Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-01-16

Wis. in charge of r. P. Dickinson,
and Marathon County at Wausau,
Wis. of which ]. B. Thomas, recently
deceased. was formerly Supt. but
which at the time of our visit was
under the management of his sister,
Miss Margaret Thomas as matron. to
all of whom we feel deeply indebted
for much valuable information re-
ceived. and for every courtesy within
their power to extend, all of which
we highly appreciated. and for which
we take this opportunity placing on
record our thanks to them therefore.
as We took occasion to express the
same to them personally, and we feel
it but due to Miss Margaret Thomas
to state that. she being a lady. we
did not expect to find her as familiar
and we'll posted with reference to all
phases OF the subject as some of the
gentlemen superintendents. but in
this respect we were very agreeably
surprised to find ner equal to every
emergency and able to give us all in
formati on regarding every detail.
We should also feel that we had
overlooked and failed to appreciate
the source of much valuable assistance
rendered to US. and to the state of
Wisconsin in the care of its insane,
did we fail to mention the venerab BILE
Dr.. W. w. Reed of Jefferson, the
physician of the Jefferson County
Asylum, who is over so years of age,
is the originator of the County Insane
Asylum in the state of Wisconsin and
has given the subject of the care of
the insane, great amount of careful
| study, to the great benefit of that un-
fortunate class
Visiting as we did, several institu-
| tions. we found varying results but
in every case we found the cost of the
care of the insane to be less than that
of Wood County. and in some cases
the same were nearly. if not entirely,
self sustaining.
We found the cost of such institu-
tions varying from $50. 900. 90 to about
5000. 000. 90 with sites and lands of
from 200 to 800 acres. those with the
greatest amount of cultivated land
usually showing the best results. for
the reason that great many of the
insane patients are able and willing
to perform good amount of labor.
BESIDES such information Us bears
directly upon this Investigation, we
received great fund of valuable in
formation in detail. respecting plans
for buildings with reference to con-
veniences and the most approved and
profitable plans for same. of the most
suitable furnishings. and the best
methods of maintaining. which it
would be impossible to fully set forth
in this report, and which would be
premature at this time
1t is our opinion that the cost of a
suitable farm and buildings for Wood
County's present and prospective
needs would be from one hundred
thousand (s1OO. 900 Oo) to one hundred
and twenty five thousand ($125, 900 00)
dollars, farm of approximately four
hundred acres. with buildings of a
capacity Of not to exceed one hundred
and fifty inmates and that it would
be advisable to combine the County
Poor Farm with the County Insane
ASYLUM. for the reason that it re-
cures but one management, and for
the further reason that the insane
patients are much more able to per-
form labor on the farm than are the
inmates of the Poor House.
Respecting the matter of location
and sites, we felt that it would be al
least premature. and perhaps detri-
mental to an economical future selec-
tion to make any extended fnvestiga-
ton at this time and until a permit
had been obtained from the state
Board of Control. after which would
be ample time to attend to that fea-
ture of the work. preparatory to
getting ready to build.
From the investigation so made as
to the advisability of building a
County Insane Asylum. we feel it our
duty to recommend that Wood County
build County Insane Asylum with g.
capacitv OF not to exceed $50 inmates
if q permit can be obtained therefor.
and to that end, that an application
be at once made to the state Board of
Control for such permit therefor. all
of which is most respectfully SUBJ
mitted.
Dated Nov. 18th, 1907.
G. W. Brown. E. M. Deming,
Geo T. Rowland. Committee.
Mr.. Brown moved that the report
be accepted and spread upon the
minutes.
Carried.
WHEREAS, The committee ap-
pointed at the regular November 1906
session of the County Board of Super
Wilson's to investigate the advisability
of building County Insane Asylum
for Wood County, has reporte' , this
Board in favor of such bnilding,
which report has been receiving and
accepted by this Board;
Therefore, be it resolved by the
County Board of Supervisors of Wood
County in regular November 1907.
session assembled, that said COM
mittee be and is hereby authorized
and directed to make application to
the state Board of control for per-
NIT, and to use all honorable means
to obtain such permit. to build a
County Insane Asylum for and in
Wood Dor1ufv aft Qr aarlv n date as