The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-10

transferred the care of the new Cour
House to your board. The hanks of thu
people are extended to them for theil
careful, painstaking and honest efforts IL
securing his fine building for court pur-
poses.
ION September 1, 1903. the contract fol
supplying electric current for the Court
House will expire. Considering the price
paid for this service, ranging from $50
tos$1 ,O4O per month, it would seem that the
problem of installing an electric plant OF
our own would be worthy of your atten-
ton.
ut now appears that in about a year
all the insane patients of the county will
be sheltered at Overlook; this situation
again forces the question Of what to dc
with the South Orange avenue property.
Your best efforts are urged to aid in solv-
ing this difficult problem. 1t is hoped that
the authorities of the city of Newark
may see their way clear to avail them
selves of the advantage of depreciation in
price and purchase the buildings.
Several causes have operated against
the beginning of work on the Plank road
widening and Improvement. The indis-
position of the Public Service Corporation
to cooperate and bear its share of expense
of this improvement and their apparent
Indifference has crystalized the situation
to such an extent that 1t is deemed ad-
| ViSahle to ascertain through law OF GDdu-
Gerry Just what their rights in the premises
are.
THE patients in our hospitals for the in
sane are receiving every attention and
care consistent with the unavoidably
crowded condition of each Institution.
They number 1880, are constantly ~increas-
ing and overcrowding the capacity of both
hospitals, and will continue to do so until
relieved by the completion of the Over
brook buildings.
The more general employment Of fe-
male nurses and the discontinuance, so far
as possible, of male attendants, appears
to be in keeping with the more advanced
scientific care Of patients, and Is worthy
of encouragement.
THE friction which threatened the dis
organization of the medical staff at the
South Orange Hospital has, through your
c~ommendable judgment, been entirely re-
moved.
1.-The final acceptance of the Isolation
Hospital has been delayed, owing to the
defective workmanship n laying the as
phalt floors. After several inspections,
conferences and meetings, the contractor
finally agreed to put in a flooring which
makes a better and more sanitary finish,
and agreed to do so on the proposition tnat
the board pay 81, 800, the difference In the
cost of the material.
1T regret that no Improvement over the
ole method of purchasing supplies has
been inaugurated. The present system
has cost the county thousands of dollars
during the last year through almost con-
stantly increasing prices, which might
have been saved had general competition
been the rule and contracts made on COM
petitive basis. The managers of the State
Hospital at Morris Plains have advertised
for bids for three months general sup
plies, to be opened today, and your at
tention is directed TO the prices offered
for comparison with those you are pay
ing. The extraordinary stringency in the
financial world and your duty demand that
you exert your very best efforts to obtain
the greatest possible return for all ex-
nenditnres.