The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-15
EP!LEPT|C VILLAGE.
Lack Of Funds Alone Pre-
vents the Reception
Of Patients.
An EXCELLENT SITE OBTAINED
Institution is on Maplewood
Farm Near Trenton
Hopes Of It's Man
ayers.
An EXCELLENT SITE OBTAINED
Especial to .aThe Jersey city News."1


IspeciaIto 1.-THE Jersey city News."1
TRENTON. Dec. Is, 1S9S.-The New Jer-
sey State Village for Epileptics, near
Skillman Station. above this city, is now
ready for occupancy, but owing to the
lack of funds at the disposal of the Board
OF Managers of the institution, it is not
likely that any epileptics will be received
there until after the Legislature convefes
and an appropriation for the conduct of
the village is made. 1t VIII require an ap-
preparation OF at least S9V,uVu 20 get tne
village into full operation and to run it
Tor q year This IS one OF the most I'M
portant duties the State has before II.
Ihere are In New Jersey nearly two
thousand victims OF epilepsy, and a large
NUMBER OF these are IN the ainsnouses or
insane asylums- There are more thah
1our hunafea epileptics IN the poorhouses
of the State. and nearly one hundred IN
each OF the state Hospitals lof the ii-
sane
Inc proposilioh 70 estaDfsh Niiiase ioi
'he cure OF ms unfortunate class = ~
a new one For years eilorus nave pssn
mace TO encourage a sentiment Aasofapie
to the creation OF sucn a Vhiage, ~. !
was not until last winter that ieglsiaeion
was secured. Inc Legislature q ! :
sion last WINTER approptlateu s.9,0VO :
the purchase Oh a site TOT Inc siiiasV.
n theory IS that epneptcs wno. y
most cases, are charges on the
ought TO pc cared Ior III d seeeieiieins
where they may receive proper hleuical
attention, Whefe tnes shai De =
from contact Win paupeis - -
sane their present companions ~ pupic
institutions, n where ehey may receive
proper mental moral aaiu phss'eei
ture.
iHe Hoaru " iaiiassis
CARRYING u the WORK n1aoe " :. me-
who lave peen the moving spilliS - =
curing the ala OF tne 0tate - -
ilshment OIL the vintage. he poaiI : -
folloWs-Rey. James M. buchies,
President, MorrlstoWh' Frol. p = ga
rison, Ma. secretary Vlheiahu' -
j. Smith, MD, treasurer
John II. Ewing, MI, flehiihston' 1o't.'
w. Ward, NIL. lrenton' Wiiian =
Combs, MD freenoid.
Nnen the managers SET apoue ioohipe
for a site they were Deslegea on an sues
by people having farms 10 self W. es1
than 100000 acres OF New Jersey Trims
were offered for the site. Ireat caie ~as
exercised to get good land, such as spiiep-
tics could work, a point central TO me ~
tire State, easily accesslple py fan' ala
near Trenton It was also desired 20 SET
midway between New York ana FhiaasI-
phia, SO that the eminent medicai speeiai-
lists in epilepsy from botn elfles couil
quickly reach the viiiage. oue7eioiis
sites for cottages, roper drainage, etc.
all had to be well considered. In addltloh
the managers were limited to slo,0oo'Whleh
a to cover the cost OF the farm pur-
chased, and maintenance and all other ex-
penses for the year.
After great elaboration and care the
managers finally located on the Maple
wood Farm" situated one and a quarter
miles from Skillman,a station on the man
line Of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
road. about thirty minutes ride from
Trenton. and midway between New YORK
and Philadelphia. The farm contains Is.
acres. has d never failing stream of water
excellent sites for cottages, and fine drain
age The soil Is fertile, the ground rolf
mo and the farm has on it many and
varied fruit trees. The old mansion is 10
feet long contains about twenty rooms.
The managers desired to get not less
than 100 acres to start with, but their
would not allow 1t. They nave,
however taken an option on the adjacent
farm which contains much woodland.
many acres of meadow for pasturage, and
> nroper site for institution barns. The
one farm is not complete as a site, be-
cause of the lack of woodland, groves,
nasturage. etc.
The cost of the Maplewood farm and all
buildings was only S11, 500. The cost of the
two farms. if the other is purchased. will
be- less than $50 per acre, including all
buildings. This is very reasonable, when
1t IS remembered that they are in one of
the richest farming districts of the State.
Thasproperty is only about two miles from
the famous Belle Mead and other stock
farms.
No expensive buildings were ever con-
templated in this movement for epiieptics.
n is not expected that cottages to ac-
cammodate from twenty to thirty inmates
-, .ar stn ano ~ 90 nn Tha