Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-01

of years of growth. This Is regarded by
some simply as ulatilaolse. but the m
mates are surrounded BY all the comforts
of home, flowers. fruit AMI books, every
thing that can make theft surroundings
pleasant That has been the result Of years.
II we are TO have new buildings let Us 10
as Massachusetts, has done. She Is now
building an asylum for tie chronic insane
TO accommodate l04u patients ri az ex-
of $3.50 .0sst. When we ARE reaH.y TO bull
new buildings letns commence at the cen
ter and build out. The insane of the Eas-
tern section of the State have the same
privileges ani advantages as any other
portion of the State. Patients committed!
10 this hospital across the river derive the
benefit Of Years Of labor and epproprlA
tons which have made that institution AMI
lis surroundings what they are today.
Our duty To this unfortunate class is first,
to see that they are humaneiy treated AMI
are surrounded with everything that il cal
cuisred 10 improve them, sni the question
is what we shah do for future accommois-
tons. Suppose We should adopt the cot
tage plan there. We have SO acres OF
land. 1t is situated favafsb'y for drainage
and il supplied with al abundance of pure
water. If the minority report of the com
mittee should be accepted shall suggest az
amendment TO leave this matter With ths
superintendent and trustees of the hospital
and the Governor and Council to supply
such buildings as are needed. submit
that that w0uli he Il business proposition
From my observation it will be better fol
the insane that We are prosiiing for TO add
to this institution. believe that we Can
care for loco or 1900 patients conveniently
and well il that institution. We now have
$50 patients. Patients in an institution OF
this Kind fare much better in a strong in
stitution than in a weak one. Abuses in
Institutions of this kind have arisen from
small institutions weak in themselves with
few attendants. Over here "A large portion
of the male inmates can he employed.
believe the females many of them, could
be employed on those grounds in the cult
vation of flowers and something of thai
kind which woul do much to their good
In view of these things | think we shoul
carefully consider the future of our Nat,
and pursue line of action that we scal
point TO as wise and prudent.
Mr.. Harris of East Maehias The con
elusion of the two branches of the commit
tee Is almost the same. The whole com
mittee report that immediate relief is necrs
sary. They are also unanimous in rcgart
to the manner in which that relief is To be
be given. Both branches of the committee
recommend that two buildings or two wings
be erected which shall accommodate l0t
patients each, and the only difference il
their recommendation is that on the part ot
the minority they recommend the apprOpri
alton of 10000 for these buildings, ant
that they should be erected in Augusta. and
the majority recommend that $4,000 be
appropriated and that they be located in
Bangor. That is all the difference there /,
in this committees report.
1t is fair to consider the question rs to
the expense of the buildings mt Augusta and
at Bangor. | am well acquainted with the
institution. Two years ago this matter va,
gone over very carefully and ! was a mem
Der of the committee at that time, and
heard the report of the superintendent AMI
officers and trustees and of the architcct
One hundred and ten thousand dollars is
recommended for these two wings in Au-
gusta. Aud these two wings shall accom-
modate 100 patients each aud shall be fire
proof. The architect has made estimate,
and saws that these two wings cannot be
built as recommended for less than SIPS,
900. | may say that the two building.
which were constructed five or six wear.
ago cost Sll0, 600, but they accommodate
only 81 patients each. In addition to thi,
sips 600 it will require 4 new plant almost
entirely to furnish the two buildings with u
laundry and cooking and beating accommo
datious and with sewerage. The present
plant is worked to its full capacity, and any
further additions would require an addition
to the boiler house and the cooking
and laundry house. Those addition.
will have to he almost the same
us new. The presept main for
conducting the steam cannot be utilize,
for any other buildings \ new main vii
have 10 he put in. It will require iarr
expense for grading, If We add these nee
essary expenses to the cost of these tNa
wings the difference in the amount to b
expended in Augusta or in Bangor wou
he very small If it would be anythiag. /
seems to ME, therefore, that this ques,io'
of expense cannot be considered in III
matter, for if we are to build these hui J.
ings and equip them ms the minority report
SAYS. it will cost, without much doubt, a
least sij0,000. The location in b ngor
now belongs TO the State. II has been pnf
chased at an expense of $50 800 or S25 900
To place these two buildings on this Lost
ton the architect estimates the expense -
SI25 900 For the boiler house and cook
ing h0nsc and piping for water and wirins
for lights, sis ,Uun; for grading and sewer
age. s-..0eo This makes total of sl4s.
900 The architect is willing to guarantc,
that this can be done for that or u lee
amount.
The two reports seem to come to this
point, whether this money shall be OK
pended in Augusta or Bangor. In regar ! IL
appropriations L think that this iegisllfur-
at times does not realize what we are SEM
here for. do not believe that our great
object in coming here ia to grant charter
TO this corporation or to that. ! do MT hv-
lieye that we are sent here to locate pier
in the kennehee or a dam on the Maits-
wamkeag or that our chief business is e.
decide on the length of Holsters 10 not
think that our principal business is to pro
tect pickere or muskrat in Baack brook.
or to wage war of determination upon the
foxes and the row and the owl AMI the
hawk. nor yet TO curtail the perambulating
bear in his walks abroad for health or
recreation. think we have been sent HIRE
to work for the States good and to appro-
priate the peoples money to places where
il belongs. We d not know when VI.
come here any thing about the amounts tha;
are required. In regard to the insane hos
pital We are obliged to depend upon the
recommendation of DIR. Ssnborn, an /
he says both publicly and privately
that there should be another and
a separate institution and that the present
institution should not be enlarged. Suppose
FIRE should occur there. even without loss
of life. These people would be throw di-
teetly upon the State for shelter: and also
in the case of contagious diseases. Shall
this money. then, which will approach
Slj0.t0o in either case, be expended in en-
lsrging the present hospital in Augusta or
shall it he expended on the lands which nov
belong to the State in Bangor. Ii seems to
ME that we shall not 10 our duty if we do
not accept the majority report of the coma
miitee and the recommendations which are
made to Us by the presen, superintendent,
DIR. Sanborn-
Mr.. Shaw of Portland signed the
majority report as it now appears because
it seems to me that the evidence of the ex-
perts and OF those who have the care of
these unfortunate people tends TO shnw thst
a new institution sherlt be erected with
modern appliances and absolutely fire proof
in every respect. The ~eirht of the ie-ti-
n,ouv seems to me to be in favor of the new
Institution at Bangor.
Mr. March of Westbrsok signed the
majority report because couid not see that
!. "a ss aivisahtz IN a4ft any trnr.s httti finsrs