New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-09
CITY WILL MAKE
NEW RANDALL'S
FOR S5OO,OOO
Mayor Acts After COnIpar-
ing Conditions with
Those at Waverly.
PLANS DECENT PLACE
FOR BAD CHILDREN
Shocked at Sights He and Com
mittec Saw at Island
Institution.

Mayor Mitchel's inspection Of Ran
dall's Island followed Immediately by
his visit Yesterday TO the Massachu-
sets institution for mental detectives
at Waverly. probably the best Of its
kind, has led him to favor the mmedi-
ate expenditure of 100000 to improve
Randall's Island. In this opinion Con-
troller Prendergast concurr.
ANY one who sees the flies crawling
over the mouths of the crippled chill
dren on Rrandall's Island. the unsani-
tary plumbing conditions. and the fire
hazards. realizes that the situation re-
duires immediate attention. said the
Mayor, on his return from Boston last
evening.
This is not a new thing. Since the
beginning of this administration it
mas been recognized that Randalrs Is
land would have TO be reorganized.
The conditions there are abominabls
and disgrace to the city.
The committee proposes that there
be Immediately built on Randall's Is
land modern and we'll equipped
hospital for the helpless children. with
capacity Of 200 beds. 1t is estimated
this will cost about 100000. Further.
II proposes 20 build Immediately a unit
cottage as they now have at Wavcry
with capacity of 105 and facilities
both for living and education. This it
IS estimated will cost $4,000
Decent Living Quarters.
Decent living quarters for attend
ants IN place of COW barns and those
squaiid disgusting quarters we saw
Yesterday are planned. This, it is
estimated, viii cost 100000.
The existing old building which.
while ultimately TO be replaced. can be
still made seryiceablo for a time. viii
Immediately BE- repaired, and electric
llght and proper plumbing installed.
This. II IS estimated, will cost Sl50.O0O.
Equipment in the nature OF looms.
sewing machines, toys, educational
equipment. playground equipment, will
be installed, 10 cost about 100000.
"The committee believes by this ex-
penditure, Randall's Island will be
made the nucleus Of a modern insti-
tuition aId the existing old buildings
will be made sanitary
Il, VIII make the institution no
longer disgrace 20 the city. Il viii!
provide decent living conditions for the
children, as well a. take ccrc OF tine
present excess Of 300 children over thc
maximum number the Board OF Health
hnds could be housed on Randall
Island. allowing the minimum air and
space for cccn iudivGual.'
The committee recommend that in
place OF tne use Of human dcrelicts for
attendants and help that there be Oh
tanned c!ass similar 20 that employed
20 state Institutions. and that thev be
paid the same salaries. This would
add g. the outside $4,000 or $4,000
TO the yearly budget Lastly, il recon-
menJs all mentally normal sick chill
drcn Eow on Randall's Island be taken
of and awag from association with the
mentally defective. These number
shout 1910.
Waverly a Contrast.
The Mayors party reached Waverly
carly Yesterday morning in Mrs. Will
am X. NandcrbilHs private car and
was conveyed eight miles by automobile
to the institution which cares for 1880
ratients Of Massachusetts,. The school
IS run on the same basis, per capita, as
the New York hospital, but the re
suits achieved by the two are not com
parable. considering both were cstab-
liShed at the same time.
At Wayeriy the twenty-five tulld-
ings cover 200 acres D land and nod
ern construction ie blended 0itr the
hest methods OF artificial ventilation
Light recreation corridors are pro-
yidcd with books, lCwcrs and vic
trola. Milk is supplied from state
farm and vegetables are raised IN the
institutions garden.
The Mayor and his party bad
meal prepared by the inmates Of the
place and consisting mostly o. home
products. Besides Mayor .li-chel,
Controller Prendercast and Commits
s.oner KnGsbury, the guests If the
Committee on Provision for the
Predetermined, the party included Dr.
Charles l. Dana, chairman; Professor
stephen p Duggar, Of the City Col
lege; DR.. Thomas ". Salmon, director
Of the National Committee for Mental
Hygiene; DR.. VI. l.. Russell, superin-
tendent # the Bloomingdale Asylum;
Justice Franklin c. Hoyt, of the Chill
dren's Court; Franklin Kirkbride, Pro
lessor Robert s. Woodworth, OF Co
lumbia University; Mrs Charles Dana
Gibson. Miss Eleanor Hope Johnson
Deputy Commissioner Wright, oil the
Charities Department: DR.. Walter
Fcrnald. euperinten dert of tho Wa
verify Institution. and Leo Arnstein,
representnC President McAnenv Of the
Board Of Aldermen.