Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-02-25
THE STATE HOSPITAL.
Senator Christensen Is Encouraged
With the Progress That Has Been
Made.

With the Progress That Has Beer
Made.
1T Is an erroneous opinion which 1.
held by some people, founded on GER.
tain newspaper reports, that the inves.
tigating commission lost out In it;
fight to improve the facilities ant
methods of treatment Of the insane
people Of the state" said Hon. Mel.
Christensen today, as his face bright.
ened at the suggestion of the triumph
over powerful interests which the
commission had to encounter.
1T Is true that the recommendation
for bond issue was lost" said Sena.
tor Christensen, but in other ways
the needs Of the unfortunate people
will be looked after and with the ap.
pointment of a commission and an ap-
preparation Of 100000, tine work OF
bettering the facilities which have beer
so wofully deficient and inadequate al
the state hospital will be started, and
this, in addition to an appropriation
Of $4,000 for urgent and immediate re.
pairs at the present institution"
Senator Christensen went on to say
that 1t was true that the resolution
asking the resignation Of the officials
Of the asylum was defeated, and the
bond issue was also lost, but the in
vestigating commission was not we'd
ded to either Of these suggestions, II the
desired results were to be had in other
ways, and he Is confident that the state
is now entering upon a period for the
better and more humane treatment
and care Of its unfortunate people.
When the proposition for the bond
issue came up in the house, where such
financial matters must originate, the
minority report Of the commission was
adopted, Mr.. Christensen explained
which provided for the purchase OF
about 1000 acres Of land within ten
miles of Columbia, the idea probably
being the location Of an asylum fol-
negroes on this tract. When this bill
went to the senate, 1t was absorbed In
the proposition which was endorsed by
the majority Of the commission, pro-
vided for the appropriation Of 100000
for a new hospital, with the size and
place of location left free and open,
and the personnel Of the commission
to consist Of the superintendent Of the
hospital, the state chairman Of the
board of health and three additional
members who are yet to be named by
Gov. Ansel. II. DR.. Babcock remains
at the head of the institution, he will
be on the commission, as will be DR.
Robert Wilson Of Charleston, a spe-
cialist on nervous diseases who gave
the investigating commission consider
able information, helping them in their
deliberation on the subject matter OF
their report. The very fact that regu7
lar board Of regents Of the institution
was not placed in charge of the new
hospital matter was an evidence Of the
control of the situation, said Mr.. Chris
tensen today in speaking of the mat
ter
With the sum of 100000 as nu-
cleus fund, the place of the new in
stitution and its size and character as
the naming Of the commission, long
step has already been made, said Mr.
Christensen in securing the much
needed reforms.
Mr.. Christensen said that he thought
that the institution will be placed at or
near Columbia, but, of course, he had
no suggestion to make on the matter.
All he had been interested in was the
expose Of the wofully inadequate and
inefficient conditions which existed at
the state insane hospital, which were
presented to the legislature with such
recommendations as have been made
and now, he has washed his hands, so
to speak. and the matter remains with
those in whose charge 1t has been
placed. OF course, he wants the rec
ords kept straight, and he Is hopeful
that all this agitation will not be with
out its good results, and all present
indications are that much good will
Post.