Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-05
coMMITTEE on INSPECTION.


terday they inspected the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind Institution, and found
everything in satisfactory condition.
The committee subsequently visited
the Western State Hospital. Mr.. ]. T.
Beckbam, the retiring president of the
board of directors, met the committee
in the amusement hall aud addressed
Them as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Legislature
It is with pleasure that I welcome
you to the Western State Hospital to-
day. You are here to perform duty
assigned you as committee on asylums
and prisons. We will make you prison.
ers for to day, so far as we can.
The report of the board of directors
submitted by me, and laid on your
desks at the opening of the present seg-
sion of the legislature gives full, free,
and truthful statement ofthe conditions
I'd needs of this particular hospital. l
can add very little to that report. II
shows from what sources it receives its
revenues, and how such revenues have
been expended.
Everything here is open to you to-
day There is an old expression, MANY
a good thing is lost by not asking for
it," The accounts of the steward are
open to your inspection. Proper vouch-
ers will be produced for every cent as
shown in our report. We ask that you
will examine them, and ifyou 6ud them
correct, say 80; if not, ask an explana
tion. The report of the last visiting
committee from the Virginia Legisla
ture was most fattering to the manage
ment here. We feel assured that moth
ing will be found to-day that will not
justify similar report at your hands.
We have added very materially TO
the capacity of this hospital in the last
few years, without asking very much OF
the State. 1t has been done very largely
by the good management of our funds
and the savings which we have been
enabled to make. In your inspection
to day examine our new laundry, not
one better for its purpose in the United
States. Examine our new steam plant.
Here you will fnd everything in beau
tiful condition. Examine our lately
built cold storage plant. This plant
was erected at the sugge stion, and un-
der the personal supervision, OF Mr.. A.
F. Withrow, member of our board,
aud leading member of your body.
This is model of its kind, and is up to
date in every particular. Look for the
appropriations for these improvements
from the State, and you will find that
not one cent has been asked by us. Ii
was from our savings, from good man
agement and low prices. we do ask
an increased appropriation in our last
report. Why? Because from every
section of the State we are called upon
to take patients that other hospitals
claim they have no room for. We are
not crying poverty nor want of room.
we take item from under the wings OF
every hospital in the State, and take
care of them,
Beside the improvements already
made, there are other things here which
are absolutely essential 10 this hospital,
and which demand attention. Our va.
ter supply is inadequate. We are paying
to-day, and have been paying for some
months past, $40 month for the waste
water from one spring. which we trans
fer into pipes leading into our reservoir.
We also have connection with the City
Water Works of Staunton, and we are
sometimes compelled to use this con-
nection. Here we are charged for every
single gallon we use. The amount we
are now paying for extra water is equal
to per cent. on $4,000. We cannot do
without water. 1t must be used here
lavishly.
We ask you to consider the matters
presented to YOU to-day, and, when you
return to Richmond, present to the
Legislature full report of what you
have seen and heard. This hospital has
never been run on any personal issue,
certainly not for some years. The
board and officers vie with each other
as to who can best work and best agree
Every gentleman here to-day at all
familiar with business and the current
prices of everything consumed here
knows, that comparing prices of to-day
with those of twelve months ago, there
is a general advance sll along the line
of fully 10 per cent. Take this on an
appropriation of 100000 and you have
$4,000 at once. We are taking in
patients very rapidly and they have to
be provided for. This can be done only
by legislative appropriation. Ihave been
personally on this board for eleven
years, and its president for eight
years. Once during this time I have
been called upon to give my per
sonal obligation to raise money
to take care of these unfortu-
nate people. This is asking more
than should be required of member of
this board. 1t is the duty of the State
to take care of these people. No one
in Virginia appreciates more than l do
the honor of the State in meeting its
just obligations. We have other du-
ties equally binding, and one of them
is the proper care and attention of
these people you will meet here to day.
We still ask that the additional sum
of 500 be appropriated to this hos
pital. You talk of reforms and of the
reducing of salaries. Which one Of you
would be willing to enter this hospital
and accept service here. Commenc
ing at the superintendent, who by
virtue of his Office is debarred from out
side practice, and whose daily life is
with this poor unfortunate class, SO
with his staff. They have no oppor.
tunity to take part in the outside world,
either in its pleasures or its profits
Men cannot make these sacrifices with.
out proper salaries. Take the attend