The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-28
FLoRIDA's INSANE ASYLUM.
An Important State Institution That
Is Wei Kept.


Mariana, Fla, May GA jolly party of
ten left Mariana recently to spend day
at the Florida Hospital for the Ins1n'.
near Chattahoochee The party was met
at the depot by two hacks, and at cnce
started for the hospital along a red clay
road. winding around among forest Of
pines and hardwood trees. up and down
hill, getting higher all the time, until
after going three miles the hosp tai build
ings were reached.
The present hospital is on the site of
the old United States Arsenal, and the
old dwelling offices, store buildings and ar
mory are still in use In 1924 the United
States surveyed off 1925 acres of land a.
this place and erected an arsenal and mag
azine. with ell necessary buildings for
guard, and here were. kept store of
guns, ammunition and supplies, guarded
by small force.
In 1851. after the breaking out Of tie
Civil War, a company of soldiers from
Quincy, Fla, came to the arsenal ana
captured the place, holding 1t and the sup
plies for the Confederate States govern
ment.
After the war it reverted 20 the United
states. and in 1866 the United States gave
il TO the state of Florida. II was then
used for some years for state peniten-
tiary, until in 1876 the state besan to le Sc
out her convicts. thus doing away with the
necessity for a penitentiary In 1917 me
state established here a Hospi al for the
Insane and it has been so occupied ana
used ever since.
AT first the accommodations were limit
ed. but new buildings have bsen ADDED
from time to time, until now, on the com
pletion of a building now in course OF cree
ton. it will accommodate about 500 pa
TENTS.
The present superintendent, ]. w.
Trarnmel, was appointed in 1898, and ulder
his able management the place has become
practically self-sustainipg. AT present
there are about 800 patients, who are well
taken care of.
The force of assistants ana nurses are
seventy-two in number.
Attached to the hospital is farm of
three hundred acres. and garden of some
twenty acres, all the work being done
by patients.
There is we'll equipped laundry capa-
BILE of washing and drying sixteen thous-
and pieces per week. An electric plant
furnishes light for the buildings and
grounds, all the buildings are heated by
steam and a large water tank furnishes
an abundance of pure water. All the
clothing used in the hospital is made on
the place by the patients.
The buildings and yards are divided into
wards, for white and black patients, sep
arating the male and female patients, and
also the incurables and those who can be
cured.
The working patients are divided into
squads, who only work on alternate days,
thus giving them a day of rest between
each work dey. A large hall in the hos
pital is fitted up as theater, with n
pretty drop curtain, painted by a former
patient, and here occasional dances are
he'd. attended by the patients. Twice
month religious services are held in this
hall by the Rev. w. H. Carter of the
Episcopal Church, Tallahassee. and. occa-
slonal services by other ministers.
The physician in charge DR.. Louis de
U. Blocker, has well fitted office, and
drug store. equal to any In the state. The,
kitchen is an up-to-date establishment,
where most of the cooking is done by
steam
In feeding the patients fourteen bar
rels of -four, two thousand pounds of pork
and six thousand pounds of fresh beef
are consumed every week, besides vegeta-
bles etc, grown on the place. A large
dairy is in operation, with herd OF about
sixty Jersey cows. giving an abundance
of milk and butter.
Starting In 1893, with seven Berkshire
pigs. at present a large pert of the pork
used on the place is made, last season
there being twenty-eight thousand pounds
killed and cured, and this season over
forty thousand pounds will be killed
In all particulars this place seems to be
well mana ged, and is a credit to the state.
1t Is but little known however being away
from the railroad, and out in the country.
but is well worth q visit.
The party spent two hours being taken
all through the yards and buildings. and
seeing and talking with the patients.
Returning then to the dwelling of the
superintendent, the party was pleasantly
entertained by him and his family, until
late in the afternoon, when they started
homeward.