The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-10-11
STATE HOSPITAL
SELECTS ITS SITE
ABOUT 1000 ACRES SIX MILES OF
COLUMBIA.
For the Negro Patients-Sereral
Buildings VIII be Erected at
Once.
Columbia State, Sth.

Columbia State, Sth.
The new State Hospital for the In
sane will be located about six miles
form Columbia on the Southern and
Seaboard Air Line railways, between
the Asylum and Knon roads. The
site contains 1000 acres and is made
up of several tracts of land belonging
to a number of individuals, whose
names have not been announced by
the commission. The average price
paid for the land is S25 per acre,
which means an outlay of approxi-
mately $4,000. This announcement
was made yesterday following a lo..s
session of the asylum commissions,
The members Of the asylum CON-
mission are: DR.. J. ". Babcock, su-
perintendent of the State Hospital! for
the Insane; DR.. Robert Wilson, char
man of the State board of healtn
Charleston; Judge r. o. Purdy, Sum-
ter; Leroy Springs, Lancaster; Dr..
George B. Cromer, Newberry. The
commission has held several hard
working sessions since the first of the
year. The site in Richland county
was selected out of over so offers
made from many sections of the
State The new site is to the north
of the city and is, therefore, only
about five miles from the old insti-
tuition.
There are several details to be
worked out by the commission be-
fore the names of the owners Of the
several tracts making up the site are
announced. The land is in the sand
hills.
It was announced by the commits
sion that the work of erecting the
new buildings on the site would COM
mence as soon as possible and rap
idly pushed to completion.
For Negro Patients.
Several weeks ago, DR.. Babcock,
speaking for the commission, said
that the new site would be first used
for the more serious cases Of negro
patients There will be several build
ings erected. All buildings, accord
ing to members of the commission,
will oe erected with a view to an en-
largement of the scheme.
At the last session of the legisla-
ture there was concurrent resolu-
ton passed providing for commits
sion to make plans and provisions for
the relief of the congested conditions
at the State Hospital for the Insane.
II the resolution the sum of 100000
was named to be used in making the
Improvements. This sum is to be
borrowed from the sinking it"d COM
mission to the credit of the State, and
has already been set aside.
Before appointing the commission
Gov. Ansel studied the act very care
fully and came to the conclusion that
its terms were very liberal and that as
much money might be borrowed as
would be necessary to make the in
nrovements. He did not think that all
of the money should be borrowed in
one year, but from time to time as
it might be needed. Half of the $780,
900 named in the resolution will be
required to pay for the new site.
Th7re are certain Improvements being
made at the old State Hospital for the
Insane which will take large amount
OF the remaining $4,000. This would
lead to the conclusion that before the
work of improvement is completed
much more than 100000 will be re-
ouired. The work Of improvement
will be made gradually and may re-
quire several years.
A Strong Commission.
The commission named by Gov An
sci to take charge of the improve
nents Of the State Hospital for the
Insane is considered one of the very
strongest bodies ever appointed in
this State. The members are all strong
men in their different professions.
They have spent much time in work
ing out the scheme Of improvement
and have made the very best selection
possible.
The new site may be in 20 years
the permanent home of the State Hos
rital for the Insane. Several days ago
DR.. Babcock gave the opinion that the
Institution would be eventually driven
from Columbia on account of increas-
ing population.