The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-19
Reads Communication to the
County Commissioners To-
Gay, Urging Building be Lo-
Gated in This City.
HE CITES EXCELLENT
REASONS FOR ACTION
On Wednesday Commission
ers, County Council Men,
berS and Others Will Make
Visit to Poor Farm.

This morning Henry G. Fox. judge
of the circuit court, threw the first
bomb among the supporters of the
plan of establishing the county in
sane hospital at the county infirmary,
in a communication to the county
commissioners, which he read, and in
which he expressed his belief that a
mistake would be made in not 1ocat-
ing the ward in this city. He favor
ed the site south of the county Jail,
which the county owns.
The county commissioners will not
act on the question until next week.
On Wednesday the commissioners,
members of the county council and
others who are interested will visit
the county infirmary and view the
proposed site of the institution.
To Visit Other Sites.
Other sites will also be visited and
the commissioners will determine on
the location not later than next Sat
urday, in all probability. The con-
tract will be let as soon as the usual
procedure of advertising and posting
notices is complied with. Work will
he commenced on the institution early
in the spring.
A property owner on South Third
street entered a protest against the
location of the insane building near
the Jail because of the disturbance
the inmates might create. The board
invited this man to appear before it
next Wednesday.
In addition to the paper of Judge
Fox. which was placed on file after
he had read it, another communica-
ton from Mr.. Timothy Nicholson was
received. Mr.. Nicholson favors the
county infirmary site as the proper
place to locate the ward. He says
that he is unalterably opposed to the
site adjacent to the county Jail.
Views Of Judge Fox.
Judge Fox spoke in part as follows:
II have been invited by the board to
give my views concerning the location
Of the proposed building in which to
confine and care for persons who are
insane and unable to care. for them
selves. Concerning this matter, there
seems to be a diversity of opinion. In
giving my views I have no criticisms
to make concerning the views of 9TH
ers. I simply give my own opinion.
AS is we'll known, conditions are and
have been such as to render it necessa-
ry that something should be done and
this without delay. The question has
now resolved itself into one of loca-
tion. My official, position as we'll as
s,,<J INT
the premises, has made me entirely IA
miliar with the subject involved. I
have visited the county JAIL the Home
If the Friendless, and the county poor
farm in order to inform myself.
have found present and past conditions
deplOrable. An appropriation has
been made by the county council and
steps are about to be taken by the
Board of Commissioners in providing
place in which to confine and care
for the insane who become public
charge. Sentiment and theory should
not be a controlling influence in this
matter. Practical utility should be the
fingerboard. Where can the insane
best be cared for, everything consider
ed. is the important question.
He Favors Richmond.
From the first. have been of the
opinion that the proposed building
should be located in Richmond and
should be under the supervision of the
sheriff and as a matter of convenience
it should be located on the grounds
owned by the county. portion of
which is occupied by the county jail
In saying this l do not mean that the
proposed building should become a
part of the Jail.
In my Judgment. there are many
reasons why the building should not
be located on the poor farm. In the
first place, the farm is situated seven
and one-half miles from Richmond:
this. in itself. is a serious objection
know of no infirmary in the state that
is situated so far from the county seat.
and this results from the fact that the
infirmary was located when the coun-
ty seat was in Centerville. When it
was so located, the location was admir-
able. for it was within a mile of the
county seat. With our increased and
increasing population and the change
of our county seat, conditions are now
very different.
Property Is Extensive.
1.-THE real estate owned by the coun-
ty where the Jail is located. is more ex-
tensive than is generally understood.
1t extends South to South A street and
west to the railroad. The buildings
on the county ground fronting on
Continued on Page Fivc)