Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-26
INSANE
ASYLUM
REPORT
Board Of Trustees Recon-
mend That Counties Aid
In Support of Aged

The eleventh biennial report of the
board of trustees and superintendent
Of the Oregon State asylum to the
twentythird legilative assembly has
been fled and is in part as follows:
Report Of Board.
On September 30, 1902, there were
1853 patients in the asylum, $50 of
whom were males and 376 females. The
whole number under treatment Septem-
Der 80, 1904, was 1873, of which 949
were males and 424 females; the daily
average population was 1921. For
number of years last past the board
contracted with the federal government
for the care of the Alaskan insane. On
account of the crowded condition of
the asylum and the increased number
from our own state to be cared for,
the board did not deem it advisable to
continue the contract which expired
January Is, 1904. At the expiration
of the contract there were 43 Alaskan
patients in the asylum. 38 males and
females, so that notwithstanding the
decrease occasioned by the failure to
renew the Alaskan contract, there is an
increase OF III patients over the num-
Der in the institution on September 80,
1902.
The amount received from the feder-
al government for the care of the
Alaskan insane up to the time they
were removed from the asylum was
$l1, 1,446.14, which was paid into the
treasury to the credit of the general
fund.
The number of patients treated ex-
ceeds that of any previous period. This,
to great extent, is due to the prac-
tice Of the county officers in commit
ting to the asylum the aged and in
firm, and the temporarily insane
through the opium habit and intem-
perance. Many of these patients are
properly county charges, and for whose
support they should be responsible. The
aged and infrm, if discharged, have
no place to go, and being without
means for their support, they are soon
recommitted. While the state is able
to maintain them at less per capita
cost than the county, there is no good
reason why the counties should not
bear portion of the expense of car
ing for this class of patients.
The superintendent report shows
the monthly average per capita, $9.9s. |
The payroll of officers and employees
averages about 100 in number and
about $5,S87.64 per month.
For the purpose of keeping pace with
the continual increasing number of |
patients of the asylum it will be neces-
sary for the legislature to make an APP
preparation for additional aecomoda-
tions and other improvements, which |
will aggregate 100000. These re-
quirements are set forth in the super
intendent's report under the head of
Appropriation for New Buildings
and Betterments," all of which. the
board recommends.
Report Of superintendent.
1t is probable that there will be a 1
greater relative increase in the popu-
lation in the state in the next ten
years than for any similar period in the
past This inevitably carries with it
the certainty of increase in the insane
population, and even at the present
rate of increase it will be necessary to
make some unusual preparation for
their reception and detention.
These conditions render the location
of branch asylum in some place, to
be selected by the proper authorities,
the natural and proper solution of the
situation. BY the time such an ar.
rangement could be carried out the
population of this institution would
amount to at least seventeen hundred
patients, a maximum number to be
economically cared for in one institu-
tion.
Three suicides occurred during the
term.
Elopements are of frequent occurrence
though most of those that escape are
promptly captured and returned, and
in no instance has an escaped patient
been the aource of iniury to himself or