New-York tribune., 1909-03-16
LUNACY BOARD BESE1
AFTER CREEDMOOR SITE.
Real Estate Mem Would Exchange
Hem pstead Farms Property.

Certain real estate interests pressing on the
State Iunacy Commission a proposition for an
exchange OF the site of the old state rifle range
at Creeduoor. owned by the commission. for site
IN Hampstead Farms which to build the new
Long Island State Hospital Under a bill intro
dIced by Senator John Ranes the commission has
the power TO sell exchange the Creedruoor prop
erty. which turned over to II last year as q
site for the hospital take the place of the ono
IN Flatbush. Since then the commission has re-
ceived many propositions from land owners IN
various parts of Long Island, but has reached no
conclusion the question.
Under the terms of the bill the Governor must
approve of any proposition for sale or exchange
and the one for the Hampstead Farms site is now
before him with it is understood, the information
that the lunacy commission and the managers ot
the Long Island State Hospital who are CO.
operating in the affair do not believe the PROPOSE
ton any too advanta geous to the state
The Creedmoor site contains 1871 acres. DIS
interested persons have placed its value at any
where from S2250 TO $500 acre. Real estate
interests which have had eye on this property
for development suburban lots have been careful.
however not to make definite offer for a
purchase OF the property outright The property
is about a mile long and narrow, making II not so
desirable a compact piece Of land would
be for a hospital. but the commission does not
intend 10 dispose Of ii unless it gets fair price.
The Hampstead Farms property, which has been
offered IL exchange, is situated on the branch line
of the Long Island Railroad running from Hemp
Bethpaga Junction.
schedule Of trains maintained on this line.
The syndicate making the offer has assembled diff
ferent pieces OF property aggregating between
five hundred and six hundred Their PROPOSE
tion is TO exchange this for the Creedmoor prop
erty on the basis Of two acres for one, with
extra amount for the additional acreage. Experts
employed by the commission have reported that
this property IS worth on an average little less
than 500 an acre. On such exchange the state
would be paying the syndicate a bonus Of more
than $1,000 an acre on the basis Of $3.50 acre
for Creedmoor, which IS about the lowest quoted
by Independent interests.
Meanwhile the commission working through
agents, has got option on another property of
about the same area in another part Of Hampstead
Farms It IS on one OF the main lines OF the rail
road and be obtained for about $500
site in North Hampstead has already been
jected>
Or. Albert W Ferris. head Of the Lunacy Com
mission, speaking yesterday Of the requirements
for a site said:
1t must be well situated as regards drainage
ana disposition Of sewage. It must be near a
good water supply. and must be situated on a
railroad. or near enough 10 make short spur
feasible. and not be without the range OF
I5-cent fare from the city The latter point Is I'm
portant as touching the frequent visits Of friends
of the patients
we have not decided on a site and Will
not do until after careful consideration. We
might finally decide the Creedmoor range
for small hospital-one for eighteen hundred or
two thousand OF the recoverable lnsape-and make
provisions for the custodiai insane on some other
site.
"Of course, il is cheaper 10 take of the
patients in large bodies but the best Views on
treatment Of insane hold that it Is better take
care OF the temporarily deranged IN smaller
groups The ideal plan have in mind is for
the establishment Of a sort Of village a site
Of some five hundred acres or more. with streets
and small cottages This would take considerable
amount of money. but would be worth while"
If suitable site OF FIVE hundred more acres
found, commission VIII undoubtedly start
such a scheme of building. The Legislature will
be asked for appropriation of S2,5G000, which, It
is thought Will provide accommodations requisite
fer the present demand.