Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-12-28

1t is a pleasure to report that these in
situations are all in as satisfactory a con-
dition as their financial situation will
permit.
The Act of the last legislature eularg-
ing the penitentiary board has worked
we'll and has directly interested all sec
tions of the territory in the government
Of that institution. 1t seems to be uni
versally conceded that the penitentiary
was never so well conducted as it is to-
day l trust that every member of the
| legislature will visit this institution dur
. ing the session, SO as to become person
ally familiar with its workings and its
needs.
The university at Albuquerque was
opened in the summer, for short session
of normal instruction, and is now enter
ing upon its more regular work. 1t is
elsewhere suggested that perhaps until
other arrangements can be perfected it
might be well to use this building for the
very pressing work of normal instruc-
ton. The cost Of the building, including
furnace, improvement of grounds, etc.
was S32,672,
The School of Mines at Socorro has
completed its laboratory building.
The building itself is massive and
substantial structure admirably adapted
for its purposes. To secure its erection,
however, the directors were compelled
not only to use all the funds on
, hand but to pledge the future re-
ceipts from the annual appropra-
tions for some time in advance.
The institution only receives one-tifth of
r mill of territorial taxation, about $500,
per year. and unless the legislature takes
some action, the building will have to re-
main unused for a considerable time.
This would be great misfortune, and 1t
would seem more wise to make such an
, appropriation as will permit the school to
, begin its practical work without delay.
, The insane asylum at Las Vegas is the
most needed of all our institutions. The
: last legislature authorized the Issue OF
, S25.OO0 in territorial bonds to aid in the
construction of the asylum. The proceeds
: of these bonds were S25,24l, and with this
added to $l6,9O6 received from taxes, the
directors proceeded to build. The "cot-
tage system" was adopted, and the pres
ent structure is to be but one of group
= of buildings, and will finally be USED for
/ administrative purposes. 1t has been
a arranged very skillfully, however, for i'm
! mediate use as an entire asylum, and is
a., commended by all for its combined beau
ty and utility. The cost of the building,
including fencing, well, etc, was S3S,37o,
n and of furniture, $1,572. The directors
p hoped to open the asylum for patients
about the LIST of July last, and afterwards
g. Il later date was fixed; but the oonstruc-
+ tion of certain additional cells arrange
l. ments for an independent water supply,
!, etc, exhausted the funds at the disposal
- of the board, and the counties appealed to
T. were averse to paying for care and treat
ment in advance, so that the directors
felt that it would be 1mprudent to attempt
" to commence actual operations until the
! views of the Legislature on the subject
: we're known. Meanwhile the number of
u insane persons in New Mexico is increas-
II ing, and those who are violent have to be
" kept in jais without any proper care or
u attention. for the safety of the community,
y There is at least one person who has been
" confined in this way for over twelve years,
" and in many cases the period has been
: long one. Nothing could be more alb
y horrentt to the ordinary instincts of human
!, ity than this, and such condition OF
!. things should not be permitted to con
. tinue moment longer than is neces-
y sary. No actual suffering is caused
) by delay in the operation of a
university, agricultural college OF
school of mines, but delay at the insane
asylum means that nearly 100 unfor'
= tunate human beings, deprived of reason
le by no fault of their own, shall con
lie tinue to be unprovided for and be kept
" in misery and deprived of all hope o.
,e recovery. There is no subject which
10 calls for such immediate action by the
10 legislature as this. The building is ready
N and is completely furnished and ready
,r for occupation on days notice. 1t il
~. for the legislature to say how it is to bt
,t supported. If by the territory at large
an appropriation must be made, if b!
r. the counties some means must be pro
IN vided to ensure prompt payment by then
,C of their Dues for the expenses have to b.
e, met by cash. | renew the recommends
rs ton that the asylum be allowed to re
is ceive insane patients from the territory
Az whose friends are able to pay for thei
ID maintenance. The present law prohibit
No this. but it is not only right that our citizen
"a should have this privilege in their owl
asylum, but it can also be made to aid il
the support of the institution.
The agricultural college was the first o
the territorial institutions to commenc
De operations, and is in fourishing condi
es ton and doing an excellent work. Il
of connection with the experiment station
it has been most fortunate in its tinancia
:? affairs, the passage of the Morrill, act il
40 1890 having brought to the agriculture
T. COLLEGE of each state $4,000 for the tisca
% year ending June so, 1890, $4,000 for tn
u next year, $4,000 for the cext, and so OF
VI by regularly ascending scale, until tn
~ sum reaches $4,000 a year. This is il
ie addition to the $4,000 regularly receive
VI for the experiment station, and som
W smaller sums for specific work. Thu
e the amount of United States money re
L ,o ceived this year by our own college j
10 over $4,000, and the institution is thu
- placed in highly satisfactory pecuniar
H. condition.
~ Considering the large sums thus re
:. ceived from the government, and the ex
~ ~ IRENE need of funds at both the insan
=" asylum and the school of mines, yarou
30 suggestions have been made that tn
IL territorial appropriation, which amount
49, to about $500 per annum, should b
- withdrawn from the agricultural college
La as being no longer necessary, and give
nc to one ofthe more necessitous institutions
b al [ am not prepared to recommend this
ne but it would seem that continuance o
~, ~ the appropriation might very properl
10 BIO coupled with a requirement that tn
- - institution should prepare and tax
~ ~ charge of certain appropriate parts o
a a our exhibit at Chicago. Another sugges
~ lion might be that branch experiment
90 stations should be established at severa
49, suitable points in the territory, as tn
81 81 location at Las Cruces, though excellen
- - on many accounts, yet being in the ex
W. treme south of New Mexico, and in al