Gloucester County Democrat., 1898-04-14
The question above discussed is not 1

The question above discussed is not {
new one in our county. Indeed, clever
years ago it was brought to the attention O
the people by the Board of Chosen Free
holders, and found an earnest advocate in
Thos. G. Dilkes, the representative of Man
tua Township A committee was appointed
which at the March meeting, 1887 submitted
the following report:
To the Board of Chosen Freeholders Of tht
1 County of Gloucester 81
The special committee appointed by you to
investigate the adVisabilityof building County
Insane Asylum. respectfully report that they
have Investigated the cost of building such an
asylum and Of main aiming the same.
| The Camden County Asylum last year had on
an average, one hundred and eight patients and
the cost of maintaining the institution including
| repairs, furniture, ETC., was sixteen Thousand
seven hundred and thirty-one dollars and seventy
five cents (Sl6 7sl 75 or two dollars ana ninety,
included Lhe salaries OF one matron, one assistant
matron six nurses. one engineer. one night
watchman. one seamtress, one taundress. one
| COOK one assistant cook, one visiting physician
Camden county received from the state last
year ore dollar per week for each patient, which
amounted to five thousand seven hundred and
twenty eight dollars and eIghty-five cents
| ($5 726 85) This total deducted from the amount
| expended sixteen thousand seven hundred and
thirty one dollars and seventy five cents, makes
| the total cost to the county eleven thousand and
two dollars and ninety cents ($tl 002 90), or one
dollar and ninety six cents Q96) per patient
| each week The State charges for each patient
sent TO the State Asylum three dollars ($Y per
week.
Gloucester county has a desirable site for an
Asylum on the Aims House Farm. SO it would
not be necessary, if we would decide to build an
Asy lum, to pur chase any land
/ Q0mmfffaQ estimates the cost nf auif.
able building properly furnished, at thirty five
| thousand dollars ($35.00W and believe that the
building can be completed and furnished for
that sum.
we have at the present time in the State
Asylum ffty-two patients, which, at three dol
lars and seventeen cents ($S.lO per week per
patient-this is the actual cost per patient, in
cluding board, expenses of removal, etc.,-wilI
cost the tax payers of this county this year eight
thousand five hundred and seventy-one dollars
and eighty-eight cents ($6.57l.68) Last year a
law was passed increasing the amount to bepaid
to counties maintaining their own asylums from
one dollar per week per patient to two dollars
per week We have In our County Aims House
eight persons who ought to be in an asylum, but
who are cared for at the Aims House in order to
save expense. II we had an asylum in our
county these persons would certainly be placed
therein, and that would make sixty patients to
be cared for. Estimate the cost of building and
furniture at thirty five thousand dollars ($35, ,000)
dollars and seventeen cents (sS.l7) per week per
patient (Which you see, Is more than the actual
cost in Camden county, before deducting the one
dollar received from the State) would be nine
thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars and
forty CENTS 1884, $50 40). The interest ON thirtv-
five thousand dollars (Ss5, ,000) at per cent.
would be one thousand four hundred dollars
($l 400. This added to the cost of maintaining
an asylum, (the same as Camden County two
dollars and ninety seven cents ($2 80 per patient
per week. Nine thousand and two hundred and
slxty-six dollars and forty cents (S9 1856 40 would
make ten thousand six hundred and sixty-six
dollars and forty cents ($l0, ,666 40).
We would receive from the State under the
six thousand two hundred and forty dollars
($6 24O,) which deducted from the net cost of
maintaining the same, ten thousand and six
hundred and sixty-six dollars and forty cents
($i0, 6664O would leave with sixty patients the
total cost to this county to maintain the asylum
and pay the interest on the money invested,
four thousand four hundred and twenty-six dol
lars and forty cents ($4426 40) or four thousand
one hundred and forty-1ve dollars and twenty
eight cents, ($4145.28) less than the present
cost OF maintaining SO patients IN the State
Asylum. The cost OF maintaining our insane in
creases every year. The number of patients
since 1884 has increased 100 per cent. This year
we appropriated eight Thousand three hundred
dollars $4,000 against five thousand five hun
dred dollars ($5. .500) in 1884.
Your committee believing that the taxpayers
will be benefited by building an Asylum in this
county, recommends that at the annual meeting
q committee be appointed and an appropriation
made for that purpose.
Respectfully submitted.
THos. G. Dukes, Jr.,
8, H. STANGER,