The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-08-21
A Wonderful Institution.


writes:
A Wonderful institution.
Closely allied with the name of an
insane hospital in the minds of vast
majority are scenes OF horror, imagin-
airy creations of conditions aptly de-
.scribed by the word hideOus. The
thought of an institution where the
unfortunate mentally afflicted are con-
fined conjures vivid pictures OF pad
ded cells, of rude keepers, filthy quar-
tiers, devices of torture supposed to be
essential in the care of the violently
insane. If such methods were ever
utilized they have become obsolete, at
least in Northern Indiana hospital
Longcliff-at Logansport. AS COM
plete was the surprise of the newspa-
per man, so would also be the aston
ishment of thousands of others should
they be permitted to pass through a
modern hospital for those who no
longer etain their mental powers.
Some days ago it was the rare priv
ilege of the Times reporter to gain ac-
cess to everv department of the second
thirty-four counties are directly inter
ested in the conduct of Longcliff, and
hospital in point of size in Indiana.
Inasmuch as hundreds of persons in
as thousands of taxpayers are indirect.
ly concerned in the management of the
hospital, the presentation of the i'm
pressions acquired by the reporter
may not be annoying to readers.
The Site a Beautiful One.
Whatever may be the status of the
Eastern, the Central or the Southern
hospitals for the insane. Longcliff is a
wonderful institution Three hundred
acres are contained in the tract, that
number being reached few years ago
when the state purchased a piece of
ground to prevent the establishment
of roadhouse at the very portals OF
one of it's benevolent institutions. OF
this great parcel 100 acres are in tim.
ber The institution proper is COM
posed of twenty-seven separate build
ings located on a cliff, the soil being
rock. The structures are surrounded
by q complete "windbreak" of trees,
and overlook the Wabash, famed
through the song ''On the Banks" A
scenic approach to the hospital is
known as the cliff road" and it was
by this route that the newspaper man
was ushered into the presence of Dr.
Joseph G.. Rogers. superintendent of
Longcliff and recognized as one of the
leading authorities in America on
treatment of the insane. DR.. Rogers
Is president of the American Medico-
Psychological association and a Demo-
crat who has been faithful to the trust
feposed in him by Democratic and Re-
publican administrations.
A Remarkable Man.
In foregoing paragraph the writer
applies to Longcliff the term wonder.
| full" The word is not extravagant.
No public or private institution of like
magnitude is conducted on principles
more thorough, sound and creditable
than is Longcliff. At it's head is a man
of remarkable executive ability, of
magnificent mental development and
Of brilliant scientific attachments. II
proof of this assertion the reporter will
state that DR.. Rogers possesses knowl-
edge of every underground pipe or
main of overhead electrical connec.
lions; Of every well and pump on the
grounds; that he can tell in second
the number of cattle on the place.
amount of pounds of milk secured from
a cow during the milking season; that
he is in a position to report in a very
few minutes on the number of acres
cultivated in any year since he en-
tered upon the superintendent; the
kind of crops planted in any 100-foot
strip, the number of bushels realized
and the cash value of the various pro-
ducts thus harvested. he knows the
capacity of boilers, of the engines, Of
air compressors, of dynamos and water
lifts. He receives reports from every
! department and every ward each