about $4,000 per an
mum. The number is increasing rapidly,
the last report showing 200 patients main
tanned at public expense. The mainten-
ance of the insane and the penitentiary will
form the largest items of expense under
our state government. The proper treat
ment of those unfortunates committed to
the asylum at the least possible expense to
the state, calls for the exercise of your
best judgment. / am not prepared at this
time to say that any new arrangement
would be advantageous to the state, or to
the person confined therein, but in view of
the great and growing expense IN that be-
half, l urge the most thorough investiRa
ton of the subject. The contractors nave
received nothing from the state in payment
under their contract since Jan. 3, 1880.
There is consequently due them the sum of
$77, 3SO.61. This looks like a great hard
| ship to impose upon the contractors, who
claim to be paying interest upon the
amount in order to maintain this lnstitu-
ton. The situation calls for prompt &C
ton. / invite attention to the annual re-
port of the contractors in this connection
| which will be hereafter transmitted.
Other UnfOrtunates Supported by the
State.
The state is now supporting and educat-
ing five deaf and dumb children at public
Institutes. Three at Washington, d. c.,
one at Danville, KY, and II at Baltimore,
Md; also one blind child at Nashville,
Tenn. We also support five feeble. minded
| children; two of the latter are at Binghamp-
ton, N. Y. and three at Edwin, Pa. Each
| of the children is costing the state an aver
| age Of $500 per annum, besides t%ransporta-
ton going and returning.
OF this number two have been sent with
in the past year. Contracts for their keep.
ing have been entered into for from one to
| six years, according to the age of the child,
These facts are submitted in the hope that
| they may become the basis for intelligent
/ consideration of the claims which these I'M
f%ortunates have upon the state and human.
ity.
state Institutions and Public Buildings
Ihave already referred to the ~peniten-
| tiary at Deer Lodge. Aside from this there
/ is no other public building belonging to the
\ state except the armory at the state capital.
On the 22nd day of October, A. ID. 1889,
| Hon. b. F. White, late governor of Mon
tana territory, on behalf of the territory,
entered into a contract with one A. Nc
Carver for the erection of a state armory
for the contract price of 3d. 300, besides
such extra work as the contractors and ar
chjtect might agree upon. The work was
.,~& oDvnvtntnl Mt tho TINA IF tho nhnnna
from the territorial to state government.
Work, however, continued and the build
ing was completed and is now occupied for
the purpose intended. Its completion
found us in debt to the contractors or ac-
count of balance due in the sum of 3d.
951. 75.
There was no authority of law to pay it out
of money in the state treasury. The demand
for the building was as urgent as the de-
mand by the contractor for his money. A
number of the philosophical gentlemen at
the capital came to the rescue, endorsed the
note of the state officers upon which the
Cruise Savings Bank of Helena advanced
the money to pay off the contractor. This
note, with the interest, is still due and will
be brought to you attention in connection
with other unpaid claims against the state.
In connection with the use of the build
ing as an nrmory the same is occupied by
several companies of the national guard of
Montana under an arrangement by which
each company is to pay an annual rental of
$500 out of the money allowed by law to the
several companies, but which in the absence
of necessary legislation they nave been
unable to draw. The building has been in
sured in three companies for the sum
of %15 600. There was no money
available to pay this and the several
agents of these companies are gen.
~erously carrying the state for the premiums
pending authority to pay the same. The
companies OF the National guard in Helena
have, by their combined efforts, raised
several hundred dollars which nave been
expended in necessary work to make the
building habitable. Upon the whole l
may add that public generosity has been
taxed to the utn ost to utilize the armory,
all of which has been made necessary on
account Of a failure to properly provide by