The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-15
HOSPITAL FOR
 INSANE NEEDED
 IN TERRITORY
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 contract system, rather than for the management of the institution of the Government in whose control rests the care of this unfortunate class. Morningside Sanitarium Is inspected frequently by inspectors of the de- partment and the Governor of Alas ka. These visits are not horalded, nor are they made at stated per iods. and care is taken to see the institution in its everyday dress, so to speak. The patients are wis tied and talked with privately, the buildings and grounds examined, and foods inspected and in short thor ough examinations are conducted. The Goyeruor of Alaska visited the Morningside Sanitarium in March last and found conditions improved in many respects: the patients seem ed to be comfortably. cared for, and such complaints as were made seem ed to be lacking in merit. However. have again to urge that Congress make the necessary appropriation for the erection and maintenance of suitable buildings in Alaska for the care of it's insane
 A considerable number of the in- sane O committed 10 Morningside are not permanent residents of the Ter ritory. This percentage includes a number of men who are brought to Alaska during the fishing season and who have become insane and are tried in Alaska courts and transports ed 10 Morningside. For instance, during the present summer seven insane persons were sent to the SanitaTium from Western Alaska, all of whom were employees of fishery concerns and established in the Ter ritory for a few weeks. or these committed, two were Japanese, one Mexican, one Filipino, one Swede, one Scotchman, and one English man.
 The number of Alaska insane un- der treatment on June 30, 1916, was 1SS. of which 165 were males and % females. as compared with 156 males and 24 females on the same date in the previous year There were 9 patients received during the quarter. were discharged as cured, 6 died. and 8 escaped.
 Detention Hospitals
 There are two detention hospitals for the temporary care of insane in Alaska These are located at Fair. banks and Nome having been erect ed and equipped in 1915 The hos pital at Fairbanks only has been put to practical use. The Nome hospital, as far as this office has been advised. has never been used, because of a lack of funds for the maintenance of patients. It has been, therefore, a source of expense. not withstanding the fact that 1t has not fulfilled the purpose for which it was intended. as it requires the services of a caretaker whether oc- cupied or not If funds for the proper maintenance of these hos pitals can not be secured, they should be closed permanently. Il have again to recommend that such appropriation be made, inasmuch as AAAkoE AhoRAkAAo NOMAQ o@A NG a uoEANA purpose if they were available for patients suffering from temporary mental oberation only, and who would probably recover within short time and be discharged. They are also necessary for the custody of those persons who may be declared insane and committed to the con- tract hospital at Portland during the closed season of navigation at Nome and Fairbanks. These patients oth- erwise must be confined in the Fed eral jail pending their transpOrta- tion to the saritarium.
 Commission of Crime
 Becausei of A.aska's vast area anG i the great distance between settle | ments. serious problems are ever ar ising that tax the resources of those to whom is entrusted the duty of 1 law and order and se- curing their just and equitable exc cution. Serious crimes are commit ! ted. and it not infreqently happens l that the offenders go unwhipped | of justice> During the past few years there have been number of murders, usually in remote places; travellers on unfreQuented trails in the interior fastness and along the have mysteriously dis appeared. never again to be seen or heard Of In Southeastern Alaska here have been a number of these and on the trails eading from the coast to the Inter- or there have been number of apparently premeditated murders, md in but two instances have ar 'ests been made and in no instance las a conviction been secured due 70 lack of evidence.
 This condition led a grand jury. iitting at Ruby, in the Fourth Judic- al Division. in July of this year, sitting at Ruby. to make the follow ng presentment to the court:
 It has been brought to our atten- ion at various times (events arising II outlying districts, over which of- icial jurisdiction is in doubt, and or which there is no provision made by law and no money provid- d to defray expenses of looking in- o) that men have been reported as tick, injured, destitute; and persons ave been found dead. death being