Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-02-10
The Legislative Committees visit.


e The following account of the visit pait
by the Legislative Committee on the 4th in
, slant to the Virginia School for the Deaf ant
the Blind, and the Western State Hospital
in this city, we copy from the report o.
the Staunton correspondent OF the Rich
mond Times. 1.-THE committee spent the NIGH
in their special Pullman car side tracked
at the Chesapeake and Ohio depot, and
this morning took breakfast with Superin.
tendent Bowles and inspected the institu-
ton.
The committee was highly gratified with
every thing they saw and found the institu-
tuition in first class condition.
At II O'Clock this morning the committee
visited the Western State Hospital and to-
day took dinuer with DR.. Blackford. SUI
perintepdent. and some members of the
board and friends.
Colonel Beckham, the retiring president
of the Board of Directors, met the commit
tee in the Amusement Hall and in neat
and appropriate address placed the insttu-
ton in the hands of the committee for in
spection.
President Beckham presented many good
points. He called attention to the new
steam laundry, one of the most complete OF
its kind IN the country, to the new cold stor-
age built at the suggestion and under the
supervision of the Hon. a F. Withrow OF
the Legislature, and to the new steam
heating and motive power plant. and the
pregnant fact was brought out that the State
Treasury was not called upon for single
cent to meet these improvements.
1t was done, Mr.. Beckham said, by wise
management Of the funds and saving in ex--
penses. The further fact was brought out
that the Western State Hospital is daily re-
celving patients from all parts of the State;
has now in the hospital s66 patients and will
soon have 900.
The president called attention to the in
adequate water supply and urged an addi-
tionsl appropriation of $4,000. He called
attention to the increased cost of supplies
which average 10 per cent, making the $10,-
900 additional. expense to the institution
for its daily support. He urged that there
should be no cut here as to reducing ex-
penseS.
The superintendent of the hospital is to-
uay Receiving IHe SAINT salary, Yo,UUU tudG |
was paid to Dr.. Francis Stribling thirty |
years ago when the hospital had popula- |
ton of $50 as against 500 to-day
1t was very apparent that the hospital
was revelation to most of the committee. |
In completeness of management, in tho |
rough details of cleanliness, and in the evil
dent comfort of this unfortunate class of |
our people, the presentation to the commit
tee was marvellous surprise.
Every ward was visited and some harrow
ing scenes were witnessed.
The committee was deeply impressed by |
what they saw and it is believed they were
made conscious of the fact thu the Western
Slate Hospital is not the place to cut for
saving expenses. The general expression
of opinion was that it is one of the highest
duties of the State to provide for these un-
and that every dollar expended
under the present management produces the
best possible results.
The committee left this afternoon in their
special car for Lexington to inspect the
Virginia Military Institute