The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-03-07
INSPECTING THE ASYLUM.
MORE MONEY NEEDED FOR THE
q INSTITUTION.


Bttli luNibCu W Nioiu uHu iiiSpOtU tio
buildings.
The Governor and the members of
the Legislature arrived at Farnhulst at
Il. 20 o'clock. having left Doverat 1912.
Dr. j. j. Black met the visitors at New
Castle and accompanied them to Farm
hurst. The visitors present were:
Governor Reynolds, Secretary Of State
u. T.Alarvel Speaker Donahoe Senators
McMullin, Pilling, Hall and Houston,
and Representatives Higgins, jackson,
Marvel, Eisenbrey, West, Ridgely,
Walton, Richards, L. J. Morris, Smith,
Cranston, ElkintOn. Hutson, Chapman,
1fndall Attix, Day, Speaker Sirman,
State Treasuref-Burnite, Senate Clerk
Hearn, House Clerk Dunn, Chaplain
Green OF the House, Sergeants-at,Arns
George Phillips Of the Senate and A. H.
Phillips OF the House, Auditor Dula-
ney, ex-Speakcr John II. Hoffecker,
Abram Vandegtift. Colonel Ezekiel T.
t'oorsr and representatives OF tho
press.
Dr. Richardson, resident physician
OF the hospital, received the visitors,
TO whom he was personally intro
duced by Dr. J. j. Black, chairman,
and pr, }. 5. Wilson, secretary OF The
board.
after the arrival OF the guests the
action Of some unfinished business.
A. =. Robinson reported the text of
an act to amend the act of the General
Assembly instltuting the State Hospi-
tai for the Insane, which the trustees
will a SIX the Legislature to pass, In
which provision is made for the pay
ment of the cost of tho medical indig-
ent insane persons applying for ad-
mission TO the hospital by the counties
in which said persons reside at the
time OF the application and removal
to the hospital. Also to authorize the
admission of patients from this State
who desire treatment at tho hospital
and who are able and willing to pay
for such treatment The report in
both cases was approved.
A. T. Robinson from the same com
mittee, also reported the text of
joint resolution TO be submitted to the
General Assembly appropriatlng $40,
00O for improvements to tho hospital
building, and an annual appropriation
OF sab, 900 for the support OF the hos
pital. This report was also approved
and the committee Instructed TO have
the documents presented to the Leg
stature as early as possible
At | o'clock recess WAS taken for
dinner and the visitors were soon
seated at the tables. There were four
tables In The second story of the build
Ing and an excellent dinner was served.
When Justice hal been done to the
repast, DR.. Black raped for order, and
called upon A. i. Robinson to state to
the visitors the object Of the trustees
In inviting them to visit the institu-
ton, when Mr., Robinson said:
In brief, the object Of this visit to
this hospital Is to obtain money to i'm
IL la.a
propliation for its support. The MEM
bers OF the Legislature present can see
for themselves what the trustees need
and what they need 1t FOR.
.'lhis Institution is but two years
old. Our control OF IL began III August,
1851. We got nothing from New Cgs-
tie goanty but the building and
grounds. There was not enough OF the
absolute essentials OF such an iiistitu-
tion TO begin with. Although the build
lngs represented the insane depart
ment OF the New Castle County aims
house, we had TO begin anew. The
annual appropriation was only $l4 900.
With this sum the trustees began work
with an earnest desire to keep within
tho bounds set for them. They re-
OeiYed at the outset ali the insane in
mates OF tho New Castle County aims
house, and shortly aiterward those
from Kent and Sussex counties and
thus relieved them of all expense Incl
dent to the care of the insane.
I'VE soon found that Slf,0O0 was not
money enough To run the Institution
aecepiably 1t gave the inmates only
bare comforts. When you examine
the rooms you will lind that in their
present condition they are not suited
for the purpose to which they are
Ntgan IDara iG INt,i n RI
ments and no means TO insure the
absolute quiet necessary for the treat
ment and cure of the insane. 1t Is i'm
possible to shut the noise consequent
upon tho combining SO many people of
this character together.
There is not enough money to give
DR.. Richardson the help he requires,
or to furnish the appliances necessary
for the work he is expected to do. He
Is perhaps the most efficient superin-
tendent we could have secured.
speak my own impressions received in
contact with him and based upon
knowledge of the conduct OF the hos
pital. l believe also that | speak in
this matter for all the members of the
board Of trustees. The legislation for
which we ask and the increased appro-
priatlonS we hope to receive are for
the purpose of making the hospital a
place In which the INDECENT insane can
have humane and skillful treatment.
and TO which any citizen OF the State
who should te SO unfortunate as to
need its shelter can safely come OF to
which he could freely consign his un-
fortunate friend.
ss.Mith this understanding we invite
you TO inspect the building and see
Tor yourselves how ridiculous it Is for
the State of Delaware TO request any
one to bring or send pay patient to
this place. 1t may be possible to run
this hospital for S25, 900, but / think
we ought to have $4,000 to do it prop
erly."
Senator Hall inquired how many
pay patients were in the hospital, when
DR.. Richardson answered ten, and
that VI, 900 year was received from
this source.
Mr.. Robinson closed by urging the
members for an increased appropria-
ton. He was followed by Dr. Black,
who endorsed all that he had said. He
also said that at the present rate of in
crease of inmates 1t would, within the
next year, reach 200. There are now
IT'S. This called for more money.
Our prime necessity at this time is a
house for the superintendent, The
hospital building needed repairs and
Improvement. He honestly thought
that the $4,000 asked for these pur.
poses was all needed and not less than
S26. 600 for support.
Speeches were made by other MEM
pers OF the board OF trustees ana Il
number oil questions asked by mem