New-York tribune., 1897-08-23
THE STATES CHARITIES.
~.
rHE CUsTODIAL ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE
MINDED WOMEN

MENT-HOW 1T Is CONDUCTED.
rvpou A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Newark. y. Y. Aug. 22.-Two great railways.
the New-York Central and the West Shore. wind
their ways through the fertile valley in which
this beautiful village is situated AS the pas
senger trains rush along past the place, the trav-
ellers see. crowning a green hill TO the eastward
Of the village. a group OF imposing brick build
fngs One would suspect at once that these
buildings are part OF some State institution and
the thought would he true one. Here is one Of
the most benefcent and well-conducted charities
of the State-the Custodal Asylum for Feeble
minded Women.
1t is seldom heard Of for 1T is in a somewhat
out of -the-way place. but t deserves 10 be well
known. There are few better examples Of the
fine result of a humane spirit working courage
ously for years to provide care for a helpless
class Of the community. Up to the year 1851,
the public charities OF this state were limited to
caring for the insane, the dtaf and dumb and the
blind. Then came the discovery that there were
large numbers of idiotc and feeble minded per-
sons In the pocrhouses who received no care
whatever. This led. in 1851 to the establish
Irent Of the State Asylum for Idiots at Syracuse
A little later ii became obvious that q custodial
asylum ought 10 be provided for idiots and the
fcebie-mindcd. Mrs Josephine Shaw Lowell
Of New T"r*. and other members Of the
State Board Of Charities presented many
petitions to Tic Legislature in favor of
such an institution for feeble minded women.
James III. Miller. Assembyman from
Wayne County. n lS1S called the attention
Of the Legislature to the suitability of Newark
as the ste for such an institution. The
tral building of the present asylum had been
built for { Par:ist Collegiate Institute. and then
sod Cor a college to German Methodists who
also failed in their enterprise. The building then
passed into The hands Of private citizens Mr.
Millers suggestion NJ least bore the fruit in 1878
Of indu-iHg the managers OF the IDIOT Asylum al
Syracuse TO lease the empty building at Newark
and place IN IL twcnty-seven feebe-mnded
women. This an experiment ito determine
whether the need existed for such an asylum:
whether there in the county poorhouses or
elsewhere le-mindcd women who need care
and protection TO prevent them from multiplying
their kind and so increasing the number Of the
dependent classes in the State: also. could they
Sc maintained wthou; undue cost"
IT'S ORIGIN AND PURPOSE
In 1885,. :he present institution was formally
created by act c: the Legislature, but it took
several years to construct its buildings. A. the
dedication ceremonies Mrs William Allen But
origin and purpose OF the institution said:
When our State Board of Charities began
their visits Of inspection to the institutions under
State supervision. they surprised at tn.
number Of feeble minded women in the count
were bearing children Some Of them had borne
three four during their stay there-child:en
OF The same grade Of intellect themselves or
eysp louer-aDd Tins the burdens Of the State
were being increased from within these institu-
tions 70 say nothing of the tnhumanity suffered
by these defenceless ones This was subject
demanding attention and investigation. An APP
peal 10 State authority decided upon and
a woman had the courage and the heart to go
before a committee OF the Legislature and plead
for home for these poor women. where they
could be made useful for their own comfort and
be protected against wrong from others. and
with gratitude Of heart. we poin. to this insti-
tuition as the result of their reply TO Mrs. Low
ellis entreates.
That which undertaken as doubtful
experiment at first has proved grand success.
and an example which has been gladly followed
by many other States in our country. England
has been attracted by its influence. and repre-
sentatives from that country have visited this
place to see for themselves: Others have in
quired by correspondence what could be done
Cor this class Of DOOR humanity ard now similar
institutions mark her Christian philanthropy
The ASYLUM buildings. from one in 1880, have
EXPANDED TO half q dozen in 1897. and they arc
exccllently equipped for the Of these feeble
minded women. The central building Is con-
necied with others by covered corridors. ana
this group Of buildings contains administration
Offices. workrooms. dning-rooms. schoolroons'
dormitories. kitchen and laundry.
THE ASYLUM GROUNDS.
The asylum grounds are thirty-fve acres in
extent and therefore space is permitted to place
at a distance from the central buildings the hos
pital dormitory building ard fine stable
A skilfui gardener has laid out good walks and
carriage drives about the grounds. and there are
an abundance OF flowers tastefully planted ana
d splendid vegetable garden. The cost Of main
tanning the institution is largely reduced by the
care and hard work put upon the vegetable gar
der. The buildings OF the institution have had
the following population: 1888. I41 1856 14I;
,ss7. 15s 1883, 1874; 1889. 30: 1890 2S' 1891.
800; 1892. 80; 1893. 20: 1894. 344; 1850. 344:
1896 375. 1897. 500
The cost Of maintenance has been as follows:
1856. $4,000; 1856. $4,000. 1887. $4,000: 1SSS.
$50 OOO 1889. So, 900: 1890 $4,000; 1891. S4O.-
90: 1892. $4,000: 1898 $4,000; 1894. $4,000;
1895. $50 COO: 1896, $4,000: 1891. 100000.
The fact will be noted mat although the num-
Der OF inmates OF the institution has largely IN
creased the Increase in The maintenance appro-
priation has not been large. In fact the per
capita cost Of supporting the inmates Is lower
than most Of the State institutions. only - %
week; nor is this economical basis OF carrying
on the asylum secured hy any sacrince OF the
comfort OF the inmates. They are well house"
and we'll fed in every respect. Moreover IL is d
true economy for the state to care for 'heSe zee
blc-mtnded women out In the world they would
be the mothers Of idiots and crininals-a source
Of great expense TO the S'ate. Here they are
guarded from harm and lead happy lives
Winiar,n u Stawart nresident OF the State