Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-01
IMPROVEMENTS At
STATE HOSPITAL
Recommendations Contained in
Trustees Report for Past
Two Years.

improvements to existing buildings and
plant estimated TO cost S32l ,4So are
recommended by the board of trustees in
the sixteenth biennial report Of the Della
ware State Hospital at Farnhurst. Among
the constructive improvements recon-
mcuded are a new power plant building,
eouipment, steam distribution and rail-
road siding, estimated to cost $152, 200;
remodelipg of the heating system, water
supply and ground storage reservoir at An
estimated outlay of $50, sos; a perfected
fire protection system, with adequate
wster supply and ground storage reser-
voir, estimated TO cost $50, 425; a removal
Of structural fire hazards estimated to
cost $3S, US; additions and alterations TO
electrical installations to cost S4, 400 and a
plumbing and sewage disposal plant estl-
mated to cost &l1 900.
In announcing & their program OF improve
ments, the trustees print the CONCLUSIONS
Of Robert p. Schoenijahn, consulting en-
ginecr, Wilmington, setting forth that
extensive alterations to instltutions can
seldom be made in piece-meal manner
He states further that attempts to reotfy
mechanical and structural errors from
time to time are usually unsatisfactory,
because single items appear out of proper
ton for the return expected.
Poin ting out that the present condf-
ton Of the boiler room and heating plant
cannot be expected to render satisfactory
service for any length of time" be says
that the time is nearly at hand when many
Of these Improvements should be under
tsken in a broad, substantial manner.
Furthermore, Mr.. Schoeni jain concludes
that further expenditure of funds to re-
pair or bolster up the present plant would
be money misapplied" Unhealthy oon-
n haa fgrC nd n
tilating, should not louger be permitted to
exist, be urges in his report. He believes
that the buildings should be rehabihtated
because it would cost the state 81 600, 900
10 duplicate them. He also urges adequate
fire fighting equipment and protection,
"a form of insurance" he explains, which
would daily protect the property of the
state as well as the lives of those COM
mitted TO its care" BY proper execution.
If the work and iudicious expenditure OF
1921 ,4S5, he asserts that buildings and
equipment can be brought up to date:
Engineer Schoeniishn goes into detail |
abou. the changes he believes to be neces-
sAry 10 make-buildings and plants safer for
patients and more seryiceable to the
State
In their report TO former governo r
John c. Townsend, the board of trustee s |
incorporates the text OF the engineer |
report, with the observation that exten
sive improvements should be made IN |
buildings and plant to mot only reduc e |
the cost Of operating expenses, but to |
reduce the hazard from fire. Further
more, they state because of outbreaks Of /
fires which were fortunately controlled |
that they feel il to be their duty to submit
n comprehensive plan for improvements.
The trustees further state that 'for sew
Al II el1<-, ho~ ks,ar
priating at each session money for upkeep
and repair. Most of this money has been
expended for plastering poinsing and the
lettering of toilet conditions" but tbs
this piece-work repairing has not over
come the difficulties confronting the
plant
EAfY1oYMESr OF PATIENTS.
Opportunities for patients to be en-
pioyed In winter are also urged by the
board In the opinion of the trustees this
would contribute TO the welfare OF the
patients. The board also sets forth that
the daily average in the number of
patients has not unduly increased during
the time covered by the report During
the past two years S45, ,3S2.05 has been
receIved from the patients. Balance on
hand urexpended from the appropriation
and receipts S reported TO be 81 SOC. 10.
The trustees urge that there should b be
some alteration In the law for the oom-
pensation and mileage paid TO US, as il
does not cover the expenses paid each
individual"
William a Hancker, NJ. D., superin-
tendent. states that total of 761 patients
have been under treatment for the two
wears ending on December 20, 1920.
Deaths during this period numbered l3l,
and two were discharged as not insane,
making the total discharges, 25l.
On December 20, there were 270 males
and 240 females In the institution. The
largest number under treatment st one
time WIS 533 and the average population
WAS 500. There were lS5 admissions from
New Castle county, 81 from Kent and
81 from Sussex. No epiden1ics OF any kind
menaced the inmates during the two years
There was only one suicide, 8 woman, who
strangled herself with strip Of sheeting.
This Is the fourth suicide In the institu-
ton since 1889. DR.. Hancker reports that
81 do not think any similar institution can