Milford chronicle., 1891-03-13
The State Insane Hospital.


At the inspection, by the members Of the
General Assembly, ofthe State Insane Hos
pital at Fauhurst last Friday, the visitors
saw, some of them for the first time, how
large a building the State bought for SIS 600
and what Improvements are needed to put
it in good shape throughout. As to the cost
Of the building, Nathaniel Williams, in reply
to question from x-Governor Hall, said ::
The contract price for the two buildings
(almshouse and insane asylum), was SI76,-
600, and there were some extras which
brought the amount up to about SIS5, 600.
The interior fittings, plumbing, heating ap-
paratus, gas fittings, ETC., brought this uD to
S225, 900, the land cost 5000 mere. This
building is not nearly so large as the other
| ,the almshouse), but it is more expensive;
/ the interior partitions are all brick and the
heating apparatus is more expensive in pro-
/ portion. l should think this building, as we
got it from the county, had cost the county
/ at least 500, 600, leaving out entirely the
/ land, ten acres, which we got with it. This
was built in connection with the other build |
ing, cheaply and comparatively honest 1 !
don't thiuk the state could have put it up,as |
a separate building, for SI25,ooo.
The Sussex members Of the board of trus- |
tees were equally clear in declaring thar the |
State had bought the place at bargain price.
II don't think, " said Dr., Hiram R. Burton,
eve could haye gotten as much for SIS 900
in any other way" Il believe" said Eli R.
Sharp, they will give this institution sufi-
cient money to keep it in good standing.
The people Of Sussex county see this was
good investment, and believe the Sussex
people will feel willing to sustain this insti-
tuition"
The trustees all concurred in urging tn
need Of an appropriation Of $4,000 for bet
terment and Of an increase in the annual ap.
preparation to $4,000. Among the pressing
needs ofthe building are fire escapes, laun-
dry machinery, stabling, conveniences for
isolating noisy prisoners or those who may be
stricken with infectious disease, the fitting up
for occupancy of the upper story the rooms
Of which contain thus far absolutely moth t
ing beyond the bare floor and bare walls. A b
separate house for thes:msdical superinten- e
dent would, for reasons well explained BY p
Dr. Black, be great desideratum, and would a
besides enable the trustees to use for paying ei
patients the quarters now occupied by that
'fieer in the hospital proper In addition, =
suggestion that struck some Of the mem-
'ers favoTably,wa the purchase Of land upon
which to employ some Of the inmates with
'rofit not only to the State but to themselves.
Such employment" added DR.. Burton,
would improve their mental as well as
heir bodily condition. - It was stated that
iirty five acres of the Randolph Peters es-
,te, just across the road, had been offered
II $500, ard could probably still be had
,r that price.
A strong argument in favor Of the appro-
ration asked for was that it would enable
le trustees to put the hospital in a condi-
on to attract paying patients from other
iates, and thereby prove from purely bus
ess standpoint, good investment. At
-esent there are ten paying patients, who
ing in a revenue Of 81, 900 per year. ,
The number Of INDECENT patients has
ready grown from I3o to I7S, with the pros
ct Of reaching 200 within the next two T
ars, and a moments calculation will show +,
at SIS, 600 per year for current expenses Of /,
institution with zoo inmates means only
IS per head, winch is represented to be :
v average for the care and keep Of insane :
tieuts. 4