The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-13

INSANE ASYLUM.

the paramount duties of the state. In
the state insane asylum at Provo we have
an institution which. while not possessed
of all the modern improvements inclcent
to many of the lavishly conducted nos
pitfalls for the insane to be 1ounQ IN tne
eastern states. nevertheless satisfactorily
fills our present wants. The present man
agement has striven to Increase the discl-
pline of Inc ASYLUM. TO exercise greater
interest and soiicitude for the patients
to promote greater neatness ana cieanll-
ness ard better sanitary conditions Tor
the patients. and TO minimize expenses TO
the lowest possible limit In each OF
these laudable undertakings it is my be
lief that during the year unmiStakabie
progress has been made. The average
daily cash cost Of each patient Tor care
and treatment for the year was 81 -
cents "A reduction from the cost of the
preceding year of about six cents per
capita and the lowest figure yet reached
in the history of the asylum rms srau1
fying result may be ascribed 70 SeVerai
causes: increased number of patients
treated. reductions in salaries OF officers;
increased yield from farm, garden orchard
of supplies and effective changes IN the
heating apparatus The cost OF iuel mas
always been a. enormous item IN inc
maintenance of the asylum ana WIZ con
succeeded BY the Introduction or traps
and other devices. changes IN location OF
radiators alterations IN the air ducts
and in tho CRATE bars underneath the
boilers. enabling the use of slack in
stead of lumD coal. to produce SAVING
of over 80 per cent in the item OF iuet.
and the wards are all comfortanle IN the
colT,s. weather. whereas formerly some
of them were not. A few necessary I'M
movements heretofore authorized by the
legislature. were made during the year.
The airing courts wherein patients can
on iov the sunlight and mild exercise are
in process OF completion. new ice house
has been built. and a neat. new renee IN
front of the grounds erected An ann or
hppn Keep
natients employed as much as possible;
although experience mas demonstrated
that hut little of the work OF the patients
* Of any permanent DrOnt. tne dement's
tbarefrorn resulting rather to the patient
tban to the asylum. Summarizing the
needs for the ensuing two years, the
hoard suggests the following:
care and maintenance. -.----.--.--- SSo-seS
Nev hot water boiler......-......-- 5uO
VaIut for records. Observation-Disclosures. l.Hy
Insurance on building. .....--.-.....-- S.9oO
ra, .s92. s6s
recommend the appropriation of this
amount and that the unused balance IN
The treasury OF the asylum be ordered
back into the state treasury
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Owing to insufficient provisions of the
military code TO compel attendance to
drills and other military duties. to
woflI deficiency in armory facilities, and
to a general lack of public recognition
and encouragement. regret 10 say me
National Guard of Utah has deterlorated
during the year. One of the three troops
of cavalry has been mustered out OF the
service having fallen below the standard
of efficiency OF the Is companies of in
fantrv. four will doubtless soon be mus
tered out of the service. Before 2nother
wear the terms OF enlistment OF the
various organizations will have expired,
and. unless greater financial aid is eX-
tended to the gurad. it is in danger OF
disintergration. The constitution of the
state requires that the legislature snall
Drovide by law for the organization,
aeouinr,ent and discipline of the militia
If we are to have Il militia At all. we
ought to have a good one. Though the
reputation of the people of Utah IS peace
ahle and Deace-lOVing. and the rlotS ana
insurrections which have Occurred IN
other states are practically unknown
here nevertheless experience has demon
strated that it is a wise and prudent
nolicv for each state to keep in constant
readiness for action well equipped ana
we'll trained militia. The mission OF
militia is not only to suppress ORGANIZED
opnosition to law, but the fact of its ex-
istence acts rs = preventative oil riot
and disorder. and therein lies an essential
part of its value to the state II would
not be good economy to drain the nhih-
cial resources By maintaining large
standing army. and such "A proposition is
not contemplated. In this state the or
ganization is not large and its require
ments may be easily met. The guard is
connnosed of young men for the most
part who have enlisted from patriotic
motives and who. in any case OF cell
to arms, would render the state efficient
service. Such devotion to public inter-
ests should be appreciated by the peo-
pie and by you. No encouragement that
could be extended to the guard and no
disciplining that could be impaired would
be productive of such beneficial results
as to provide for an annual encampment.
This was demonstrated last summer
when. by volunteering their time and
with aid given by citizens. six companies
of infantry and the first battery We're
enabled to have short encampments. The
benefits derived therefrom were more