Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-16
HITS TUBERCULOSIS
BUILDING OUTLAY
Charities Association Charges
FreehoIders Would Pay Too
Much for Structure.

In a special bulletin the Essex
county committee of the State Chari-
ties Aid Association makes the
charge that the Board of Freeholders
plan to spend twice as much as neces-
sary for the erection of the proposed
tuberculosis building at the Over
brook Asylum.
The amount that could be saved, it
is asserted, would be sufficient to
provide new house Of detention, for
which there is pressing need.
The circular follows in part, under
the heading:
Wise and Unwise Use of County
Funds"
"The Essex county committee of
the state Charities Aid Association
learns that the freeholders have ac-
cepted plans for new building for
tuberculous patients at the Overlook
Asylum, and is informed that, while
1t is to be a separate building, 1t is to
be in close proximity to the other
buildings of the group that 1t will ac-
commodate about 100 patients and
will cost approximately $4,000
This will make the cost per patient
approximately $1,000 Five insane
asylums have erected tuberculosis pa
Central, Islip. N. Y, capacity 104.
cost $22,500. per patient $216; Bing-
hamton, N. Y. capacity 30, cost $45,-
500, per patient $50; Gowanda, N. Y,
capacity 49, cost $4,000, per patient
$3.50; Sonyea, N. Y, capacity 40. cost
$4,000, per patient $3.50, and willard,
n. Y, capacity "a. cost SIS, 900, per pa
tient $452.
Two asylums of which we have
learned have erected small cottages
instead of larger pavilions. The cost
of these cottages is as follows.
MT. Pleasant. Ia, capacity u. cost
$4,000 per patient $3.50; Buffalo. N. Y.
$4S3.
The cottages erected at Buffalo are
of brick, with basement and attic, and
are most attractive architecturally.
as well as convenient for actual use.
All of these figures are complete, in
Guiding the cost of lighting, heating
and plumbing.
"Dr T. S. Darlington, assistant sec
rotary of the National Association for
the Study and Prevention of Tubercu-
losis, writes us that in the opinion of
experts buildings for tuberculosis pa
tients in connection with insane asy-
lums should be erected on sites slight
1y removed from the other buildings,
should be not more than one story
high, and not of an elaborate architec-
tural design He adds that thor
oughly satisfactory buildings can be
erected at a cost of not more than $500
to $500 a patient
why should Essex county pay
twice as much per patient as in the
most expensive building of the kind
that we have been able to learn of
elsewhere?
1--WE ask the citizens of Essex county
and the various organizations inter-
ested to join with us in appealing for
a public hearing on this subject. and
In asking that the plans of the build
ing be submitted to experts, in order
that we may be sure that the plan
adopted is the wisest and best possible
under the circumstances. Proper pro-
vision for tuberculosis patients Is an
absolute necessity, but we protest
against spending more money for this
purpose than is necessary to secure
the best results.
1.-THE facts presented above seem to
show that proper provision for tuber-
culosis patients at Overlook can be
made for about one-half of the pro-
posed expenditure, and If this is So the
amount saved will be sufficient to pro-
vide new House Of Detention, which
is one of the most pressing needs of
the county The House of Detention
is used for children awaiting action of
the courts, and the present institution
is a disgrace to the county. The
building is inadequate, it cannot be
properly kept, and the conditions are
such that there is no provision for
necessary separation or for proper
physical care, to say nothing of men
tai and moral supervision. The situa-
ton has been repeatedly presented to
the county authorities, but without
avail, and we feel that the time has
now come when It is necessary for
those Interested to make their voice
heard in no uncertain way.
I'VE urge all interested citizens and
civic organizations to address the
directly in regard to these
matters. We urge that let
tiers and resolutions be sent to them
asking that a public statement be
made of the plans and estimates for
the new building. at Overlook, that
a public hearing be held in regard to
these plans, or that they be submitted
to experts of unquestioned standing.
WILSON FARRAND,
Chairman Essex County Committee
State Charities Aid Association.
Arthur II. Bissell, secretary"