The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-10
ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
TREASURER'S. REPORT SHOWS
BALANCE ON HAND SILL, 500.

MUCH GrattriCatfon ENpTeSSSN Wy 1op'
Over Economical, Humane and
Wise Management by Super
irsendent.
The Board of Directors OF the North
Carolina Insane Asylum met yesterday.
There were present, John b. Broadfoot,
president of the, Board; II. X. Gotten,
DIR. r. III. Speight, Geo. b. Curtis, Jos.
BelIamy. John II. Smith, b. r. Boykin,
John ID. Briggs and DIR. j. w. Saunders
They received the reports from the dlf-
ferent officers. examined the condition
Of the institution and it's management.
They found everything in fine shape. me
Executive committees report, as follows.
was received and read:
To the Board Of Directors:
We do not deem it necessary 20 onef
any apology for submitting to you a rev
remarks in connection with the reports
which have been laid before us and
which are now laid before you by the
superintendent, steward and treasurer.
The treasurers report shows balance
on hand December LIST, 1896, of SILL
6341 whereas: on December /, 1894,
there was on hand a balance of only
1896, with outstanding accounts to the
amount of $4,590.47.
The appropriations made by the last
Legislature for the years 1895 and 1896
were thought to be economical, ana we
feel that the Board is entitled to fellcltate
itself upon having been able to ran Wen
within the appropriation. And your
Executive committee wishes TO emphasize
its appreciation of the economies or the
superintendent and steward, by which
we are enabled to make such an excelieht
showing. The problem of caring Tor the
insane consists in securing the greatest
good TO uatients at the least expense. We
believe that DR.. Kirby has successfully
solved this problem. BY reason of these
economies we have been able to begin
an annex to the male department, which
viii accommodate one hundred patients,
estimated at first to cost $4,000, upon
which we have: already expended $500
and which we feel confident we can COM
plete for $4,000. This is permanent
and much needed improvement to relieve
our oyer-crowded wards in which, IN
many instances. two patients are occupy
inc room only Intended for one, and some
sleeping in the halls.
The minor improvements, not or so
permanent a nature, but still or great
value, are particularly set forth IN the
report of the superintendent, but we de-
sire especially to call attention to the
furnishing of the annex to the female
department., paltting in guards TO the
upper windows, doors to separate wards,
electric lights, furniture for dining room,
the renovation of the gas plant, by
which practically new, much larger ana
more economical plan was substituted for
the old one. The additional mattresses
necessary for the annex were all made
BY the patients, under the supervision or
an attendant. A shed for the preserya-
ton of the farming utenslles, tools ana
vehicles has been erected, new and inn
proved water closets have been SUD
stituted for such of the old ones as had
become in an: unsanitary condition, the
hin side to the north front OF the man
building, which was grown up with OLD
field pines, has been cleared up, the
oullevs and washes filled, and fine
crop produced during the last year; the
bottom land lin front and to the east
Of the main building below the spring,
has been cleared up, tiled and ditched
and fine cr6p of corn produced thereon
this wear. The land adjoining the pump
ing station which was grown up and
covered by the old fish pond has been
d;tched. partly tiled, andwill be ready for
a croD next year. We have therefore
reclaimed from fifteen to twenty acres
Connection las been made with the city
fire department at small expense, by
means of which, in the event of fire, the
FIRE companies of the city will be ut the
ASYLUM inside of ten minutes. We have
also put in: Worthington fire pump
with n capacity Of one thousand gallons
ner minute: also three thousand feet OF
eieht-inch iron pipe, with eight hydrants
in front and rear of the building, replac-
ing the old pump and four-inch pipes ami
bvdrants. which would not throw
stream to Ae top of the building, all of
which is connected with reservoir hold
ing about 10000 gallons, built last year.
which Is supplied from the pumping sta
| ton on Rocky branch, in part, and partly
| nv rain water, which has been secured by
q change of cutters, and taking the water
from the northwest end of the main
building aMd kitchen to the reservoir,
thereby saving the expense of pumping
We have now on hand 1000 feet of first
class. double jacketed hose, and have
completed h hose-reel house in the rear of
the female building. We have also pur-
chased and distributed in the various
WaFUb, kHGnuTy iuu main O"N
dozen fire: extinguishers, for immediate
use in case of fire. A new iron bridge
has been built across Rocky branch, on
the road leading to the city, at cost OF
1925. The road from the bridge to the
main building has been graded and ma
eadamized. The unsightly hill near the
bridge has been cut down and graded,
entirely by patients, thereby affording
them pleasant employment and doing a
work for which an appropriation Of 3d.
900 was asked several years ago. The
farm has been greatly improved, and the
report of the Steward will show that It
is contributing considerable to the support
of the institution.
The Asylum owns twenty-eight cows.
twenty-five of which are now giving milk,
sometimes as much as sixty-five gallons.
and averaging the year round fifty gal