Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-26

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500 pounds of butter; 169,578 dozens
of eggs; and 94,926 bushels of pota-
toes. These applied business methods
coupled with economical institutional
management, and their increased ac-
tivities with the attendant results, in
our institutional agricultural, horti-
cultural, dairy and piggery depart
ments, combining its helpful benefits
to the patients, has made possible this
reduced per capita cost.
On July 23rd a State officer, in a
public statement, was accredited with
saying that the discounts on purchases
for the State, for the last year all told,
were only $632.94. We believe it but
just that we direct your attention to
the fact that this statement was not
in keeping with the facts, for during
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1916,
the books of this Board show that
! discounts were taken on purchases
made for the public institutions, un-
der its supervision, amounting to S.
| 6O7.95. The records of this Board al
so show that in round figures the dis
counts taken on purchases during the
| last five years have amounted to ap-
proximately $4,000. Previous to the
time the public institutions of the
State were turned over to the Board
of Administration, no record of any
cash discounts are in evidence.
Reverting to the helpful benefits pa
tients derive from the various activi-
ties at the several institutions, the
following excerpt from the report of
one of the superintendents is interest
ing:
"We have earnestly tried to keep
as many Of our patients employed as
possible. The value of this cannot be
overestimated as therapeutic
agent"
1t is well known fact that the en-
ployment of the chronic insane ma
terially retards dementia and it is al
so claimed, by those in position to
know, that employment of acute cases
properly selected, promotes recovery.
The benevolent, correctional and
penal institutions of Ohio now, and
with the plans already under way for
their augmentation, are unsurpassed
in their equipment and efficiency of
management. 1t is surprisingly sad
commentary how utterly uniformed
is our citizenship, as to the number
Of institutions, their location and the
work being done. 1t is possible that
this seeming disinterestedness or lack
of information is the result largely of
the fact that practically all of the
money provided for the maintenance
of these institutions comes from in
direct, rather than direct taxation?
And in consequence the citizen does
not have the vital interest he would
have were he paying his per capita
cost by direct taxation?
In view of this apparent indiffer-
ence, or lack of information, on the
part of the citizens of this State, it
has been deemed proper and wise by
| this Board that it take advantage of
this opportunity to briefly summarize,
/ by paragraphs, the various institu-
tions, their work, object and purposes.
giving such concrete data as will place
before every citizen of this State, in
formation, that, he as a stockholder,
in this sulendid commonwealth, should
be familiar with.
Addressing our report in the main
\ to that cardinal purpose, induces US to
preface such summariZation with the
information that there are twenty
! benevolent and penal institutions in
Ohio under the direct control and
management of this Board. While as
stated above, Lima and Marysville are
not included in the comparison, yet
their purposes and activities are
given in this list, as are also the New
Prison Farm and the State Brick
Plant. On these two latter industries
by reason of the fact that their ac-
tivities will quite likely have to do
with legislation, which the next Gener-
al Assembly will consider, it has been
thought best to extend the work done
thereat and the products produced
therefrom to December 1st. Enumer-
ated and classified as to their various
activities and purposes, they follow:
The Athens State Hospital
was created by an Act of the General
Assembly passed April 13, 1867. 1t
was opened for the reception of pa
tients January 8, 1874. The institu-
tion is located on a high plateau of
land about one mile distant from the
City of Athens. The site is conceded
to be the most picturesque and beau
, tiful of any of the state institutions.
The premises consist of 965.46 acres
valued at $88,050.50. Approximately
Il 200 acres are used for farming and
gardening, $50 acres for pasturage,
$50 acres in woodland and the remain
der is devoted to the lawns about the
buildings. The present valuation OF
the buildings is 81 1,232, ,766.S8, and the
original building, like most of thl
older hospitals for the insane, is bull,
on the klrkbride plan. Six cottages
have been added. The daily average
| population for this fiscal year was l.
4Ul, which is an increase Of three over
the last Annual Report. The total
number of officers and employees is
one hundred and sixty nine, 78 mer
and 81 women; the proportion of in
mates to officers and employees being
8.3 A dairy herd of 92 cows is main
| tanned, and the valuation of the dairy
products during the year was $14,-
422.65, consisting of 1854 pounds OF
butter and 627,377 pounds of milk
The total value of farm and garden
products, ,305.23, which consisted
of fruits and vegetables valued at $4,.
1860; forage, $5,701.03; poultry anC
eggs, $56413; slaughtered products
$18, ,49O00; and milk and butter, $14,
422.65. Included in this production
were 123,524 pounds of fresh and sal
meats; 2641a bushels of sweet pota
toes; 1,O01 bushels Of tomatoes; 81
barrels of kraut; 139 bushels of tur
nips; 301a bushels of peas; 333 bush
els of green beans and 1865 dozens o
| green corn. There were also produc
ed ,453 bushels of oats and 155 bush
els of corn. To carry on this opera
ton required Is horses and 6 mules.
The Cleveland State Hospital
located at Newburg, about five mile
southeast of the public square, Cleve
land, Ohio, was opened for the recep
tion of patients on the 5th of March
1855. The institution owns 1913
acres of land, valued at $183, 3,967.2
and buildings valued at $1,159,885OC
The total value of all property is 81,
474 4,218.98. The average daily mum
ber of patients cared for during tn