Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-01-23

have friends or relatives whom they wisl
appointed.
Believing that the above change woul'
not only be great saving to the terri
toyr, but would improve the morale ant
dioipline of the institution. l recon-
mend that law be passed recognizing
the penieentiary board upon the plar
| suggested.
The Insane Asylum.
Until 1889, the territory had failed te
provide for its insane. AS result, un
fortunates of this class had to be pro
vided for by private charity, or by the
several counties, and for want of suitable
buildings in which to house insane per
sons, there was great suffering among
them. Many were necessarily confined
in county jails and others in private
quarters, entirely unfit for occupation
The construction of the asylum at Las
Vegas under the terms of the act referred
to. has, to considerabSl extent bettered
{ The condition of affairs, although it has
not entirely alleviated the condition OF
these unfortunates. As the means pro.
vided, at the present time, both for sup
port and shelter, are not sufficient to ac-
commodate all the insane, and there is
yet much destitution and suffering among
that class. 1t is not possible to be en-
tirely accurate, but it may be stated ap-
proximately, that at least 60 per cent of
our insane population is now provided
for. The appropriation available during
the past two years was not sufficient to
provide support for all, so the directors
in charge of the asylum divided the pa
tients who could be supported with the
funds provided, among the several coun.
ties, giving to each county its pro rata
number, according to the population,
thus extending the benefits of the ap
preparation equitably to the several To-
calities of the territory. The capacity of
the building proved to be somewhat in
excess of the provision for maintenance,
and it was provided by the institution
that certain class of patients, denomi-
mated for classification as pay. patients,
should BIZ received from the counties, the
counties paying the actual expenses of
support and in this way all of the insane
of the territory who could find shelter
within the building have been provided
for.
WORTHY RECOMMENDATIONS.
Under the recommendation of the
board I direct your attention to class of
the insane absolutely helpless, who are
unable even in the slightest degree to at
tend to their own wants. AS to the neces-
sity of separate building, for such pa
tients, cheaply constructed, which san be
constantly cleansed and ventilated, con-
structed separate and apart from the
main building for the occupancy of this
class of the insane. It is believed by the
authorities in charge, that the we'll being
of the less afflicted class of the insane, re-
quires that the entirely helpless should be
housed in separate building, to be espe-
cially provided for that purpose, and so
constructed as to make these helpless un-
fortunetes as cleanly and comfortable as
possible. From an adjacent stone quar-
ry, the board has provided the material
on the ground for such a structure and
estimate that it can be completed for
81, 600. I recommend to your considera-
tion this suggestion.
Our charitable institutions should be
afforded all possible means to aid in
their own support and thus lessen the
annual charge for maintenance. From
results already attained the management
of the asylum believes that the addition
of small tract of irrigable land, would
enable those in charge to utilize many of
the patients in horticulture and agricul-
ture, and thus provide to a considerable
extent for the institution and lessen ex.
peuse. 1t is believed that the labor per-
formed would be healthful for the pa
tients and that the amount saved by pro-
duction would soon return to the terri
tory the expenditure made for the pur-
chase of such tract Of land. This mat
ter is worth investigating, and small
appropriation to meet the end desired.
The 3lst legislature appropriated in
bonds of the territory 100000 for the
purpose of building an
ADDITION TO THE ASYLUM BUILDING.
To make this sum available, legislation
by congress was necessary, but delayed,
and hence the amount could not be util.
ized for the purpose named. The build.
ing is to be constructed of brick to be
furnished from the territorial peniten-
tiary. In anticipation Of the funds nec-
sssary to construct them, 100000 were
shipped by the penitentiary officials to
Las Vegas, and have been for sometime
upon the ground to be used in the con-
,truction of the new building. Congress
las recently passed an act which it is be-
ieved will validate these insane asylum
bonds ard hence il is expected that the
new addition will be commenced in the
,arly spring and pushed forward rapidly
10 com pletion, and when this is done. ao-
will be provided, with the
addition of the stone structure suggested,
Tor all of the insane of the territory. If the
bonds should be negotiated, it is hoped |
that the new addition may be ready for
at least by January 1898. An
,ffort will be made to complete the work
1t an earlier period. This increase in
The capacity for accommodation will call |
Tor an increase in the means of sup.
port, and I recommend that ample sup.
port be given for all Of the insane per-
sons within the territory of New Mexico.
There has been according to the report of
the medical director 16 per cent of cures,
which is an excellent showing for new
1t is q source OF qualification
10 inform you that great care has been
taken to adorn, and make homellke and |