Report of Committee on Idiots and Feeble-Minded. To the State Board of Charities: The State institutions for idiotic and feeble-minded have been visited during the past year by the members of this committee. Each has been carefully inspected, and the conditions touching its conduct, the health of its inmates, methods of instruction and discipline have been duly considered. The following are the institutions so visited: 1. The Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children at Syracuse, established in 1851. 2. The State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women at Newark, established in 1885. 3. The Rome State Custodial Asylum at Rome, established in 1893. THE SYRACUSE STATE INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN. Dr. JAMES C. CARSON, Superintendent. This institution was officially visited and inspected September 15, 1898, by Commissioners Walrath, McCarthy and Putnam of your committee. On the day of inspection there were 537 inmates, of whom 264 were males, 273 females. This total is 36 in excess of the number of inmates on the date of visitation the previous year. The average age is about 17 years. In connection with this institution is what is known as the farm house, where about 18 of the larger boys reside. The building so designated was moved upon its present site about thirtyfive years ago, and has been continuously occupied as at present for thirty-four years. The sills are found to be in a bad state of decay and must soon be replaced. The house has been heated by stoves and lacks There is no cellar under the building. plumbing facilities. Excavation must be done to place the sills. The house should be refitted and modernized. We recommend an appropriation of $2,500 to be expended in raising the house about two feet, placing new sills, furnishing new floors, bath, wash-room and water-closet conveniences. We also recommend an appropriation of $1,150 to construct an underground conduit for steam and other pipes, and necessary alterations and changes of the pipes between the main building and superintendent's residence. This should be done to facilitate work in case of leaks or breaks. For maintenance we recom mend an appropriation of $81,000. There have been no additions to buildings at this institution, nor have any new buildings been erected during the past year. THE STATE CUSTODIAL ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE-MINDED WOMEN, NEWARK, N. Y. This institution was officially visited and inspected September 14, 1898, by Commissioners Walrath, McCarthy and Putnam of this committee. On the date of inspection there were 406 inmates. This is an excess of 7 over the average number during the previous year. This indicates a rather crowded condition, as the capacity of the institution is estimated at 400. The proposed new dormitory building, for which an appropriation was made by the Legislature of 1898, has not been built, owing to failure on the part of the board of managers to agree among themselves or with the State Board of Charities on a suitable location for the building. The committee recommends for appropriations as follows: For maintenance and ordinary repairs, $50,000; for completion of power-house, dynamo and electrical apparatus and water supply; building of conduit, piping of same for steam, water and lights; purchase of land for track to power-house, boilers, engines and appliances for use; shafting, pulleys, pumps and necessary furnishings; building of track; wiring building for electric lights and for fixtures used for same, $45,000; for incidentals, improving grounds, extraordinary repairs and for walks, $5,000; for one new cottage dormitory building, $25,000. All the buildings were found to be scrupulously neat and clean. The grounds were cared for and presented a beautiful lawn dotted here and there with flower beds, trees and shrubs; and beyond was a vegetable garden in which many of the inmates. were happily employed. ROME STATE CUSTODIAL ASYLUM. This institution was visited and inspected by Commissioners Walrath, McCarthy and Putnam, of this committee, on September 15, 1898. On this date there were present in the institution as dependent inmates 216 men and 128 women, a total of 344. During the past year the kitchen building has been completed. The administration building and one new dormitory building are now under way. Appropriations for these buildings were made by the legislative sessions of 1897 and 1898. The legislature, by chapter 426, Laws of 1898, appropriated for electric lighting, plumbing, heating and completion of administration building, $7,000; for plumbing, lighting and completing kitchen building, $8,000. We recommend the following appropriations for this institu tion: For one dormitory building to house 105 inmates, $26,000; for completing connecting corridor, electric-wiring and cable, $100; electric fixtures, $35; warming and ventilating, $765; completing dormitory building, electric-wiring and cable, $1,400; electric fixtures, $165; warming and ventilating, $6,200; plumbing and drainage, $7,000; one 125 horsepower boiler with fittings, foundation and connections, $3,000; covering steam pipes, hot water pipes, hot water generators and steam tank, $1,500; furniture, $3,000; farm stock and utensils, $1,500; grading and improving grounds, $2,500; fencing, $2,000; filter and extending water system, $4,000; machinery, $1,000; fire alarm system and extending telephone system, $700; railroad switch, $10,000; maintenance, $75,000; making the special appropriations approved of, $70,865, and the total appropriation, $145,865. The board of managers has asked this Board to approve of items aggregating many thousand dollars to be used in completing work for which money was appropriated by the last session of the legislature with like object. Your committee does not feel justified in recommending these sums for the reason that the work should have been completed out of the appropriation obtained, or the work should not have been undertaken by the managers until such time as the legislature might deem it wise to make larger appropriations. This committee calls attention to the fact that the buildings now in the State for the use of this class are wholly inadequate to furnish accommodations required. A careful census shows that there are now over 800 inmates of this class in the several almshouses of the State; there are also several hundred living on the farms and in the cities and villages of the State. They are a menace to society and ample provision should be made to properly care for them. A number of the inmates both at the asylum at Newark and the school at Syracuse should be transferred to the institution at Rome, and that institution or another new institution for a like class of inmates should be rapidly developed to meet the demands. We recommend that an additional force of attendants be employed at Rome, allowing one attendant for every twelve inmates. This would allow more freedom in out of door exercise and in many ways improve the condition of the inmates. Respectfully submitted, PETER WALRATH, Chairman. |