The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-02-27
Adjourned Meeting Of Freeholders.

On Wednesday the members OF III
Board of Freeholders met at the Coul
House to consider the report Of the spec
ial Investigating committee and to discus
the question of site for the proposed luns
tic asylum. Ten O'Clock was the hou
fixed for the meeting, but it was past tha
hour when the gavel sounded for order.
The committee of the Board on the in
vestigation of the almshouse charges Of
fered the following resolution:
Whereas, the sexes in our county aims
house are so nearly totally separated, AM
as much as their welfare demands,
'sBe it resolved, That the members o
the Legislature from Burlington county
Nessrs. Packer Wright and Horner-ar
hereby requested to procure such amend
ments to the law of 1889 and its supple
ments. as shall relieve us from furthe
compliance herewith
/ Mr.. Jones asked for information regard
ing the building.
Jacob G. Hendrickson replied that thu
law referred to requires total separation
(yard and alp and the report shows tina
the statute has not been fully complied
with. It does show, however, that there
! has been separation in certain respects. L
it is the desire of the people of this county
to erect buildings for the use and occu
pancy of the sexes. if it is the wish tC
build fence all over the property SO the
inmates can be kept apart, it should be sc
stated. In his opinion there was no use
of going to an extra expense to reach the
rigid requirements of the law. The inves
tigation has disclosed the fact that the
present separation is sufficient for all pur.
poses. There are but few instances where
total separation is even advisable, and
those cases could be easily watched and
restrained.
Mr.. Jones said he could not understand
why Burlington county should have been
selected for this attack Members of this
Board had visited other almshouses and
had found the condition, so far as separ-
alton is concerned the same as in this
county.
Mr. Darnell was favorable to the resolu-
ton but feared the members of the Legis-
lature would be at loss to know just
what legislation would be beneficial I'M
less something more definite was given
them. The committee should wait upon
the members.
Ex-senator Parry said the members of
~, r L., cI0 n1f ha fad IN
draft law, the bill should be prepared
for them. As fact the law has been
literally complied with. If it is the desire
to have the halls, kitchens and lawn ex-
empted from the provisions of the present
law, it should be SO stated
Mr. Darnell reminded the Board that
there will be opposition to this movement
from many quarters and our Legislators
should be thoroughly cognizant of the sit
uation before beginning the work SO as to
be able to meet all objections.
The resolution was adopted and the di-
rector called attention to the fact that at
the last meeting of the Board provision
had been made for the presentation of the
matter to the Legislature
Mr. Sharp offered the following resolu-
ton:
Resolved that committee of three be
appointed to confer with the present and
incoming Prosecutors of the Pleas with re-
gard to such action as the Board shall take
concerning the slanderous reports against
the county and its officers.
The Director appointed Messrs. Sharp,
Lippincott and Stecher.
Mr.. Darnell called attention to that por
ton of the report which showed the cum
bersome nature of the books of record al
the almshouse, and suggested that the
standing committee remedy this matter.
Mr.. Tallman offered the following:
Resolved that the resolution adopted
at the almshouse to build an asylum OF
the county grounds at New Lisbon be re-
considered"
In support of this resolution Mr.. Tall
man sent to the clerks desk several pc
titions in support of request to build the
asylum elsewhere than on the almshouse
grounds. Mr.. Jones offered similar pc
titions.
AS this was public meeting, the Di
rector invited remarks from any one
Samuel W. Beldon was the first to respond
He represented several signers of the pc
titions. At other times when he haC
spoken before the Board he had represent
ed people who were working principally fol
their own interests but in this case thu
people for whom he spoke were interested
in the welfare of their fellow men. TIL,
petitions now presented do not sugges
that any one place is better than anothe
for the purpose named but rather that thu
site selected is not adapted for the build
| ing. He believed the sentiment of tn
county is in favor of an asylum, and tn
future will more than justify the wisdom
of the determination to build. The thing
to accomplish is the restoration of menta
faculties, and in case that is rot possibl
to provide haven where the afflicted per
son may spend his days in peace. TIL
site already selected was not chosen be
cause it was the best in the county but be
cause it was the best at the almshouse
There are certainly many better sites i
the county where the main objects to b
considered in connection with this subjeC
may be obtained. Health is very i'm
portant matter and if the conditions at th
almshouse with reference to drainage ar
properly stated there was serious men
ace to one of the most important consie
erations. The location is not centra
While it is not desirable to have an asylum
located near the busy marts of trade, th
fact remains that the county grounds
New Lisbon are entirely too much isolated
There are only certain times in the da
when the almshouse can be reached direc
ly by railroad, and at other hours visitor
must go to Pemberton and drive tire
miles, thus making it inconvenient M
only for the transportation of patients bl
also for friends of the inmates and for tt
physicians and specialists who might
employed to look after the afflicted.
Steward Gaskill was the next speak
and he defended the reputation of tt
almshouse for health. The proposed 81
of the asylum is on the same level as tt
almshouse and one may dig ten to twel'
feet now without striking water. To g
wells at some of the other buildings it h
been necessary to go % feet. 1t would
bad idea in his judgment to build Il
asylum near town or city, hence it w
be Just as convenient at New Lisbon as