New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-23
Useful Christmas Gifts.
ANn,poNs. BRASS WOOD
TENDERS. HOLDERS,
FIRE SCREENS, FIRE SETS.
Best Made, Newest Patterns.
Makers Prices.
W?H,JAcKs6N&@
Union Square, Cor. 18th St.
BLACK ON AN INSPECTION TOUR
THE GOVERNOR VISITS HARRIS. BLACK
WELLS AND RANDALLS ISLANDS. AND
&c NOT PLEASED WITH ALL HE SEES.

is NOT PLEASED WITH ALL ne o|iI'
Governor Black spent nearly the entire day yester-
day investigating the State institutions near the cry
Before 10 a. m. he was al the pier at Twenty-sx tn
St and the East River to board the steamboat for
Harris Island With him Colonel George e.
Treadwe. Military Secretary TO the Governor Dr.
Peter NJ. Wise. president OF the State Lunacy Com
mission; Goodwin Brown. secretary or the state Luz
macy Commission; Speaker James VI. f. O'Grady or
Rochester; A. r. Parkhurst. OF Ontario County; AS
semblyman Austin president OF the Manhattan State
Hospital Commission and the Board OF Managers
OF the Manhattan State Hospital including eX-Judge
Henry E Rowland. Mrs Eleonora kennicutt
George F. Dodge and John McAnerney.
The Governor and his party arrived at the Asylum
for the Insane Harris Island about noon. and saw
the inmates Of the institution dinner. In tho old
buildings on the Island were found fifteen hundred
persons The buildings are badly ventilated and are
overcrowded. The Governor examined all the wards
tasted the food prepared for the insane persons and
made thorough examination OF the kitchens and
storerooms He found that the roofs OF two wards
leaked. and that rain fell the cots. while the
floors were cracked badly that he could Insert his
finger into the cracks. He expressed himself
greatly dissatisfied with the condition OF the build
ngs and said: considering the 100000 annually
spent for the maintenance OF these State institutions,
the accommodations are certainly inadequate"
After leaving the main wards tho Governor IN
spected the warehouses the northern end OF the
island. stopping few minutes 10 look into one OF
the uncovered trenches on Potters Field. near by.
where one hundred and fifty bodies occupy one
grave. The attendants there. who the grave
diggers. said that there bad odors only In
very hot weather.
II required only about hour for the Governors
inspection OF Harris Island. The steamboat Wan
derer then took the party TO Wards Island. There
the Governor found upon only cursory glance that
everything was well conducted tina, he decided
10 hurry TO Randals Island. because OF the limited
time no had al his disposal There "a sharp contrast
10 the conditions Harris Island was noticca bio
The buildings are not constructed so as 10 admit
OF as much light the Governor thought "A public
institution should have. but everything looked neat
and clean, and the boys and girls looked happy and
well fed The Governor said afterward that he
had not been able 10 detect any criminality IN their
faces.
On the way from Randalrs Island TO New-York
Governor Black was asked X he would cmbOdy his
impressions OF his desires In his annual message.
lie replied: Il think that what will do as regards
the Improvement OF the condition OF the inmates
at Harris Island will be done with view to getting
special legislation. The subject Is not an easy
one. think the public ought 10 adopt a liberal
policy regarding public institutions like the ones
have Just visited As a matter OF course II Is
difficult to tell exactly where 10 draw the line as
mates ought to be provided with accommodations
sufficient for health. but the other hand lux
urious acCommOda tons might be foolish IL is also
one thing to feel sure that for example. surh con
dtions those found on Harris Island should be
changed but II H. quite another to get legislation
favorable TO the plan understand that the
State has had charge Of the Institutions at Harris
and Wards Islands FOR over two years and n half
and that the places must he vacated In about
two years and half more But II seems clear 10
for tho money which Is expended for the main
OF the insane