Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-01-10
DEAF AND
DUMB ASYLUM
Annual Report Of the Trus-
tees Submitted to Gov
ernor Otero.
REVIEW OF WORK
OF TWO YEARS
Progress Which Has Been Made
on the New Building
and Plans for the
Future.

The report of the trustees of the New
Mexico asylum for the deaf and dumb
for the period from December 1, 1900, tc
November 30, 1902, has been submitted
to Governor Otero. The report states
that owing to the lack of any appro-
priation for maintenance of the asylum
the board was compelled to close it in
June, 1901. The proceeds of the sale of
lands donated by the United States to
the territory for the asylum We're suffi-
cient to warrant the beginning of a
suitable building and the contract was
awarded at $11,S0O. The report says:
"The contract does not include the
lighting, plumbing, heating, furnishing
nor the special equipment for the in
struction of the pupils, nor the finishing
of the attic and basement. The con-
tractor soon began work on the build
ing on tract of land containing nearly
five acres, adjoining the lands Of the
asylum, and purchased from the Wo-
mans Board of Trade of Santa Fe for
the sum of $500. The board was unable
to secure suitable addition to the old
lot in the way of frontage on the road,
except at price beyond its resources,
and hence was under the necessity of
making the purchase of the adjoining
lot, which rounds out the land Of the
asylum in good shape, and furnishes a
desirable building site. Had the site of
the building been an open one, that IS,
If the territory had not already acquir-
ed the old site and building, the board
would have preferred to select an en-
tirely new location for the building. ow-
ing to the proximity of the old site to
cemetery, penitentiary, to one rail-
road and another about to be built, the
course of which is laid down as passing
through corner of the asylum lands.
The building Is still in course of con-
struction, as owing to the delay in get
ting brick, the walls and roof We're not
completed in time to plaster before the
coming of cold weather, and it was
deemed best to delay plastering till
spring. The building is Of Romanesque
treatment, 1t has frontage of SO feet
and depth Of 60 feet, 1t is three stories
high, and has basement under the en-
tire building. Each floor has about 4,5OO
square feet, and the building has about
$4,000 square feet of available space.
'"The first and second floors Of this
building will be finished under the con-
tract, but the funds available for con-
struction are not sufficient to finish the |
attic and basement. To make use of |
he building for the purposes for which |
t Is intended, there must be immediate |
provision for the finishing of the attic |
Ind basement, for electric wiring and |
lighting, plumbing. heating, furnishing |
Ind special equipment for the deaf and |
lumb. and for laying out and improv-
ng the grounds, making fences, garden |
Ind planting trees and shrubbery."
The appropriation Of $4,000 is asked
or this purpose The sum Of $4,000 has
been saved in the maintenance fund by
he closing of the institution and the
BOARD asks that the sum 40 saved be
granted for permanent improvements
md that $4,000 be added to it. For
for the balance Of the
4th fiscal year and the 55th year the
,oard estimates that $500 per annum
8 required. This is considerably in ex-
.ess Of the sum heretofore asked, but
he board believes that the occupation
i the new and more commodious build
ng should mark the beginning Of
more liberal provisions for the educa-
ion and training Of the unfortunates
or whom 1t is intended. The United
states has made a liberal land dona-
ion for the asylum and 1t is believed
hat eventually quite an income from
he proper investment Of the proceeds
t future sales will be available for the
uture maintenance of the institution.
The report then says:
"The superintendent Of this asylum
hould be man possessed Of the full
ower Of speech, as well as familiar
Nth the sign language, and with all
he other methods Of communication
nth the deaf and dumb; this is neces-
ary to enable him to be In constant
nd easy intercourse with the board
oncerning the business management Of
he asylum, and to effect the best re-
ults of such management. The board
as nothing but the most friendly feel
ng for those who have been charged
nth the superintendency Of the asylum
4 the past, and 1t is its intention to
vail itself Of their services In the fu-
ure conduct of the asylum, but the ex-
erience of the board in the past has
trongly impressed it with the need of|
superintendent in charge. who is not
In his intercourse with the
utside world by inability to speak.
"The deaf and dumb population Of the
erritory, Of school age, according toj
be census Of 1890, the details Of the
ensus OF 1900 on this point, not being
ct available, is from Is to 80; the
ighest number that has at any one I
me attended the asylum, IL about 70. j
ia the hoard ia its estimate. has gone
i the heller 81 having 26 ana mimi
nm atteadance Al tie future, with :