Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-11-15
STANDS IN THE FRONT RANK
North Dakota Hospital for In
sane Maintains Its High
STANDARD of Excellence.

sane Maintains Its High
Standard of Excellence.
Biennial Report Of the Board
of Trustees and of Super
intendent Archibald.
The board Of trustees of! the North
Dakota hospital for the insane, consisting
Of President Fancher, Secretary McGin-
Miss and Messrs. J. E. Paulson, H. John.
son and j. w. Burnhsm, have prepared
their biennial report for the term ending
October 31st, 1894 and will transmit the
same to Governor Shortridge. The board
take great pleasure, they state, in report
ing that the very high standard Of excel
lence for which the hospital is famous in
the United States has been maintained
during the past two years, and today the
institution stands in the very front rank
of hospitals for the treatment of insanity
in the world. Members of the board
have visited and carefully inspected
many of the leading hospitals, including
those of the eastern states and California
| during the past two years, and unhosl-
tatingly assert that in the point OF hu.
macitarian treatment, cleanliness, dis
cipline, percentage of cures to patients
treated, and general efficiency ID the end
aimed at in institutions of this class, the
North Dakota hospital for the insane
stands easily the first. This strong
statement, but facts, however, warrant it
and the board congratulates the governor
and the young state of North Dakota
upon having secured and retained IN it's
service DR.. Archibald, whose ability has
contributed chiefly to this most desirable
result.
They call particular attention to the
fact that the cost of maintaining and
conducting the hospital for the past two
years, without detrlment to its best in
terests, has been reduced $50 per capita,
per year, this following a reduction of
S4837 per capita. per year, during the
years 1891 and 1892, shows that the man
agement IS fully alive to the neces-
sity Tor the most rigid economy in the
financial affairs of the hospital.
Two years ago the board found 1t ne
cessary to call the attention of Governor
| Burke to the crowded condition OF the
institution, compelling two insane people
to occupy the same bed. This state OF
affairs has been largely augmented dur
ing the past two years. The attics and
every available corner have been utilized
and the board have been compelled to
notify the counties not to send new pa
tients until room has been found for
them by the discharge or death of
patients now under treatment. The
necessity for the additional buildings is
imperative.
The board estimates that for the next
biennial period, to carry on the work OF
the hospital, it will require S154,55O. To
this amount they add an estimate OF the
approximate appropriations for the aodi-
tlonai buildings asked for which amounts
to total II s149.1s7. This latter amount
includes the construction OF male and
female ward buildings, estimated at $780,.
600 each. To this is added about S2S, ,OOC
for maintenance, while incidentals make
up the remainder OF the amount.
The report Of superintendent Arcbl
bald is a long and carefully writer
statement Of the conduct of the affairs
OF the hospital for the biennial perloc
Just ended. He makes a strong plea fol
additional buildings and also for the need
OF q ward for tho care Of the feeble
minded.
The superintendent says the unfavor'
able financial condition Of the state and
general depression which :prevails all
over the country make the duty OF call
ing attention to the imperative needs oi
the institution an unpleasant!one on hi
part, but he would be unfaithful to hi!
position and untrue to his convictions o.
duty to shrink from it. The institution
is overcrowded. Applications for ad
mission are far beyond the maximum
capacity. Additional buildings are
needed of sufficient capacity to accom-,
modate from 100 to $50 more patients
than there is room for now. On account
OF the present crowdinG, even the attics,
which were not designed for the pur-
pose, have to be utilized as sleeping
quarters and when the insufficient fire
escape facilities are considered this alone
is enough to make one shudder in con-
tempIstinR the appalling loss Of life that
would inevitably result from contla.
grafton. under such q condition
This crowded condition was antici'
pated in the report OF the superintendent
two years ago and to meet It he urged
the erection of additional buildings, bu,
the appropriation the legislature passed
for that purpose didn't meet the appro
val Of the executive. He now renews /,