The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-11-24

Members of the county board of SUI
pervisors who made their annual visit
to the Racine County Asylum for the
insane on Friday have made their re-
port of their visit and as the asylum
now has upwards of fifty Kenosha in
mates the report of the visit will be of
interest to people in this as well as
in Racine county.
Almost every member Of the two
boards were there with the various
county officials, trustees of the asylum
and others were present. They we're
accorded every courtesy by Mr.. and
Mrs, Lewis superintendent and matron
of the asylum, who courted the very
closest inspection Of the farm, build.
ings and inmates.
The first event of interest was the
testing of the new water works system.
) Ninety feet of hose was placed on the
hydrant with an inch nozzle and q
stream was easily thrown over the high
est point of the buildings. A test Of
both the direct pressure and stand-pipe
pressure was made. There was shown at
the hydrant 100 pounds direct pressure
and stand-pipe pressure of so pounds.
The visitors then made an inspection of
the outer buildings and found them all
neat and clean; the cattle clean and
fat, the swine in good condition and,
in fact, from an agricultural standpoint
things could not have been more sat
isfactory.
The main buildings of the asylum are
also clean, well-heated and the inmates
are well, healthy and apparently hap
Ply. Dinner was served and 1876 patients
sat at the tables. The discipline was
perfect, there not being single hap
pening to mar the perfect order. There
was plenty of food both wholesome and
ut for any table.
The Racine and Kenosha boards both
expressed themselves as being we'll
pleased with everything. They could
not see where there could be any pos
sible Improvement. Opinions were ex-
pressed that the money expended for
the new water system could not have
been placed to better advantage and
that the rebuilding of the heating sys-
tenn was good thing.
The septic tanks which take care of
the sewage of the asylum was found
to be in good working order.
After the inspection the visitors were
taken TO the lower dining room and a
dinner served. David H. Flett of Ra-
cine was the master of ceremonies and
had a few preliminary remarks to
make. He called attention to this be-
ing the annual inspection of the insti-
tuition in which all were interested for
no one knew how soon some friend or
relative might be brought there. He
asked on behalf of the superintendent,
matron, trustees, and other officers of
the institution, the very closest inspec-
t1on possible. Judge Flett also spoke
OF the improved manner of caring for
the insane and said that Wisconsin was
in the lead in this respect. He said
that Racine county asylum was in fair
condition, but it was not for him to saw
anything about that, when there were
others present who could do it much
better.
Chairman Peterson of the Racine
county board spoke at considerable
length and told how for "a number of
years he considered the fire protection
not of the best The board had made
appropriations and he had sought the
advice of Fire Marshal Cape, who adj
Vlsed him along the lines of how to
improve the system. He explained the
construction of the same, how there
were cut-otfs On the mains of the bio
pumps, reservoirs, over head tank. air
compressors, etc, He said all thew
lacked now was fire sprinkling svs-
TEN, He declared if they had a fire at
present it would be bad, as all the sane
persons would have to fight the fire and
there would be no one left to take care
of the patients. Fire insurance com
panies did not look upon the sprink-
ling system with favor.
Others who were called upon to make
remarks were Supervisor Elverman> of
Kenosha, who complimented the man.
agement of the institution on the care
OF its patients Supervisor Tucker. of
the county asylum visiting committee
TO Of the visits to that institution and
assured those present that things were
as well on these visits as they found
them today; patients contented, happy,
and healthy and that it was satisfac-
ton to know that the insane people
are so we'll cared for. He was also glad
that the county board of Kenosha were
satisfied with the conditions.
Supervisor Browne, of Racine, also a
member of the visiting committee spoke
along the same lines as Mr.. Tucker and
how they had visited the as, Ium I'M
announced and found the patients kind