San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-26
OUR STATE CRANK HOUSE.
A Visit TO the Southwestern Insane
Asylum-What the Place Is
Like and How
fanauah


Managed.
How many San Antonians have
visited the Southwestern insane
Asylum since its completion? The
visitors register in the Doctors office
does not show many entries. How
many know where it is? Everybody
has general idea that it is in the
south part of the city, but they do not
know the road thlther and do not
know the pretty piece of ground 1t oc-
cupies. A LIGHT man visited the
place and WAS very much pleased
with the scenery, the drive and the
attention he received from Doctor
Barker and his efficient corps of as
sistants He was shown through the
entire esta adjustment and given much
valuable data.
1t is situated 4 2 miles from San
Antonio, on.the s. A. and APP. rail
way, and the premises include $40
acre tract of arabic land, fronting
nearly one halt mile on the river. The
buildings are situated on q pretty
knoll, and the enclosure about them
is being improved, plated and plant.
ed with shrubbery, of various kinds,
indigenous to the soil. There are two
beautiful parks for the patients, near
the river, one for females and one for
males, which are fine picnic grounds,
Astounding In natural scenery of wood
and valley. Here, with the guards, tine
patients take regular daily exercise,
walking, talking. playing ETC., as they
desire. But little, except the proper,
restraint, is put upon them. They
are housed in comfortable quarters,
and everything for their welfare is
provided. In the building Is an cleo
trio plant, which not only is capable
of lighting the buildings, but the
grounds as well; q laundry, as com,
plete as any steam laundry in this
city; a bakery, which can make
all the bread and pastry q large
hotel could consume; kitchen,
commodious and clean as q new
pin, with refrigerator, storeroom
and pantry attached, and all the &C
cessories required for an institution
that can accommodate, by crowding,
800 patients.
At present there are being cared
for from so to so patients, OF which Is
are females. These are brought from
all parts of Texas, principally from
Austin and Southwest Texas. There
are several among them who are
from San Antonio. There are a few
private patients also.
DR.. Barker has made q study of
mental diseases for years and has be-
come very thorough in his theory and
practice. Assisting him is q well
trained auxiliary, as follows:
DR.. j. B. Russian, of Decatur, as
sistant superintendent.
Joe Lee Jameson, of Waco, book.
keeper, steward and supervisor.
Mstron and supervisoress, Mrs. M.
K. Mcpherson, of San Marcos.
Chief Engineer, 3. D. McFadden.
Beside the wards for pa.
tients there is an hospital each
for the male and females pa
tients, q dance hall, where regular
Friday night dances are given for the
patients, In which all, even the
officers of the institution, participate,
two dining rooms, baths, etc. There
is adequate fire protection and the
building are fire proof. The artesian
well, while it does not supply pal
atable water, can be used In an emer-
gency. All the furniture used in the
building is made in the state peniten-
tiary, of Texas products, and many
pieces are very complete, beautiful and
serviceable. When the necessity
arises, there is plenty of room for more
buildings, ana it is expected, when
the apprcpria ton is increased, to add
enough buildings TO form quadran
gle and fir 9 courtyard. This will
soon be necessary, as DIR. Barker has
now on file enough applications for
admission to more than fill his avail
able space.
A fine kitchen garden of 90 acres Is
one Of the valuable adjuncts to the
place.
Arkansas Pass Matter Quiet.