Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-05-07

situations under the State Board Of
Control for the Biennial Period ending
July 81, 1914
To feed, clothe, minister to in case
spect the 10000 or more wards which
ing the next biennial period, the state
board of control figures will cost nearly
$4,O00,0O0. Estimates covering this fig
ure have been submitted to the legisla
ture and are now being considered by
the two lawmaking bodies.
The term used in speaking of this
particular line of expense is support,
and it takes in everything pertaining
to the care Of the states unfortunate
with the exception Of the erection OF
new buildings, additions to the same,
improvements and equipment. These
are listed under another head and pro-
vided for in other estimates which
have likewise been submitted to the
legislature.
The problem of estimating the cost
Of support and maintenance "f more
than $4,000 persons Tor the next two
years, housed in sixteen different insti-
tutions scattered over the state, might
well appall the average individual and
invite from him the question if it was
not largely guesswork. How the cost
of food, clothing and labor year
hence could be figured on the basis Of
today's prices would suggest a prob
lem. But it is done every two years
with a degree Of accuracy that is re-
markable, and that in the face Of a
growing institutional population and a
constant change in food prices and die
tary.
As an example, 100000 will be re-
CURED during the next two years for
the support of the incurable insane at
the Anoka asylum. This covers cloth
ing, food, supplies, salaries and wages
and the hundred and one things neces-
sary for the comfort of the inmates
and the maintenance of the institution.
1t shows an increase Of $4,000 for the
period and this covers the increase in
population and any raise in the cost
Of food supplies which at the present
time is close to war time figures. The
average present population is 1877 and
according to the books of the institu-
ton the per capita cost of support is
$1O6.69. The employees number IS. In
FIVE years the population of this insti-
tuition has increased nearly 800 and it
is safe guess that an addition of 100
will be listed before the next two-year
period has passed into history.
Minnesota feeds its wards differently
now than it did ten or fifteen years
ago. Then the purchase Of food was
On the basis of catering to demand
that had to be supplied. Eating was a
bodily function that could not be ig-
nored and was disposed of to the ex-
tent Of seeing that no one went hun
CRY. A satisfying amount Of food and
drink is just as much the rule now as it
was then, but the dietary is different
and it costs more. It is not simply a
case of satisfying, but rather of build
ing up the patient. No two institu-
tons are fed alike and in many of
them there is a different diet for each
grade Of patients. The first cost may
be greater, but in the end those in
charge consider the state the gamer.
If there is any chance for the recovery
Of the patient, especially in the hospi-
tails for the insane, good food, properly
cooked and served, and not drugs, will
bring about the desired cure
For the Hastings asylum 100000
will be necessary for support during
the next two years. This institution
the first Of the year had 759 patients
and 80 employees. The cost per capita
last year was $140.84. The Hastings
asylum perhaps offers one of the best
examples Of the increased cost of liv-
ing. From $121.55 per person in 1910.
it has jumped to the figure named
above and the Indications are that it
will go higher.
For the Fergus Falls, Rochester and
St. Peter hospitals $535,OOO, $3.50 900
and s475, 900, respectively, are request
ed. In the case Of the Fergus Falls in
stitution the amount recommended is
an increase of $500 for the period,
and in the case Of the Rochester hos
putal, $4,000. The: population of the
Fergus Falls hospital the first of the
year was 1888 inmates and $50 en-
ployes. The registrations at the Ro-
chester Institution were 1888 patients
and POS employees. The cost per capita
IN each case was $17346 and $2O8.98.
Showing the increased cost Of living
in 1910 these same institutions only
cost the state $145.77 and $l66.69, re-
spectively, per head.
The three institutions located at
Faribault are the school for the blind,
school for the deaf and the school for
the feeble minded. For the first, &c.,
900 is requested for the support; for
the second, $4,000, and for the school
for the feeble minded, $495,0O. The lat
ter has a population of 1913 inmates
and 24O employees and the list is grow
ing. The school for the blind has 80
pupils and "A employees. The school
for the deaf has 255 pupils and IS en-
ployes. The cost per capita for the
three in 1914 was, blind, $416.64; deaf,
$4,000; and feeble minded, $1s3.3o.
In the case of the latter the cost per
capita is less than it was five years
ago. Then the figure was $1S7.94.
The sum Of $4,000 will be neces-
sary for the conduct Of the state public
school at Owatonna for the next two
years. While the school population is
only 308 children and 81 employees
those in charge have under their care
and Supervision over: 300 dependent