Concerning the expenditure of many of these appropriations, there is no occasion to make any remark. Some of them deserve special mention at our hands. The changes in the heating-apparatus at Elgin are well conceived, well executed, and in every respect satisfactory, to the best of our knowledge and belief. The trustees say of the front fence and gate ways: Two years ago we asked for an appropriation of three thousand dollars for a front fence and gateways. The cost of the work was closely estimated, and that amount was thought to be very moderate, considering the length of the line and the character of the fence which should border the fore-ground of such an institution. In improving the grounds, we built a substantial and handsome gateway at the north end. Commencing at that point we have erected an iron fence extending south beyond the culvert. This work has been done in the manner contemplated when we made our original estimate, at which time we intended to construct the entire fence in like manner. For the portion already completed, we bought the iron and piping in Chicago, at very low prices. The engineer and his assistants have cut, made and fitted the same, when not otherwise engaged, thus reducing the expense to a very low figure, considering what would have been the cost of cons suction, had we purchased it outright. The legislature gave us only one thousand five hundred dollars. With this small sum at command, we have endeavored to comply with the law, keeping within the amount appropriated, and have a trifle over five hundred dollars unexpended, with which to complete the remainder of the work. Without a further appropriation, the portion of the fence left unfinished will have to be constructed in a cheaper manner, not at all in keeping with the grounds of the institution or its general surroundings. It is true the state will have a fence, but we beg leave to submit that such a fence would be little more than a blemish upon the landscape, and would sadly mar the beauty of the grounds. We ask that the legislature reconsider this subject and give us an additional one thousand five hundred dollars to make up the amount of our original estimate, (very low for the quantity of work given the state), so that we may complete the work in harmony with the portion already constructed. We do hope the legislature will favorably consider this matter, which we feel sure they would do, could they but see for themselves the situation and what has been done. In the last (seventh biennial) report of this hospital, an estimate was printed (page 69), which was submitted by Harding, Barbee & Co., in which the cost of four hundred and eighty feet of iron fence, including four large stone posts, drive-gate, entrance-gate, blindgate and lamps for the top of posts, together with two hundred feet of fence at south end, to be of lighter construction and made of a combination of wood and iron, including one gateway, was said to be three thousand and forty-eight dollars, for which sum the firm named offered to do the entire work. We declined to endorse the application. The legislature made an appropriation of one thousand five hundred dollars, for two hundred and thirty rods of fence at Elgin, but it appropriated only five hundred dollars for two hundred rods of fence at Anna. The law which governs the expenditure of special appropriations provides that "if at any time the sum appropriated by the general assembly for any specific purpose shall be found insufficient to complete and accomplish the purpose for which said appropriation is made, then no part of said sum so appropriated shall be expended or drawn from the state treasury, nor shall any liability on the part of the state be created on account of said appropriation." It is difficult to see how the action of the officers of the hospital can be regarded otherwise than as an evasion, if not a violation of the law, and as such it does not receive our approyal. When an institution asks for an appropriation of three thousand dollars for a specific purpose, and submits an estimate in detail, showing that three thousand dollars will be required to accomplish the purpose in view, and the legislature makes an appropriation of one thousand five hundred dollars, for the same purpose, this action on the part of the legislature can only be construed as an implied direction to modify the proposed plan, so as to cheapen the cost of construction. But the trustees say that "the work has been done in the manner contemplated when we made our original estimate." If, as they say, the original estimate was "very moderate, considering the length of the line and the character of the fence," then an appropriation of one-half the amount asked by the institution was, (if that plan was to be adhered to, in spite of the failure on the part of the legislature to approve it), "insufficient to accomplish" its erection "in the manner contemplated;" and it was the duty of the trustees either to change the plan or to let the appropriation lie in the state treasury untouched. The course pursued puts the General Assembly in the dilemma of either accepting the situation made for it or refusing to do what it desired and intended to do, namely, to secure the erection of a suitable fence along the entire front line of the hospital grounds. We must add that a handsome stone gateway, of which the trustees make no mention in their report, has been erected at the south entrance to the grounds, and that it is unpaid for. The amount appropriated for the use of the Kankakee hospital for the insane was so large that it seems to call for a somewhat fuller account of the expenditure of this money than is given in the report of the institution, where the items are all named in the "itemized statement," but the separate funds are consolidated, so that the disposition of each in detail cannot be ascertained. The fund for additional stock and farm implements was spent as follows: The language of the appropriation, "additional stock and farm implements," is so definite and precise in its signification, that we cannot conceive of any construction of it which will warrant spending money from this fund for building and building materials, much less for books. Such use of it we regard as a misappropriation. The following is the expenditure on account of the fund for additional boiler and pump for water-works: * The balance, $1,143.68, with $400 for lagging, was paid from building fund. With the $450.40 spent from the fund for fire-hydrants and hose were bought 127 pieces of three-inch water-pipe. At the close of the fiscal year 1884, fifteen months after the taking effect of the appropriation, nothing had been done with the appropriation for filter-bed and basins. This appropriation was made in accordance with plans and estimates submitted to the last General Assembly by the architect, which have since been abandoned, and another plan adopted. A filtering-gallery, about seven feet in height and five feet in width, is in process of construction, about fifty feet from the edge of the water, the top of which is below the lowest water-mark in the river. The rock being seamy, the water from the river drains through it and will, in the opinion of the architect, fill the gallery, when completed, with clear water, sufficiently soft for use. The following is the use made of the refrigerating-house appropriation: The land bought was a tract of 160 acres, more or less, described as the east half of the west half of section sixteen (16), in township thirty (30), north, in range thirteen (13) west of the second principal meridian. It lies south of the hospital, but does not join the tract originally purchased for the use of the institution. In addition to the furniture purchased with the fund for that special purpose, about four thousand dollars was expended for furniture, from the building fund. The following are the items of expenditure of the building fund, for construction only: At the Jacksonville hospital for the insane, the work of renewing the heating surfaces by the substitution of Gold radiators of the Utica pattern, for the pipe-coils formerly in use, has now been completed. The steam fire-pump purchased is a Worthington "F," with sixteen-inch cylinders and ten-inch stroke. The principal work done during the past year has, however, been the partial completion of the detached building, for three hundred additional patients. The plans were approved by us, after the submission of an estimate showing that the entire work could be accomplished for the amount of the appropriation. They are, in substance, identical with those for the extension of the Connecticut hospital, at Middletown: two large, common dining-rooms, separated by a hall, in the lower story of the centre building; on the second floor, a sewing-room, and rooms for the officers in charge; on the third floor, rooms for employees. The wings, which are also three stories in height, have central corridors, with eight single dormitories, and four associated dormitories, in each ward; each ward has a clothes-room, bath-room and watercloset. The wings are connected with the centre building by twostory passages, with a reception room on one side. In the rear is the kitchen, and behind it the boiler-house and smoke-stack. The effect is very good, aud has been secured at a very moderate cost. The appropriation, which was at the rate of four hundred dollars a bed, will probably be more than sufficient to accomplish its purpose. The appropriations for the hospital at Anna have been judiciously used. A full account of the disposition made of them is contained in the report of the trustees. The filter appears to us small, for the capacity of the institution. The extension of the north wing is a great improvement. The new fence does not impress us favorably; it is too cheap and light. This institution is satisfied with improvements which are not what we would like to see them, in respect of durability and excellence. We see no reason for discrimination against it, as compared with the other insane hospitals of the State. With regard to the other institutions, there seems to be little which calls for special notice from us. The erection of a new building at the state reform school affords some relief to the overcrowded condition of the inmates, but it is not adequate to the demand. This building accommodates sixty pupils, and is complete in itself, having a separate kitchen and dining-room, as well as school-room, play-room and dormitories. It is in the form of a Greek cross. The trustees say of it: The building is almost equivalent to a separate institution, as the boys living there only mix with others in workshops during working hours. The boys attend school, sleep and eat, and all the cooking for the sixty boys is done, in this building. We were very crowded for room, and this additional structure was a great relief, though not to the extent really required. If there was any possible way of reaching the point where we could abolish our double story beds in every dormitory in main building, as we have done in our family buildings, using single beds everywhere, it would greatly add to the comfort and the sanitary condition of the institution. LIST OF SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS ASKED. Thr following is a complete list of the special appropriations asked of the General Assembly, at its present session, by the institutions under our care: By the Northern Hospital for the Insane. 1. For repairs and "contingent fund," $5000 per annum $10,000 00 2. For improvement of grounds, $1,000 per annum.. 3. For electric lighting.. 4. For front fence (in addition to former appropriation) 5. For artificial lake or reservoir By the Eastern Hospital for the Insane. 9. For repairs and improvements, $15,000 per annum.. per annum..... 2,000 00 10,509 00 1,500 00 5,000 00 4.289 53 17.968 59 150,000 00 $201,258 03 30,000 00 4,000 00 4,000 00 12. For fixtures for kitchen, laundry and shops, pipecovering and furniture for south wing and other new buildings, bath-house and morgue. 4,000 00 13. For library, musical instruments and pictures for wards, and for patients' carriage. 3.500 00 13. For construction of fourth section of main building. 80.000 00 19. For north wing of employees' quarters 27,000 00 |