Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-08-04
Eastern State HOSPITAL
By w. H. COCHRAN.
Member state Board of Control.
Owing to the vast area of the State


of Washington a crying need was
realized very early that hospital for
the insane should be erected in the
eastern part of the state, and thus
save transporting for such long dis
lance this unfortunate class of people.
So in 1886 the legislature passed an
act instructing the governor to APP
point three competent persons, one
to be a practicing physician, and all
to be residents of eastern Washing
ton, who were to be known as asylum
commissioners for Eastern Washing
ton and whose duty it was to select
suitable place in the eastern part of
the state for the LOCATION of a hos
should take into consideration in the
selection of the site, climate, acces-
siblity by railroads, water, fuel and
material for building. The commits
sioners were instructed to meet on
the first Tuesday in March of 1886,
in the town of Medical Lake, Spokane
county. The expense for selecting
the location was limited to $500.
On January 25, 1888, the hospital
was permanently established and
located in the town Of Medical Lake,
and three persons were appointed by
the governor to constitute a board of
trustees for the construction of the
hospital, none of whom were permit
ted to be interested in any contract
connected with it's erection. The cit
iSens of the town of Medical Lake
donated the land upon which the
hospital was to be built and 100000
was appropriated by the legislature
for the erection and construction of
the buildings.
In January 1890. 100000 more
was appropriated. to be spent by the
board of commissioners to complete, |
furnish and equip the buildings then
under construction, and what was to
be known as 1.-THE Eastern Hospital
for the INSANE" and board of three
trustees was named by the governor
to have supervision over the hospital
1t was also decreed by the legislature
that this hospital should receive pa
tients only from the counties east OF
the Cascade range of mountains lex
cept Yakima and Kittitas counties),
unless otherwise ordered by the supe-
rior court judges.
Opened May Q, 1891.
The hospital was opened May 8.
1891, when 20 patients were received
from the Western Washington Hos
pital for the Insane. At that time
the water supply was barely suficfent
to meet the demands of these pa
tients, although both we'll and spring
were being, used. The plant carry
ing Clear Lake water was In process
Of construction, but not until early in
June were they able to use water |
from that source. On July 8, 1891,
the first patient direct from the
courts was received and three more
followed within five days. The trans
fer Of 1O2 patients from Fort Stella |
COON to this institution took place
July Is, 1891, and since that time all
patients from the east side counties
have been sent there.
Much work was done the first two
years. A stable, carriage house and
ice house, and a reservoir capable OF
holding 100000 gallons Of water,
were constructed, temporary airing
court was fenced and set apart, so
that the most vicious patients could
have outdoor exercise.
There was an inexhaustible supply
of pure water at this institution. A
six-inch pipe was laid for over two
miles to Clear lake, leading to the
reservoir. This reservoir is situated
on hill 90 feet high, and water was
forced to every floor in the building.
room with the pumping station at
Clear Lake, and when a signal was
given for fire pressure, force enough
to throw two streams over the cupola
Of the main building, height of 115
feet. was produced. At Clear Lake
station there were two boilers and
two pumps; one pump with a forcing
of $4,000 gallons per hour
and the other $4,000 gallons.
Soon after the completion of the
water works a proposition was re-
ceived from the council of Medical
Lake, asking the institution to sup
ply the town with water. An ar
rangement was made. subject to the
of the legislature. to furnish
water to the people Of Medical Lake,
water to be paid for monthly at the
rate of Is cents per thousand gallons.