The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-30
Institution is OVertaxed.

the INSTITUTION dIe excessively Ofe1-
crowded and especially that for white
men and the two colored departments
and the housing Of insane Of negro
men and women in the cellars as we
are forced to do, is, to say the least,
inhuman.
"12. The excessive population oV-
ertaxes the kitchen and dining room
service as we'll as the wards and dor
mitories; for some time these condl-
tions have been unsatisfactory to our
administration and efforts will be
made to devise plans for their remedy.
"13. To carry out any Of these
plans which We are enumeratlng will
require larger appropriations than we
have been receiving. It must be
borne in mind that our annual per
capita last year was $109, about 30
cents day, which is less than sher-
iff is usually allowed for dieting pris-
oners. Last year the per capita at
Morganton, N. c., was $l55 and at
Raleigh was $165. Were We allowed
the difference we could come much
nearer the idea with which we would
like to administer our charge.
Inadequate Appropriations.
"14. Again, inadequacy Of appro-
priation handicaps us in making ade-
quate payment for services rendered
bv many officials and employees of the
institution
"15. For the same reason Our med
ical staff is too small to properly ham
die the number of patients. The su-
perintendent has for several years
been compelled to perform the duties
of assistant physician in one of the
departments, whereas he should be
able to devote himself to admlnlstra-
tive duties.
''l6. The mechanical department
is defective but especially in the heat
ing plant, boilers, etc.
"17. An Institution of this size,
growing as it does year by year,
should have an ice plant for the prop
er handling Of meats, provisions, etc.
> "18. Year by year our fire pro-
lection has been improved and BY
completing a small circuit on Barn
we'll street, between Lumber and
Richland streets. would meet the need
Of the institution.
"19. The hospital gets its water
supply from the city and has abolish
ed all wells, contributing to the gener-
al health of the population.
Value of the Plant.
"2O. Through the ability Of Mr..
Bunch small sandhill farm has been
so developed that it supplies the needs
not only of the large population but
also maintains the dairy, hecd, beef
cattle, stock, etc.
"21. In the process Of years to-
tai Of $50 acres has been got together
and, in our opinion, should be held by
the State for the future needs of its
dependent classes and what is not
needed for building sites today will be
REQUIRED for such in one or two gen.
erations
1922. The several buildings now in
use for hospitals, wards, dormltor1es
and for laundry and farming purpoS-
es represent valuation of $6Oo,Ooo:
1923. The entire plant of the State
for insane is estimated at 81, 100000.
T. should be held and used for many
wears to come for hospital purposes,
that is for the acute cases OF the IN
sane proper. The other classes OF de-
fectives, the chronic insane, epllep-
tics, idiots, inebriates, etc., require Sc
parate institutions elsewhere.
"24. Since there are two compe-
tent lawyers on the commission 1t IS
SUGGESTED that it would be fitting to
revise the statute laws relating to the
insane.'