The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-23
BLACK AT THE HOSPITALS.
THE GOVERNOR VISITS HART's,
Wards AND RANDhLL'S ISLANDS.

ne Ftnds tho Cendiheus at rIart's Hsiand De-
plorable-The Heuse Of Refuge Commended
-Ex-JudEe Henry r Mewinnd and Lunacy
Comunissioner Brown Have an Aitercntion.
Gov. Black inspected the pavilions of the
Manhattan State Hospital for tho Insane on
Harris island, looked at the asylum buildings
on Wards Island, and paid a visit to the
House of Refuge on Randalls Island yesterday.
He was accompanied by President Peter 8.
Wise, Secretary Goodwin Brown. and Charles
r. Parkhurst, who compose the State Lunaoy
Commission; Judge Henry E. Rowland, Presi-
dent; Mrs. Eleonora Kinnicutt, Secretary,
and John McAnerney of the Board Of Mana
gers Of tho Manhattan State Hospital; the
Governors military secretary, Col. George
Curtis Treadwell; Speaker o'Grady. and ex-
Assemblyman George c. Austin. The trip oc-
cupied the entire day.
Gov. Black and his party left the Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel at $3.50 O'Clock, and drove to the
foot Of East Twenty.sixth street, where the
Commissioners boat WAndsrer was waiting.
Tho trip to Harris Island began rs soon as the
Governor got aboard the boat, on which Dr..
Alexander #. Macdonald, general superlntend-
emit of the hospital. had come down to meet
him.
Tho Governors party went into the forward
cabin and prepared for tho trip up the river.
Nuilo SON. DluCk anu SOmHihbiOuOT DEuWh
were chatting together Judge Howlind Joined
them and began to crlticiso the methods Of the
State Commission. He said that tho Com
missioners arrogated to themselves all the
power, paying too little attention to the wishes
and suggestions of the Board Of Managers, who
he sid, were pushed to the background. Judge
Rowland insisted tn t the managers, being
more intimately acquainted with the needs Of
the hospital, were better able to determine
what should BIO done to further Its usefulness
than the Commissioners, who Of necessity
could not know the particular wants Of all the
institutions in the State so well as the local
afterward that he feared he had become some.
what excited In his conversation, but that
the Com missioners had not treated the man.
ayers with. consideration enough to make their
Mr.. Brown said that Judge Howland's COM
plant was made by all the boards in the State.
and that such attacks on the Commissioners
did not trouble them at all. Mr., Brown said
that the commissioners were obliged to pro-
vide for the maintenance OF all the hospitals
for tho insane in the State. and thai it was
frequently necessary to refuse the requests OF
local boards in order to meet the more pressing
Eaats Ct Institutions IN other parts Of the
GREETED that the scene had occurred in the pres
ence OF Gov. Black.
which was waiting for him, walked at once to
the nearest pavilion. 1t was one devoted to in
by the United States Government as a barracks
for Confederate prisoners; 1t was one of the
city in 1896, when the State Care act went into
effect in New York county. The building is q
S snS @sy f s,F' OF %ps;i OF MooS When fsns tS Red a nHfTqwr
entered it he was surprised to find that there
was no adequate means of ventilation, and thai
hurried from this building to another similar
to it, but devoted to men,; The air was foul in
erai b etdIe' to see eel how WY they 1--WE We're enr made o'f looked
through the kitchen and beke shops. and went
through several other wards. ,
On his way to the paviltons on the north end
of the island. the Governor got out at the Pot
ter's Field, where two attendants explained the
flied trench, in which there were seventy-tive
bodies.
After IN hour at Harris Island, tho Wan.
q the hospital buildings there. and then went 10
ed him through tho home. showing him the var
ious departments. The inn ates of the place
one division Of boys greeted him with three
cheers. As he was. walking. to tho pier, tho
room room S Spdn Shouted ras e Ma%iSws to OF him. 'F G iey.i black
responded by waving his hand at them and by
touching his hat:
Institutions, Gov. Black said: 49,.
The situation at Harris Island is deplorable.
The buildings are. old. unventilated and crowded.
As the state expects, to occupy the island for
o''y a couple Of years longer, / suppose it would
,. useless to build new pavilions. 1t would be
h ,Delcss to try to alter tho present ones. At
W .rd's Island, where the buildings axe moro
molern, | suppose extensions are about the
= ONT thing needed. l do not know whether /
shall rcfc to the matter in my message to tho
legislature o. not, for ! think it one for special
legislation; I do not feel myself competent TO
speak with authority Oh such a complicated
Ibiect and should be inclined to give s. eat
he'd to tho wishes and suggestions OF the Com
missioncrs. The care of insane persons will DO
a most difficult matter to handle on account of
the various interests involved: 1t will he hard
to determine how to provide for them without
being too ext avagant o. too misery. 1t Is a
matter for very serious considc alton.
THE House of Refuge seems to be an admir-
able. institution ard tho work being done there
is an excellent one. From, the bright and in.
t~elligent appearance OF the boys and girls l was
not surprised, to hear that between IS and 80
pc cent. of those who leave the institution be-
come good self. supporting citizens"
The Governor landed at Twenty.sixth street
perintendcnt Aldridgc. will return to Albany
to-day. Next week he will visit the State Hos.
pital for the Insane at Binghamton.