New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-04

the road from Rome in such way that Il goes
around the asylum grounds instead Of across
them. and thus the asylum buildings are placed
a long distance back from the road. A beautiful
lawn will take the place OF this departed road.
and the asylum buildings will thus have an APP
propriate foreground In every way. it Will be
perceived. the Board Of Managers and DR.. Fitz-
gerald improving the institution.
DR.. Fitzgerald accompanied Mr.. Stewart upon
his tour Of inspection Of the asylum. which, as
already stated gives a home to feeble minded
men and The class of feebe-mnded
men and women cared for by the institution are
"the worst cases" in the State. The asylum at
Syracuse cares for feeble-mnded children. and
that at Newark for feeble minded young women.
but both Of these asylums seem to have gath
cred within their fold many human beings of
considerable intelligence. Here at Rome. on the
contrary, a large proportion Of the inmates Of
the asylum seem almost destitute of a mind.
Dr. Fitzgerald however. does not abandon them.
To him they human beings whose minds can
be considerably frightened up and thus their
\ lives be made happier As soon as the institu-
ton is fully organized and has sufficient quota
Of buildings and teachers he will employ the
inmates of the asylum upon various industries,
, which cannot but have Il beneficial effect upon
them. A goodly proportion of the men arc now
employed at farm work and the women do sew
ing. but Dr. Fitzgerald's main efior; and that or
the members of the Board Of Managers just at
present is to improve the sanitary condition OF
the old buildings Of the asylum and 'hus protect
the health of its inmates.
AS a first step toward guarding the health Of
the 900 inmates of the institution. a brick build
ing for a kitchen and dining-room Is now
being erected. DR.. Fitzgerald conducted MS
visitors to the site Of the new building. whore
hoip laf1 I,efp
January 1t will probably be completed
we arc compelled to give food to the inmates
Of the asylum now in its basement" said Dr.
Fitzgerald and those rooms were dark ana
damp Occupied as they have been for thirty
years. they have become unhealthy in the ex-
IRENE The stone tagging with which these
basement rooms are nOOred. resting upon the
earth Is saturated with refuse water and grease.
and the earth beneath IL is in the same condl-
ton This new kitchen building will contain
also bakery. a dnng-rOom scullery and sleep
ing apartments for our employees. 80 unwhole-
some has the condition Of the rooms 81 the
asylum become that we have had great difficulty
in retaining our help.
Another new building which has been erected
is a brick power house and laundry where cleo
trio light and steam heat is manufactured. and
where the laundry work is done DR.. Fitzgerald
said that present the asylum is SuppiI'h WI"
water by the city Of Rome but the pressure was
frequently too slight. and thus the buildings
sometimes had insufficient protection from fire
He favored the driving II artesian wells and the
procuring Of water in this way for the institu-
ton.
DR.. Fitzgerald then led the way to the main
building. where its 2OO feeble minded men and
women are now better cared for even In this
old building than they formerly were In the
poorhouses of the State from which most OF
them came. In the first room visited, ABOUT
twenty men were seated on benches which had
been placed against the wall of the building
A keeped had charge Of them. Most OF the
patients were quiet but some were taking III
coherently The faces of nearly all the men IN
dicated an almost utter lack OF mind. They were
looking out with a vacant stare as though they
had thought for anything. ne th all1' ma
ton Of heads was remarkable. diseased con
dition stamped upon all 81 them ana WIZ
evOkng sentiments Of horror. thcy al:o cA'It.u
one's profoundcst sympathy. The state charlty
was never better bestowed Most OF mem nav
come from poOrhOuses where thcy cou!d receive
no tender care; no scientific medical treatment
Here their suffering at least Is descended ny I,ic
merciful care they receive Some recognized nr.
Fitzgerald and greeted him with the "or"S'
How do you do. Doctor?
DR.. Fitzgerald stated. in reply 10 an ,lPur!'
that the and women confde1 to me car
portion of them looked. they could. III a ma,
lorty Of cases. be taught to DO some worn ar! n
In this manner acquire better heaI'h Np" , ~
per cent Of the men inmates OF me asylum sam
Or FITZGERALD. ARE employed in some manner
either as teaInscrs. as gard ners. as painters or
in household work. Industries VIII be cstaD-
lished for the physical. mental ana moral train
ing Of our inmates. Glasses VIII DE L"iiieu III
cabinet work, carpentry work. prush' pIooIh
and matmakng shOemakinS and tailoring. as
well "a classes in calisthencs gymnastics ana
kindergartcn work. Those VINO cannot 90 w
hard work of the farm VIII De chilIoHcu VIZ. VII
advantage to themselves in the institution he
institution now has a capacity for 800 patients,
and accommodations ought to be furhlshcd NJ
once for at least 80 more people, for there are
at least 100 feeble minded men ana women yet
in the poorhouses scattered about the STATE
in private families who need our care We had
on October / 1880 in the institution 10 men
and 1l3 women, or a total of M TheIe we'e
discharged during the succeeding year ~ ih"h
and 20 women. or ~ persons In all Now we
have accommodations for only about fifty more
patients. As | have stated. We ought 10 nave
a dormitory erected soon for the accommodation
OF go patients additional
Upon the womans side Of the asylum good
many of the women found engaged III
sewing Dr. Fitzgerald stated that fourteen or
the women regularly employed in the sew
ing room. They make. he stated. all the dresses
for the women and a large proportion OF me
clothing OF the men. In one Of the women
rooms two dolls were seen perched high upon
the inflow OF bed The patient. a young
woman seemed to take great pleasure In their
possession. barren unfurnished room Was
entered "Thsis all the chapel we nave. said
mr. FITZGERALD but. nevertheless our patients
aniov religious services. which are held here on
TIE asvIum impresses one favorably The fact
,hat n 10 economically and capab!y managed Is
evident everywhere Moreover. 1t Is clear from
statistics that ii was much-neeced institution
TtN,.o wore and are still a large number OF
foehlc-mInded men and women In the poor.
honees OF the State That in r"rrcy they should
w. rernoved from these county institutions and
,or " The Rome Asylum IS palpable. and the
sonner It Is done the better for the honor OF me
state
THE PETROLEUM MARKET