The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-02-06
white and colored, are now excessively
oyercrowded. The only method OF RELIEF

can suggest lies in the erection OF a
new building for white women some
what on the lines Of any symmetrically
located with the Taylor building. Upcn
the completion Of such structure the
-hite women now occupying two wards
OF the old asylum could be moved to
the new building. thus providing two
more wards for negro women and CIV
ing up to them the entire old asylum
as would have properly been done long
ago but for the greater necessities q
our white female patients.
The concentration OF many struc-
lures back of the main building has
heretofore been necessary, but further
DEVELOPMENT upon the same lines VIII
not he advisable. The erection OF a
much needed workshop for patients,
the removal of the wooden buildings
now occupied by the mechanical ae-
partment and the location Of new sta
bles at a distance from the dorm;sS-
r,es require that We should at this tine
consider the proper sites for tneic loca-
ton. The best sites would appear to lie
along the railroad track in the rear OF
the institution. Part of this land only
Is owned by the institution. A portion
of the other land has from time to time
been rendered by its owners 20 the
board, and last fall you passed set o.
resolutions regarding its purchase 0y
the general assembly. SooE after this
the land was put up at auction ami Dlu
In for $3,905.00 by friend OF the nos
pital and Is now held subject 10 lhe
decision of the governor and the general
assembly. The ownership OF this prop
erty would now be OF great advantage
to the hospital and in the near future II
will be an absolute necessity.>ln advo-
eating its purchase, would recon-
mend the method pursued in regard 10
the Wallace property-that Is, the
placing of a mortgage at six per cent.
on the property, and the annual pay
ment of s5O0o0 or $1,000. with inter-
est. till the whole Indebtedness is COW
cred. So small sum annually for sew
eral years is Insignificant in comparl-
son with the benefit to the hopsi:al as
a whole.
In these reports for several years
suggestions have been made regarding
the admission and discharge OF e'Hm-
inals, and the determination OF set
tlement," or the basis upon which per-
sons may claim rights OF oenehciary
support in the hospital. These ques-
tions are exceedingly important and l
trust that they may at length receive
the attention they deserve from the
legislature.
In the report of last year your at
tention was especially directed to the
difficulty of keeping the expenses OF
the hispital within the appropriation.
In that report l expressed the opinion
that It was doubtful in view OF the
present prices Of food stuffs and sup
plies. whether the maintenance or sup
port of the patients can again be met
for s100,000.00. For the next year II Is
probable that the sum total Tor tnls
item wiz be above s1O5,U0O.UO.'
The balance last year was Sl,lo4'St'
but Il was explained that "as in the
previous year we have been again lor-
tunate in securing from sales OF hos
pital supplies by the United States gov
ernment many necessaries at low
rates." In view Of this small balance
your board was unwilling to ask Tor an
increase in the appropriation for main-
tenance for this year, although suca
q request was proposed and conslderod.
But the increase in our daily popula-
ton as we'll as the general increase IN
ibe market price Of all food stufis ana
hospital supplies, appToXlmate!y
amounting to an increase OF 80 l-d pef
cent. has brought about q shortage
in our income under our expenses ol
about 81 100000 per month, an aggregate
deficit of s11.520.11, Of which sum ST.
800 was paid for insurance. 1t IS not so
much a surprise to those familiar Wlth
tbe finances OF the hopsital, that there
should be a deficit as it is remaskab'e
that since 1890, with daily poruiat'on
of seven hundred and fifty-four ('oa''
through a decade with daily increas-
ing census Up TO 1900 with an average
of one thousand and forty-three Q,o4S)
inmates. 4 total increase OF two nun
dred and eighty-n;ne (2S9) patients. we
should have been able to keep WITHIN
the annual fixed appropriation OF SlCo'-
10000. 1t was not to be expected that
this appropriation of s1Oo,0OO.OO for
maintenance, which has been practic-
ally the same for nearly 20 years, could
indefinitely meet the demands OF an
over increasing population. 1t certainly
could not have been done for the last
10 years but for the economy and pru-
dence of Mr.. ]. w. Bunch. the treas
urer. under the direction OF your board.
and It would have proved inadequate
two years ago, as was shown In these
reports but for the fortunate occur