New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-23
Chicago Convention. We have no idea "herc
he will turn up next
rrc, c,pE mr. THE INSANE.

EETTER CARE or IHE iN'AN|' ,
Most of the bills affecting this city enacted
nv the recent Legislature were passed pr.
ma,ilv for the benefit of Tammany iall ana
;ts devotces There were, luckily, few eX-
ao,t;,rs notably the two acts designed to pro-
vide better care for New-Y6rk's pauper insane
This is a subject that must make powerful
aipcal TO all humane people familiar win 'hc
facts. The condition of the insane Wards Oh
the CITY is a disgrace to New-lork as CIVIL
izcd community and should not be tolerated an
bour longer than is necessary
The two bills which have recently become
laws arc the result of careful inquiries made
oarlv in the winter by an Advisory Commission
named by Mayor Grant. This Commission
consisted of Elbridgo Il. Gerry ex-Mayor ba-
son. Oscar s. Straus, Edward +. Barker presi-
dent of the Tax Department, and W Ililam L.ih'-
mis-. a member of the Beard OF Educatloh'
Their report gives evidence OF paInstaklhs
tboroughncss. They found the Overcoming
in the insane asylums on Blackwells "aru
and Harris islands intolerable. On Blackwells
Island there were 1,S13 patients, while proper
accommodations exist for only 1,091 and the
pavons in which many OF them arc houScd
"arc nothing but old inilammable wooden
shantics with the walls and foundations rot
ting and falling to pieces" On Wards lSlahd
the main ASYLUM is a large and well-constr''cted
buldinp but. while intended to accommodate
,oO uersons. 500 are crowded into it. even
the cellars being used for extra beds There
are so many insane men on this island, more
over, that it has been necessary 10 put some
of them in the miserable and unfit buildings
formerly used by the Emigration Commission
crs. On Harris Island 1850 patients are
crowded into buildings that can accommodate
in reasonable comfort only l,099 and the half
dozen buildings. having been erected as tenn
porary barracks for soldiers some thirty years
ago. are totally unfit for their present use. The
report describes them as simply Shantlcs'
The one ray of light in the dark picture Is found
in the citys farm of 1000 acres at central
I>lip. l.. l.. where however, there is some over
crowdng. aO2 patients occupying pavilionS de-
signed for 300.
II is not surprising that the Commission was
led to make sweeping recommendations, while
onposinr the transfer of the cty's insane paupcrs
70 the care of the state The principal recon-
mcndations were that the city should purchase
the part of Wards Island not now owned by
it. that additional land should be acquired at
Central lslip, and that new buildings for the
use of the insane AT both these places should
be erected with the ultimate intention OF
vacating the buildings now used by these pa
ticnt, on Blackwells and Harris islands These
uropositions were embodied in two bills which
have become laws One provides for the pur-
chase of so much of Wards Island as * owned
by the state the other appToprates 100000
for the erection OF new buildings To carry
out these plans will be in the trucst sense n
vorl, Of mercy and humanity. President
Porter. Of the Department of Charities and
Correction has taken an active interest III Sc
curing this legislation. IL is to be hoped he
will sec that the contemplated expenditures
arc wisely and carefully made, with total abb
scnce Of jobbcry and scandal.