Year: 1876

kind. The establishment of this hospital
has been strongly urged by the State Medi-
cal Society, and it has been warmly advoca-
ted by DIR. Curwen of Harrisburg.


An act to provide for the selection of a
site and the erection of State hospital for
the insane for the city and county of Phila-
delphia, and the counties of Bucks, Montgo-
merry, Lchigh, Northampton, Monroe, Della
ware and Chester, to be called the estate
Hospital for the Insane for the Southeastern
District of Pennsylvania and for the man.
agement of the same.


SECTION !. BE 1t enacted That the
Governor shall appoint nine commissioners
to select site and build hospital for the
insane for the Southeastern district of Penn
sylvania, embracing the city and county of
| Philadelphia, and the counties of Bucks,
| Montgomery, Lehigh Northampton, Mon
roe, Delaware and Chester two of said COM
missioners to be chosen from citizens Of the
city and county of Philadelphia, and one
from each Of the other counties embraced
in the district aforesaid, who shall serve
without compensation.


SECTION 2. Said commissioners shall
select within four months of the date of
their appointment a tract of land not less
than than two hundred acres in extent,
within convenient distance from the city of
Philadelphia, and easily accessible from all
the counties embraced in said Southeastern
district


SECTION ,. The tract of land so selected
shall be good arabic land, with an adequate
supply of good water, and large facilities for
said tract Of land so selected shall be ap-
proved by the Governor in writing, and its
cost shall be approved by the Board of Pub
lie Charities in writing before the purchase
money shall be paid, and the deed for the
same shall be taken in the name of the
Commonwealth but nothing herein con-
tanned shall prevent said commissioners from
receiving a deed to the Commonwealth in
fee for any land donated for the purpose
aforesaid.


SECTION f. The said commissioners shall
;dopt such plan for said hospital as shall
involve an expenditure exclusive of the
land not over eight hundred dollars per in
nate when completed and ready for occu-
lancy, and said plan shall be in accordance
with the best design for the construction of
such institution, shall be we'll and securely
built, without expensive architectural adorn-
ments or unduly large or costly administra,
tive accommodations, which would lessen
its ability to receive and care for the suffer
! .I,c- g. ,rI;,I hn-,it,l h.
erected and no changes shall be made in
the same so as to materially affect its gen,
eral character without the consent of the
Governor and the Board of Public Charities


SECTION 5. The said commissioners shall
with the advice and consent of the Cover.
nor and Board of Public Charities, have
power to fix the salary of the superintend
ent of construction and of such other persons
as they may think it necessary to employ
in order to secure the proper and economi
cal construction of the building Proritled
That the total expense of said buildings and
grounds shall not exceed six hundred thous
and dollars.


SECTION 6. TO enable the commissioners
to purchase the land and to make necessary
preparation for the erection of the build
ing provided for, the sum of twenty-five
+ thousand dollars (S25 ,000) is hereby ap-
propriated, to be drawn from the treasury
as the same may be required in the pur.
} chase Of land and erection of building here
inbefore described on warrants signed by
the chairman of the commission and coun.
tersiged by the president or general agent
of the Board of Public Charities.


SECTION Z. Said Commissioners shall
proceed to erect said buildings and complete
the same at as early period as possible com
patable with the economical, substantial and
skillful execution of the work, and shall
make report to the Board of Public Chari
ties of the amaunt of money expended by
them and of the progress made in the cree
ton of the building, semi-annually at least
and oftener if so required by said board.


SECTION. s. The said commissioners up
on the completion of said hospital shall sur
render their trust to a board of managers
to consist of thirteen members, four of whom
shall be appointed by the Governor from
the State at large, two by the councils o.
the city of Philadelphia and one by the
county commissioners of each of the Other
counties embraced in the Southeastern dis
trict herein described. Said managers oil
trustees shall be body polite or cooperate
by the name and style of the Trustees o
the State Hospital for the Insane of th'
Southeastern district of Pennsylvania the.
shall serve without compensation, and shal
manage and direct the concerns of the In
stitution, and make all necessary bylaw
, and regulations not inconsistent with tn


Constitution and laws of the Common


wealth.


: SECTION g. That this hospital shall b.


specially devoted to the reception, care AM


treatment of the insane, and that in the or


der of admission this class shall have pre-
: cedence over paying patients.


SECTION TO- That the several constitu


ted authorities having the care and charg


al