The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-01-15

! K appears that Wnil2 the population
Of the institution has more tnan
tTebled in the total number 2s we'll as
IN the daily average. under care the
total annual expenses have by
rigid economy been kcpt at
about the same figures, While the
! cost per patient has been re-
| duced over one hundred dollars. The
specific appropriation FOR support
proper has been about $1C0,GOo00 Tor
| nearly twenty years.
| In his report for 1900 Supt. Babcock
! expressed the opinion that it was
doubtful in view OF the present pri-
res Of food stuffs and supplies whether
! the maintenance or support OF patients
can again be met for 500 100000. For
| the next year it is probable that :he
| sum total for this item will be above
| sos, 100000" The result has been as
predicted, and the necessities of the
| hospital have required an average
monthly expenditure Of over S9,QooGO,
and the opinion is now advanced by
. the Superintendent that for the next
few years the monthly expenses for
support alone will average Sl0.0OooO.
In view OF the figures above shown
and the expenses Gor maintaining tie
! insane elsewhere the question suggests
! itself whether a tco rigid economy las
not heretofore been exercised in the
management of the finances OF the
Hospital.
AS to the prospect Of reducing the
number Of admissions the Board OF
z tT,ot,- AZ
| their conception OF the proper man
agement Of their charge lies in the d.
rection of the bro2lest philanthropy
and charity with the greatest good to
| the greatest number. The Regents
i therefore hesitate to restrict the right
of admission Of any bona fide citizen
of our State who may REQUIRE asylum
care, and they are especially suaroeo
against recommending the refu2al or
shelter to dependent old people, who
would rightly fall to the custody OF
poor-houses il these county retreats
made adequate provision for the asea
and helpless.
That the institution is imposed upon
| in the forced reception or non-resi-
dents have during the past year had
personal experience and KnoWledee
from corresponding with officials o.
| two ne:srboring States, who we're pro-
hibi.ei by law from placing PERSONS
formerly residents Of this 5tata in their
charitable institutions. This question
OF settlement" as it IS technically
| called. has been referred 20 the Cen
eraI Assembly for some years. nut no
action has been taken. It would now
appear that it is question OF growing
| Importance and that sel-pfeserVatlon
now demands that We restrict the
| right OF admission Of non-residents 10
the Hospital as has been done oy QUIZ
! neighbors.
The Regents and Superintendents
| call attention to the need for the eX-
mansion and development Of the HOS
pital of small area Of lana-three and
A quarter acres-adjoining the present
grounds OF the negro building ana
recommend its purchase at ABOUT
/ 5000 90 one thousand dollars being
paid annually until the whole is pa!o.
AS the ultimate benefit to the Hospitai
of this land will be great in compar-
ison with the annual appropriation
asked for, l join in the recommends
| ton.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
The annual report of this institution
will be submitted to you. The year JUST
closed has been hard one on most
farmers. and the State farms have not
been an exception. Especially have the
State farms suffered, as large por-
tion of the land lies on the river anu
is subject to overflow. The year has
been very unsatisfactory agricultural
ly- The oat crop in the swamp lands
was entirely lost. Three stands OF
corn were drowned by the overflow OK
the bottom lands and. therefore, OUT
little corn was made. The crop on the
upland was fairly good.
The new prison building has been
completed and adds much to the COM
fort and health OF the prisoners.
The institution, however, has done
remarkably we'll and makes a gooo
showing, even through great loss was
sustained On account OF the hign wa
ters. and evidences careful and pra-
dent MANAGEMENT on the part OF the
Sunerintendent and the Board Of d.
rectorS.
CONVICT STATEMENT.
Prisoners in confinement De-
cember 81, 1900 ............ 100
From Courts since that time. 80
Recaptured 80. ........ o-@7'
900