Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-17
Fortslsseton for a n In saneAsylum

The state has Tor some time felt
the necessity tor better or at least
farsher accommodation for Its in
sane. Ihesone asy lum which Is To-
Gated at YanktOn is decidedly
Inadequate TO meet the present
demanI. THIS is d matter to which
the attention of the coming legIsla-
ture will no doubt be called. The
present condition renders 1t imper
alive that immediate action look.
ing To the further accommodation
Of the insane Of the state be taken.
Now, as suggested by the REPORT
Err AND FARMER aud other papers Of
this corner OF the state, what would
be the matter with converting the
splendid buildings Of Fort SlssetOn
into just that kind of an Institu
ton. The buildings are ample and
in every way suitable for an asylum
for the insane. There is a large
three-story, brick hospital building
that would do credit to Sioux Falls
or any other South Dakota city, aud
it is iE an excellent state of repair.
Nearly all the buildings are con-
structed of brick and are handsome
valuable and commodlous struct
ures. Now, inasmuch as "'econ-
omy" is to be the watchword in
this legislature, and inasmuch as
there is a pressing demand for fur
Their asylum accommodations in the
state, and lnasmuch as the convert
ing of these otherwise useless build
ings into such an institution would
relieve the people of the burden Of
expense which would be entalled in
the event of the construction of
new and suitable buildings for an
asylum it would seem to be a jude
ious act on the part Of the leglsla-
ture to give this matter It's careful
and favorable consideration.
1t would be an act not only IN
the interest of economy bot it
would be a matter of justice and
convenient TO the north part OF the
state, and would at the same time
afford the relief which the present
condition demands, Inter Empire.
The Inter Empire is mistaken IN
the statement that the idea of Fl.
Sisseton for an insane hospital was
suggested by the REPORTER, as we
simply copied an item from the
Britton Daylight, in regard to the
matter, without comment Further.
more we do not think the scheme
practicable. In the first place, the
Fort Is too far fron, a railroad; it
would work a hardship on both
patient and attendant co have to
drive eighteen to twenty miles from
the railroad i'm all kinds of weather,
to say nothing of the additional
expense incurred. Then again, it
would cost nearly as much to put
the grounds and buildings in proper
condition for such an institution as
it would to build new, and after the
repairs were made, we would have
nothing but botched, toggled-up
buildings. 1t would be, in our
Judgment, poor economy to attempt
the transformation.
If the state wants IL hospital for
insane IN the north part. which We
think highly improbable in the
present condition Of affairs, they
can get a more desirable location
and the site furnished without cost
IN easy access to the railroad.
While in conversation on this SUD
Iiect with Mayor Norton recently,
that gentleman remarked 81 will
be n of four to give the state a
section of land, convenient to Web
ster, for a site for a new insane hos
pltal." Others CAT be found ready
TO do likewise when the occasion
warrants-not only the grounds
would be donated but also a good
liberal bonus toward the building.
However, it might be as we'll to
stop building castles in the air and
new state buildings until we find
the late lamented w. W. Taylor
and the state $685..