Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-15

pumping. The entire farm has been fenced
new corrails built, new feed boxes con-
structed, until now the place Is a model
farm.
Hastings Asylum Dor Insane.
The Hastings asylum for the insane will
be recalled as the institution where the
fusionists in their mad desire to keep down
the per capita" and make big salaries al
lowed the inmates butter twice a week only
and meat three times week. It is the
same institution where there was not then
a single rocking chair. and now there are
over &c., 1t is the same institution where
the fusionists allowed the weeds to grow
twelve feet high without cutting them.
Here Is what the republicans have done to
make this institution what It is
The first and most important improve
ment was the construction Of the north
annex for the accommodation of 200 male
patients. This Is a fireproof building and
admitted to be one of the best structures
A large dairy barn accommodating 100
mich cows has been built half mile
southeast OF the institution and near the
same location a slaughter house, feed
yards and hog house have been added.
Under the fusionists the feed yard and
rear of the main building. This removal has
made the place more sanitary and has
added much to the general appearance Of
the grounds.
The old sewer which emptied near the
Administration building, has been replaced
by larger one a half mile in length. which
has also added much to the sanitary con-
dition OF the institution. The plumbing
has been renewed throughout the entire
During the last three years three new
wards have been added for the accommoda-
ton of patients, which, with the annex
has increased the capacity Of the instttu-
ton from $50 to 1850. Three new boilers
have been added to the boiler rooms, to-
gether with new generator and engine
which furnishes light for the buildings
Among the additions made was one 3xS5
feet, to the engine room; 24XS feet. TO the
dry building. The machinery in the laun-
dry building had been renewed throughout
new bakery with two large ovens has
A new farm cottage for the accommoda-
ton Of twenty or TWENTY-FIVE male patients
Is almost completed; a vegetable cellar, 4X6O
feet. has been constructed; four large
porches have been built, and dark and
dingy places in the buildings have been
ating room has been added to the male
sick ward. In place of the two large
dining halIs small dining hau mas ot tSn
plan recognized by the best authorities.
Four years ago the lawn consisted of five
acres, all run down. At present the pa
tients have lawn fully twenty-one acres
in area. The heavy iron bars and screens,
which were offensive, have been re-
moved and replaced by lighter and less
offensive window guards, which are just as
safe. mile and a quarter of brick walk
has been laid within the institution
grounds, and just at present the super
iritendent is completing 10000 feet of manu-
featured stone walk through the front
lawns. The republicans have laid one and
one-half miles of cinder walks around the
institution. Five thousand fruit and shade
trees have been planted during the last
four years and are doing well. Two large
green houses are under course of construc-
ton. Several miles of new fence. which
the fusionists let run down, have been re-
built. The garden in connection with the
institution has been increased from fifty
acres to 40 acres During the last four
years ITO acres of alfalfa have been put in.
Four crops this year have produced $50
tons system OF water works has been
installed and the institution boasts of a
thoroughly trained fire department. Many
other improvements have been made dur
ing the last four years until now the in
stitution is surpassed by none of its kind
in the country.
Institute for FeebIe-Minded.
The acknowledgement of the fusionists
they left everything that was not nailed
down was taken away. The walls Of the
building had cracked and the mortar had
| cropped from between the brick in many
places. On the inside the plasterink had
fallen, and no one swept It out. 1t was
there in piles for the unfortunate inmates
to scramble over, as best they could II
; took two years hard work to get It in any
kind of shape and now 1t is one of the
states model Institutions. Even the
| campus was as barren OF trees, as the
prairies of long ago. Today there are
| over 5000 shade trees on the lawn, planted
| by the present superintendent. When the
republicans took charge there was not a
| foot OF permanent sidewalk on the entire
place. Today over 5000 square feet OF
brick and cement walks and over 1000 feel
CT cement floors have been laid and in
Vulnerable loads of cinders have beer
deposited on the place from which walk,
| have been constructed.
| When the fusionists turned over wha
| was left Of the institution no farm wa,
connected with it. Today the institution
has farm of 225 acres dotted with hors,
barns. granary, corn cribs, hog houses
and sheds for implements. When tn,
| fusonists were forced out the institution
boosted OF six cows and four horses To
day the institution has fifty-hve head o.
cattle, milks thirty head of cows and own
eight head of fine horses.
To make the institution habitable thu
republicans had to repair throughout tn,
main building The girls cottage wa
left by the fusionists just as It came from
the builders, with the inside rough ant
unfinished. The rough plasterlng was cal
cimined and the place made decent Th
hospitals and the boys cottage No 2 hat
just been completed, but the inside wa
like everything else with which tn
fusionists had anything TO do. 1t had no
been finished nor made habitable.
All the old boilers have been reset an
one new one installed. vegetable celia
is being built of brick and cement It viii
hold about $500 bushels OF vegetables.
cold storage building has been constructed
a green house and a blacksmith shop. Hun
dreds of fruit trees have been set out
where before there was not a one.
When the fusionists haC. charge of tn
Institute for the Blind at Nebraska City
was case of the blind leading the blind
Men who knew practically nothing of tn
work for which they had been called al
lowed the institution to run down to sue