The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-29

purpose of continuing and completing
the development of the new Hospital
for the Insane The resolution pro-
| vides that the property now owned by
| the State in the city Of Columbia, and
upon which the present Hospital for
the Insane is located, be pledged as Sc
curity for the payment of these bonds,
and that the sale of this property be
! left with the State sinking fund COM
mission to be disposed of to the best
advantage for the State. The State
owns about $50 acres of land, ali prac-
ically in the city of Columbia, and up
on which the present Insane Asylum
is located. 1t is estimated that in 20
years by judicious handling the State
will realize more than one million dol
lars for this property and thus be able
to retire the bonds and the interest as
they mature. 1t will take several
years to complete the development OF
the new Insane Asylum, and there IS
no doubt, if the property in Columbia
is judiciously handled, it can be dis
posed of by the time the new asylum
is completed for sum more than suf-
fcient to pay the bonds proposed to
be issued.
/ It is true that the people as rule
shy, as it were, at any proposition OF
suggestion for the issuing of bonds.
The question which presents itself
now to the people of the State is:
To issue these bonds and continue the
development of this property and re-
fund the bonds out of the proceeds OF
the sale of the property at present
owned by the State as proposed in the
Joint resolution authorizing the issue
of the bonds, and to be voted on IN
the general election as an amendment
to the constitution.
Or, to levy an additional tax to con-
tinue the development of the new asy-
lum
or. to discontinue work on its de-
velopment.
1t is scarcely probable that the peo-
ple will approve discontinuing the
I work on the new asylum. 1t would
not only be financial loss to the State
to step work at present, but the pur-
pose for which the work was begun
would not be carried out and the cor
gested condition at the present Insane
Asylum would continue.
1t is a simple business proposition,
and if the, people will stop to think OF
it and consider it's importance, there
is no doubt the proposed bond issue
will be carried by practically unanl-
nous vote.
The purpose of the legislature. as
expressed in the several resolutions
referred to, is evidently to transfer tht
entire asylum plant to the property
purchased six miles north OF Coium-
bia. This will take several years and
must be gradual, but during these
years it will be possible for the State
Esinking fund commission, if the pro-
nosed bonds are voted, to dispose OF
the real estate in the city of Columbia
for a sum more than sufficient to pay
the bonds and the interest when they
mature. No possible good reason can
be advanced for not voting the proposed
bond issue, as provided in the resolu-
ton adopted by the legislature OF 1917.
This brief history of the legislation
in connection with the development OF
the new asylum and statement OF the
proposed bond issue is made at the
request Of the State hospital commls-
sion and without any personal interest
in the issue whatever.
1t has been stated in the public press
that the State hospital commission had
already expended s3OO,OOO.OO. This is
mistake. The total expenditure, IN
! cluding the purchase OF land and the
erection of buildings, up to the present
: is about s150,O00.O0
One building sufficient to accommo-
date comfortably one hundred anu
i fifty patients has been practically COM
pleted. A number OF barns and other
improvements in connection with lh'
farm have been erected, houses for en-
ployees are also nearly ccmpletHt anG
all equipment to carry forward the
work rapidly and successfully has
been purchased and to discontinue at
this time would entail u heavy fiAanclat
loss upon the State.