Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-01-10


great depth In the ground, resulting
in annoyance and inconvenience. yet
the same mistake has been made in the
construction OF the new one, which has
been sunk more than four feet below
the surface, giving the building a de-
cidedly squatty appearance. 1t is also
liable TO be flooded during every heavy
rain, which was the experience of last
summer.
Another serious mistake was the
purchasing of three boilers OF eighty
horse power each. Although last win
ter was very mild these boilers were
insufficient to heat the institution. Had
the season been cold the inmates would
have suffered greatly. After ample
experience with small boilers it seems
strange that the board did not pro-
vide the new plant with boilers of suf-
ficient capacity TO properly heat the in
stitution. A new n hundred and
twenty-five horse power boiler has
just been added to the plant, which
will perhaps heat the present build
ings but will be insufficient to heat
those now in purse of cons. ruction.
Neither was the power house built
with a view Of future enlargement of
the heating plant.
A new cottage has been erected upon
the grounds occupied by the old laun-
dry building which was burned. ms
cottage is we'll built and well finished,
but only accommodates about fifty pa
tents.
The large central building for which
the last Legislature made an appropTi-
alton of $35, 900 is well under way, the
walls now being two stories above the
basement. The building has been we'll
cared for and is in perfect condition.
While the legislature appropriated only
$35, 900 for this building the plans
drawn by the architect and accepted
by the board are for a building to cost
$G5, 900 and lnis estimate was evident
ly without including plumbing and
fittings. II any wrong vas committed
in this connection IL was done by the
governing board which purposeIy laid
out work which, it could plainly be
seen, would require twice as much
money as was available. This build
ing when completed will furnish a
splendid theater and amusement hall
for the patients, also a spacious dining
room and kitchen. 1t will however re-
lieve the present crowded condition
but little, being only sufficient to ac-
commOdate but fifty people with sleep
ing apartments.
One peculiar feature OF the contracts
for the construction OF these buildings
is that they were a. let to be built
during one season. 1t seems that the
old governing board was anxious to let
all the contracts and eXpend as much
Of the money as possible before their
successors in Office should enter upon
their duties. Why they should do so
car better be surmised than explained.
Superintendent DR.. Meade told me on
II Or two occasions that only n
building should be built each season,
as the greater portion of work could
in that way be done by the patients.
Had his policy been followed, several
thousand dollars could have been saved
the state in the construction or these
buildings. The constant cry is Ton
more room Another cottage should Ds
provided for by the legislature as 1t
will be badly needed before IL can be
finished. Patients are now doubled in
many beds and more beds are used in
each o than good sanitary regu-
latiOns would permit, Amusement and
sitting Don are occupied with beds.
While the institution is badly over
crowded, fortunately there have been
no epidemics at the hospital. The
health of the patients Is good. Their
bedding has been renewed during the
present superintendent term and the
whole institution gives evidence of
cleanliness and good management.
The old kerosene lamps formerly used
have been replaced by electricity and
a uru lU Ara 0rpattu mIniuniUpH thpTQ-
by. The institution is greatly in need
OF a sewerage system. At times the
sewerage has been known to back up
into the basement until il covered the
floor shoe-sole deep. This basement
was then and Is now used for a dining
room because there Is no other avail
able place, but ii Is more like a Sibe-
rian dungeon than a modern dining
hall. DR.. Ross has done much to rem
edy the sewerage system but it cannot
be corrected or the health of the pa
tents assured until a scientific sys-
TEN is organized. Must the institution
wait for this until some horrible cpl
demic has made our previous duty re-
gretfully plain?
The present population OF the insti-
tuition is 515, a gain of thirty during
the ldSt TWO years. ADDiiGdtiOHS arc
constantly being made which tax its
capacity to the limit.
In this connection it seems to me
that the money levied for insane pur-
poses upon the various counties nav
ing inmates should be appropriated for
the insane and that the legislature
does a wrong In Withholding IL or en-
ploying the funds for any other pur-
pose. If the present per capita charges
are too high the counties should be
given the benefit OF a reduction.
Before leaving this branch of the
subject l desire to call your attention
to the duty of securing proper grounds
for a cemetery for the asylum. The
dead are now being buried on grounds
belonging to the hospital. This prac-
tice is against the plain provision OF
the constitution making it unlawful
TO devote 10 burying purposes any part
Of the land granted to the institution.
Besides it has been located Almost in
front of che buildings, a location both
~unsightly and "disgraceful To the state,
Five acres OF ground should be secur-
ed adjoining the city cemetery, land
well suited for the purpose and situat-