We do not know why the authorities of the institution, in view of the language of the law, which requires them to "make out and transmit a full and detailed statement of all their transactions and and doings for two years," have omitted to refer in any manner to so important an event in the history of the institution as the acceptance by them of the proposal of the Edison Company. The results have been in every respect satisfactory, and the trustees are to be commended for their action. The financial statement submitted with their report shows that the expenditure for gas in 1883 was $2.226.14; but in 1884 it was $1,088.67, which, added to $1,200 rental for the electric light plant, made the total cost of lighting (not including the cost of power to operate the dynamo) $2,288.67. In one more year, at this rate, the plant will have paid for itself. The expenditure for fuel, on the other hand, has been, in 1883, $7,101.67, but in 1834 it was $7,751.80. Assuming that the increase in cost is chargeable to the introduction of the new light, the cost of the electric light (excluding the rental, which will not be a permanent charge) is represented by $650, while the saving in gas effected by its introduction is nearly $1,150, leaving a balance in favor of the electric light of five hundred dollars. If it could be shown that, owing to some error or omission in the figures just given (such as the cost of hauling coal, the care of the apparatus, the cost of labor in operating it, the expense for renewals, or the pains taken to economize in light, for the purpose of making a favorable showing), this balance is more apparent than real, we still believe that the electric light, at the same price, is in nearly every respect preferable to gas, and that the change is one which it was expedient to make, under the circumstances. We are always willing to sanction, approve and defend improvements made, in the discretion of the trustees of an institution, at the expense of the ordinary fund for maintenance, when they result in a permanent diminution of the ordinary expenses, as appears to be the case in this instance. Our observation and inquiries lead us to believe that the electric light is probably as cheap as gas, and cheaper, if the illuminating power of the two is considered; that it is more agreeable to the eyes; that it is safer; that it is more convenient; that it is more completely under the control of the institution; and that it possesses great advantages in a sanitary point of view, since it consumes no oxygen, burning, as it does, in a vacuum, in a hermetically sealed glass bulb; besides, it emits no heat and no odor. These are certainly great advantages. We refer, of course, to the incandescent. light, and not to the arc light, which is incapable of the same degree of subdivision, and is therefore better adapted to out-door use, or for rooms of great size; but it is liable to flicker, as every one must have observed, while the incandescent light is absolutely steady. There is no motion, as in the ordinary gas flame. The medical superintendent of the hospital for the insane at Elgin, Dr. Kilbourne, says very truly: "The incandescent light is specially adapted to the needs of the hospital. It is steady and mellow, and is absolutely free from smoke or other offensive exhalations. While its illuminating power is equal to that of an ordinary gas-jet, it produces only one-fifteenth of the heat evolved by a gas burner of equal power. In the matter of safety, which is a ver important consideration in an institution of this character, n matches are required in its use, and it is out of the power of the patient to use it for any destructive purpose. It is claimed that a common five-foot gas-jet burns eight times as much oxygen as one person breathes; in a public room, where two hundred gas-jets are in use, the consumption of oxygen is equivalent to that by an audience of sixteen hundred people. A gas-jet carelessly left open may seriously injure the health, or cause death by asphyxia; with the incandescent light, there is no possibility of this. A gas-jet burning with an open flame always possesses an element of danger from fire; an incandescent light burns in a vacuum, and goes out instantly in case of accidental contact with the air." We are not equally well satisfied of the soundness of the calculation by which he seeks to show that the cheapness of the electric light, compared with gas, is as 7 to 12; the saving effected by the change, if made, will not, we think, equal his sanguine expectations. The trustees of the Elgin hospital say: "Within the past two years the record shows the deliberate suicide of a female patient at the Central Hospital, at Jacksonville, through the facilities offered by a gas-jet, as well as serious injuries to an attendant who endeavored to extinguish the blazing dress of the patient." No mention is made of this accident in the report of the hospital at Jacksonville, and no table of causes of death is given. On the other hand, the trustees of the Central Hospital for the Insane say: "Our investigations have led us to believe that some form of incandescent electric light will furnish to such institutions a light safer and in many other réspects superior to any now in use; but we are not satisfied that such progress has been made in electric engineering, that the safest and most economical method of lighting can now be determined." The introduction of the incandesent light at Anna is especially desirable, in view of the fact that that Hospital is lighted by atmospheric air impregnated with gasoline, and not by genuine gas-a mode of lighting somewhat cheaper, it is true, but on many accounts very objectionable in any public institution. The Edison Company have furnished estimates for lighting the hospitals at Anna and at Elgin, which will be found in detail in their reports. They substantially agree, except that at Elgin they propose to put in two dynamos, one of 100-light capacity, and the other of 400-light; but at Anna, one dynamo, with a capacity of 500 lights; and at Anna they will furnish 750 lamps, but at Elgin only 568. The proposal includes dynamos, an automatic regulator, a volt-box, an Ampère indicator, attachments and fixtures, and switches; also, at Anna, suitable shades and shade-holders, of which no mention is made in the proposal for Elgin. Electroliers are probably included under the head of fixtures; the proposals are in this respect somewhat vague. The price named at Elgin is $10,500, but at Anna, $11,837.98. They further offer to furnish an extra 100-light dynamo at Anna, for night service, for $1,500, and to set-up and attach a 6x8 inch Armington & Sims automatic cutoff, high-speed engine, to drive the 100-light dynamo, for $900. The question is now fairly before the legislature for decision, whether these institutions shall continue to use gas or be permitted to make the desired improvement in lighting. We have no doubt of its desirability, but of course it is not a necessity. At Elgin, the expiration of the contract with the gas company compelled the trustees to meet the question at once. If, as we understand to be the case, the Edison Company will put in its plant and allow an institution to pay for it in instalments, in the form of an agreed rental, as was done by the institution for the education of the deaf and dumb, the improvement can be made without any direct appropriation from the State treasury, though it is probable that the cost in the end will be greater. But on the other hand, the institution, on a five years' lease of the aparatus, would, at the expiration of that time, be in a position to take advantage of any later improvement which may be developed by the ingenuity of inventors in this field. The application for the electric light at Kankakee is of a different character. That hospital has gas-works of its own, which, until the recent enlargement of the institution, have been of capacity sufficient to meet the demand upon them. Now, it is believed that either these works must be enlarged, or resort must be had to other means of lighting. The introduction of the incandesent light at this time is not proposed, but the hospital asks for an appropriation of $7,500 for the introduction of the arc light, which can be used to advantage upon the grounds, and in large rooms with high ceilings, like the amusement hall and the general dining-room. We favor the granting of this request, especially in view of the increased security of the detatched wards at night, and the diminished facilities for disorder or immorality, which would result, if the grounds were thoroughly illuminated. Side-Tracks. The amount asked, this year, for side-tracks, is: Northern Hospital for the Insane... Central Hospital for the Insane.. $17,968 50 9.000 00 6,000 00 $32,968 50 The argument for these side-tracks is, of course, that they will save expense in hauling. The northern insane hospital claims that the cost of hauling fuel alone is $1,300 or $1,400 every year. The central hospital makes a calculation, tending to show that it will, when the new building is completed, have to haul annually, about 2,200 wagon-loads of coal. (But the amount paid out for hauling, during the last two years, was only $167. The hospital does its own hauling with its own teams.) The institution for the deaf and dumb gives no figures, but the cost of hauling is stated in its financial report, for two years past, at $327.65. Admitting, to the fullest extent, all that is said by the superintendents and trustees of these institutions, we are not able to see that the State of Illinois would be materially benefited by the construction of side-tracks for their convenience. The interest on $33,000, at six per cent., is about two thousand dollars. All that would be saved would be the margin above this figure; what that margin would be is not clear to our minds. Neither are the proposals, except at Elgin, in such form as to constitute a satisfactory basis for legislative action. There is nothing, in fact, to show that any formal proposal has been made by the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific road. The engineer of the Chicago & Alton road estimates the cost of doing the work at $7,871.08, and the company offers to switch free to Hardin avenue, (but would not fuel have still to be hauled from that point?) or to deliver coal at the coal-house for a charge of one dollar a car (which would rapidly diminish the assumed balance of profit in switching over hauling). But there is nothing to show that permission can be obtained from the city to run an engine through Michi gan avenue; nor is there any assurance that right-of-way can be obtained for the institution for the deaf and dumb to the line of the Wabash road. All that the legislature has before it is the estimate of the engineer of the road that the improvement could be made for $6,098.75. These estimates are two years old, and that for the Elgin switch is four years old. No later information is given on the question of the present state of mind of the companies interested. It is difficult to believe that applications for appropriations, made in this crude way, are serious. They are open to the further objection that they would, if granted, virtually give to one road, in each of the three places named, the monopoly of furnishing freighting facilities to the institution to which it has a switch. We do not give to either of these appropriations the endorsement of our approval. The remainder of these requests may be treated in order, as follows: Northern Insane Hospital. Our views with respect to the additional appropriation of $500 asked for a front fence at Elgin have been sufficiently indicated above on page 46. It is a small matter, perhaps, but the granting of this request might be taken as a precedent and cause future embarrassments. The artificial lake, for which an appropriation of $5,000 is now requested for the second time, is an improvement partly ornamental in its character, and to some extent useful as a convenient water supply in case of conflagration. We have nothing to add to what was said by us in our last report. The whole question is fully discussed by the trustees and superintendent in the report of of the hospital. On the ground of its being an additional protection against fire, we favor it. We recommend the appropriation of $4,000 for an outside fireline. (It is desirable to get rid of the extra dollars and cents in these appropriations, and make them, as far as practicable, in even sums). Eastern Hospital for the Iusane. The most important and pressing want of the hospital at Kankakee is the completion of the main building, by the addition of a section to the north wing for male patients. The original plan of the institution embraced a close hospital proper, with detached buildings; the hospital proper to consist of a centre and two wings, each wing to include two sections. The two sections for female patients have been constructed and occupied, but only one section on the male side. The necessity for this addition arises from the want of proportion between the number of patients in the detached wards and the number who require the severer form of restraint. It is indispensable to the successful operation of the hospital that this section should be built without any further delay. The amount asked for this purpose seems to be rather high. For the corresponding section of the male wing, an appropriation of $73,000 was made, and prices are lower now than they were then. With the enlargement of the hospital and the increase in the number of inmates, a corresponding increase of officers and employees is inevitable, for whose accommodation additional room is required. The plan adopted at Kankakee for the care of employees is not to scatter them, as is commonly done, but to collect them. together in a single building, where they are under observation and have proper facilities for social intercourse, when not on duty. Next to the completion of the main building, in importance, is the completion of the employees' quarters. If this is not done, they will have to be housed in one of the detached buildings for patients, which will diminish the number of patients who can be admitted. The room for officers will be most economically provided by building a separate residence for the medical superintendent. The centre building is not large, and was not designed to accommodate the entire staff of officers. It cannot be enlarged, and its enlargement would be much more expensive than the appropriation of the small amount needed for the construction of an ordinary dwelling-house. We approve the request for $6,000 for this purpose, and hope that it will be granted without hesitation. There are also great advantages to the discipline of the hospital, which will result from the isolation of the superintendent, who needs the rest and refreshment of body and mind, under the heavy strain of responsibility attaching to him, which would be secured for him by giving him a home for himself and family, apart from the daily life of the institution. It is proposed to erect this dwelling-house on a tract of seventeen acres, joining the hospital grounds on the northwest, and situate between the hospital and the Illinois Central railroad. The public highway runs along the west side of this tract, next to the railroad. The price asked, $3,600, is not unreasonable in view of the location; and the land brought this price at private sale. It was purchased by Mr. Lillie, the contractor who built the hospital, and it is his intention to sell it out in town lots, if the State does not take it. He has agreed, at the solicitation of the trustees, to hold it until the question of its purchase for the use of the institution shall have been determined by the General Assembly, and to let them have it at the price paid by him, with simple interest on |