New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-10
FOR TIE CITY'S INSANE P1UPEhS.
4 TALK WITH Mr.. GERRY on THE RESULTS OF
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES INQUIRY.

, TALK WITH Mr.. GERRY on THE RESULTS OF
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES INQUIRY.
The results Of the investigations Of the advisory
committee appointed by Mayor Grant 20 examine the
condition Of the pnuper Insane Mt BlnckwcUS Nad@
and lart's Islands, which have ALREADY been Phpu'el
In The tribune have croutel desire on the lat 81
many citizens 10 remove many MS possible ot Tie
cuu.. that tend 10 TIE discomfort az The unfortnnai"
ueoplo confined there Elbridgc T. Gerry, who is ca
the committee with Edward =. Larker, eS-Mayor
Franklin EdsOn william Lummls and Oscar :. stsnus
said 10 "A reporter yesterday afternoon: "The pupr
insane Of this city have ben Increasing With wonder
n,l npldty during the last few years. Thl- class Is
recruited largely from the poor Immigrants who come
Ia our shores We pay 100000 year to mails
tain or Insane poor Ut the vnrious Institutions here
The Department Of Charities and Correction makes an
annual statement TO the Board Of Apport0nmcnt ask
Ing tor a certain sum 10 Gerry on the work for The fol
lowing wear The board mas decrease increase this
amount ms II seems In It's judgment desirable"
is Il 10, strange inquired the reporter that
the condition Of the wretched sufferers Harris Island
for example has MT been ioTbly brought 70 light
before this tmol'
"That question" replied Mr. Gerry, "toyeticr with
many Others regarding responsibility FIR the present
condition affairs, VIII DO decided by the commission
nc soon as We have compls,~i Investigations. ON
saturday We shall visit the overflow institution at
lsIp. We may then decide t. examine the various
Insane llluh oil tlv ehlilt rt1tc. LOT purpose
II comparison. As has already been stated In The
Tribune TIE trouble is that the accommodations on
Blackwels Wards and Harris ishnds have not been
extended fast enough to meet the rapidly increasing
number Of patients. There hns been evident re
uctnce on tho part Of those in charge Of the natter
10 erect adcqlate new buildings and properly rtplr
heat und vent.iate the old IL Is comparatively
easy To order IL few more hundred pound, OF bread
and meat Cor an Increased number o. patients, buL
when It comes T. heId!ng women together like cattle
In n car IL i, wonder that good results IRON such
treatment are comparatively rHrc ! think that the
suparutendents aud at the three Institutions
wc visited are ding We'll they can under the
existing Circumstances. After completing lts investiea-
lions the committee Will recommend what seems 10 IL
tho beat WAY The insanc poor. II has been
suggested that tue city should turn 10 the state
nil H., Institutions for the Of mnutlcs large
number Of thoughtful are in iuvor OF having tho
city continue 10 support these Institutions The
ouestlon NAV well be asked, why should New Nolf,
fin addition 10 it, annual burden OF 100000 for te
.uppO,t of rs Iaup-r insane, be compelled 10 pay
5000 900 more toward the support OF Mnnilcs In other
parts OF the state II this city were relieved from
,Ms enormous burden. it might eas ~ apply about
one half a mill dollars yearly to tho construction
Of new Duid.Ag, nj darts Island to rel ncc those
wrctched barracks In which SO many miserable women
arc now crowded suffering from tn, effects Of In.
sufficient warmth and poor ventilation.'