New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-14
SUNDAY EDITION.
FEB. ID, 1892.
FARMING BY THE INSANE.
COMMISSIONERS vIsII CENTRAL IsLIP.
THE LUXATICs WELL CARED FOR, INDUSTRIOUS
AND CONTENTED.

AND COMMENTED.
The Mayors advisory committee, appointed to re
port on the advi,abity Of turning over the care Of
the citys pauper insane to the state found vastly
better condition Of affairs AT the Cry Farm for the
Insane al Central Islip L. l.. yesterday than they
found In Backwell'-. Wards or ilarts islands Ths
difference between the Institutions the Islands and
fbe institution in Central Islip IS great that it
would be unfair 10 make any comparison between
them. The buildings on the Islands are Old Ill
ventilated worse than OvcrcI0wdeI, and the Inmates
live u wretch d life. The horrible condition OF Tie
pavilions IN BLACKWELL, and Hart, islands was
fully described in The Tribune of January 81 and Feb
ruary :.
II was with feeling of pleasure and relief that the
commissioner, marked the great contrast presented
BY the city Farm nj Central I>lp. They went there
In special leaving Long Island City Mt lalf paNl
. O'Clock yesterday morning. The coninNS oncrS were
al present They were Ebrdrc +. Gerry. Edward
p. Barker, of the Tax Department: William Lummis,
he school Commissioner: oscar otrauS. exMinistcr TO
Turkey and Mayor Franklin Edison. Accompany
Ing them were Dr.. \. f. Macdonald. General superin-
tendent Of the New York CITY AsylumS for the Insane
Dr. Carlos f. MAJ Donald. the state Commissioner OF
Lunacy and Henry II. Porter president Of the Depart
uent OF Charities and Correction
The view which greeted The commissioners when the
ssrriages which the patty bore them within sight
VI the farm pleasant one. Great level pio'S
were laid in carefully Planned squares with
pleasant walks there were trees ana bushes nh>U'u
Of picket lined stone walls: and In the place of ram
slaclde novels, d.apdaIcd. ruined and foul, there
wero handsome, cheerful looking buildings with gables
and piazzas and IN the bc,t oi condition without ana
within There were no huge stoves TO act a.
menaces without giving heat: there was no
lack Of ventilation; there no lack OF water Inc
poor inmates were not forced 10 live eat and sleep
forever IN the room, contaminated by their con
slant presence. Better than all the inmates had
room 10 move around in. they were not crowded To-
gether like cattle, As they on BiackWelIS ana
Iars islands and there were none Of the ptDIe ana
physically and morally repuSive scenes which made
the river Islands like region where the accused
dwot The iup.0veI condj.,I Of the inmates OF
the City Farm. due partly to their comfortable and
humane lodgings. bat in an even greater degree TO
the fact that they have regular. healthy employment
An the open air Oh the farm In, acted most benetciaN
on their mental state, and instead Of the great mas
Of sullen solid and gloomy faces 10 be Wards
Island the majority OF the insane patients on the farm
Are comparatively bright and alert.
The farm was started three years ago,
pertinent, the suggestion Of Dr.. \. +. Macdonald
The land bought during Mayor iIeviuS adj
mnisrauon 1t consists Of 1000 acre, and cost
~ 80 The total cost, including surveys and
searches, was $4,000 The land covered with
dense thcket, Of scrub oah ANA dwarf ccdar but now
about 300 acres have been entirely cleared by the
work Of the insane patient, alone These 30 acres
are under cultivation by the insane. and Vege-
tables, such potatoes tuiiips. parrnps etc, are
raised In fairly large quantitieS II is expected that
the facilitie, increased for housing patients, 80
that the number Of inmates may be in
creased. the fam can he made not only
sclfsupporng. but that it can produce enough 10 far
nsh potatoes and market stun IN quantities sufficient
to supply all the Institutions inc Islands. Last year
the gain 10 the institution in the Weld OF potatoes
was $7l9 81. The cost at PRESENT for supporting the
institution is a week FIR patient This includes
food medical ATTENDANCE heat, wafer. lighting. etc.
The pav.ions built IN three groups, each godp
containing three pavioa> and each group being M
ranged the segment Of circle There are nine
pavlons altogether, with capacity for holding 900
patients They somewhat owe crowd now, bui
lot dang roaely There at ps sent 4O2 patent
there, all male, and all suffering from incurabie
dcmenta. Besides the pdvili0ns tiere are bakery
IA laundry AMI tailor ana shoe shop combined the large
COOK r0Om house, and the doctors hJuscs. The
erection OF all buildings, and also Of the big pump
ng station and the stable. cost the city 100000.
The commissioners expressed themselves a, being
delighted with the pivlOns. The only tllue they
lacked electric night, and the doctor, declared
that an electro plant Wa, badly needed there.
In one or two pav,nons EIJliigc r. Gerry also cIti
cistd tie sewerage. but on the Thoe the arrange
mcnts met much epp!Oval. Each pavilion has Il la =
airy dOrmitory, with sitting rooms ON each end
There rooms with >inge bed, Tor noisy patient,
Heat is supplied by steam radiators. Baths lbcl
lily provided for. Water j, plentiful for coJhns
washing and drinking. The appearance of eich
layOn i, cheerful ana hOnekc and tie effect Oh the
patents j. apparent. DR.. ENait, Is The physician In
charge. lie Is assisted by Dr-. Caldwell and ROVE.
Dr. A. L. Macdonald said that Tie experiment had
proved entire success, i.r. lie said Tat the
patients not only worked on ne farm Willingly Du
begged to be allowed 10 70 out and woih, WheLeve
h.sppeLed thai tad weather pieNenej them Tor some
day. a tact. IN (nc Wi!ch IL Nj, nee,
sary to punish patient. Was suIhuen' 10 deD INN
The hDcIly to WON Tor day or Two. naturally, vine
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