Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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E. H. AULL, EDITOK. Entered at the Postoffice at New laerry, S. C.. as 2nd class matter. Tuesday, February 15, 1910. MTH ASYLUM A ND DE. BABCOCK The legislature at the session of 1909, appointed a special committee to investigate the State Hospital for -the Insane. This committee oceu pied several weeks in taking testi men,y and sent sub-com-mittees to dif ferent institutions of similar kind in other sections of the United States. The committee cost the State some three to four thousand dollars. In their report, and in the testi cony which was taken nothing new was brought out, and as The Herald end News has said heretofore, all .these matters have been reported to the legislature by the superintendent amually for the past ten years to the -eertain knowledge of this editor. We have in our possession the re port of the State Board of Health which was sent to the legislature at the session of 1910, giving a resume of the annual reports of the State Board of Health pertaining especial ly to the State Hospital for the In sane, as submitted to the legislature for the past thirty years. This re =ome shows clearly and succinctly that the conditions, which the special legislative committee claims exist at the institution have been brought to .he attention of the legislature an Xually. Starting with 1900, we find that Dr. . A. Moore, chairman of the board: of health, in his annual report to the legislature for the year 1900, in re gard to the separation of the races and the isolation of tuberculosis ne groes says: "Oni this point Dr. Babcoek em phatically remarked: 'Such provis ion is imperative, not only for this, * bat all puhlie instiNitions. It is. perhaps the ,burning question to-day for hospital management in the n liited States. Tuberculosis con tinues exceedingly prevalent, and is ademic in all departments. It is the eliief cause of illness and death. It! Ib the duty of the State to make es geeial provision for the isolation and care of this class of patients, both within this hospital and outside.' It may be remarked that this language is in accord with a portion of the report of your. committee of last year, in which it was advocated' that1 * special sanatoria for the treatment *of the consumptive poor -should be under State or municipal control." In this same report we find the following extract from Dr. Baibcock ' -report: "On the subject of the necessity for the relief of the ovrerowded ospital,Dr. Babcock truly and for efbly remarked: -'T1his. Hospital is practically the dumping ground of all the undesirable citizens of the ?tate, who are not criminals and * even criminals who show any men tal symptoms are committed to the Hlospital. It is obligatory upon the General Assembly to take steps look inThg towards -the better 'development .of the poor house system. Most of -the new counties have as yet no alms liouses. The State should also make separate provision for inebriates, eietes and idiots, who aea present eurmitted to the State Hos *pi+a1. These are some methods by w : ts overerowded condition might be relieved and opportunity giveu for better provision for the i::saie proper for whom the institu Enwas established and ought to be' maaintained.' This matter was al luded to and briefly discussed in our Tast annual report, and the necessity for its careful consideration and, if po)ssible, earL olution was then in-i Lted on." 1n 901, we +'1 the t* being n tor the is :cn tuberculo- pa e :nta, for 1: one e:en reaize more iill its importance than Dr. Bab cock, and no one is more anxious for Lts remedy. Dr. Moore in his report for 1902 says in regard to the institution: "We much regret to have again to repor, that this retreat for the in sane is still made the unwilling re cipient of idots and epileptics. This is especially to be deplored,- as this class of hopeless imbeciles will nee essarily require much of the time and care that should be wiiolly devo ted to the insane proper. 'We trust that the day is not far distant when suitable quarters will be provided for them elsewhere in the State. "Additions have been, made to two or three of the buildings with a view to increasing the capacity and thus' relieving the overcrowded eon dition of the hospital. But notwith standing this, all the departments and wards are still crowded to ex-I eess. The Taylor building for ex cited white men, which was erected about two years ago; the Parker building for negro men, which was also completed a few years ago, and afforded sufficient. room at that time for this class of patients; the wards for white women, and especially the wards for negro women, are all ex cessively overerowd4d. Not only are all the beds and cots oeeupied, but some of these'patients are ae tually stowed away on pallets on the floor. That these poor, helpless, af flicted creatures should be placed in his sad plight is indeed a' pitiable spectacle. It is not only detrimental to their physical well being, but it is inhuman, unkind, unChristian, and a reproach to us as a civilized people. We do not intend any refledion whatever upon the accomplished and faithful superintendent, nor upon the board of regents, for these facts clearly prove how their work is em barrassed and frustrated by inade quate accommodations." In the report for 1903, we find the following language: -"'We much regret to have to re port as follows from Di-.- Babcock, who says: 'No change in classes of atients. adiiitted. Idiots, lunatics, epileptics, inebriates, cases of old age. ("totards") and alleged' erim inals-all are received. No prospect ofeother receptacle.' On inquiry he also states: 'Isolation of the tuber lus is practiced as far as possi;1le, but is not as thorough as it should be.' In the report for 1904, we find the following in reference- to a 1'etter from Dr. J. W. Babeock, the superin tedent: "We would dlesire to strongly and earnestly emphasize what he says concerning its overerowded condi tion, and the herding together of al classes-epileptics, idiots, and inebri ates. All hygienic precautions, how ever, that conduee to the preserva ion and perp'euation of !healthi are observed as strictly- as possible. But, notwithstanding, we much' regret to note that he jeports the continued prevalanice anid high mortality of ta erloss. This is, of course, but a Legitimate result of the crowded con ition to which' we have just ,allud The following is an extract from a etter of Dr. Babieoek, the superin bendent, directed to the chairman of the tate .board of hiealth whieh'was also submitted to the legislature:, "For this year the number of ap plications for admission has been 503, and of these 463 have already been received. The only applications ibsolutely refused are non-residents, r those who have not been bona (ide esidets of South Carolina for the two years last preceding date of ap-. plication. * ** *The only depart ent not over crowded is that for white men, where relief is given by ~he new Taylor building. The other hree departments are excessively verrowded, as you saw during your nspection. *** Unfortuna?tely, all :lasses of defestives sent here are derded together without elassifica tion. p:!eptic andI inebriates es ecialy shoulld have separate quar In the report for 1907, speaking of th overrowded condition of the asylum we 1hid the following lan guage: "The asylum is well kept and in a godd condition from a sanitary standpoint, but the place is very much overerowdeed. They have room to accommodate about eleven hundred patients, but have there about seventeen hundred. This neces sitates seven or eight having to sleep in one room in some of the wards, which 6hould not be the case in an institution of this kind, for this class of patients is very untidy at best- It also necessitates keeping patients in the basement rooms, which were never intended' for living apartments, for they are damp and poorly ventilated. To obviate this crowded condition the regents are making ai effort to purchase a farm near the city of Columbia, where the mildly insane, epileptics and tuber cular patients can be' kept. We heartily agree with this' plab. aud hope the proper support wiR be given the asylum authorities at this com ing session of the legislature to car ry out this plan. Under the present conditions, the tubercular patients cannot be separated from the non infected. -Again in 1908, attention is direct ed to the overcrowdea condition, and a statement is made that :-nothing has been done to relieve it. The fol lowing extracts ,are ma'de from that report: "The asylum is still 'very much crowded. This fact 'was brought to your attention in our last report, but as yet nothing has been done to re lieve it. They have room for one thousand patients, but are at pres ent accommodating fifteen hundred. As many as eight have to occupy sleeping space thait is only sufficient for four. This congestion also ne cessitates the use of basement rooms, which were never intended for living apartments, as they are damp and poorly ventilated. *** We would heartily recommend that the regents of this institution be provgdgd with sufficien; means to purchase lands near the city of Columbia.tig,stablish a farm colony for~the care of inebri ates, epileptics, mildly insane, and for the treatmenrt of the tubercular insane. ' It will be -seen that the special legislative comimittee har brought out nothing new, and the responsibil ity for conditions. -at the asylum rests entirely with the legislature. Dr. Babcoek has. rejpeatedly gone before the ways and means commit tee and stated thisk condition very frankly. He has; always 'sta~ted what was needed, and that it wr up to .t1re legislature to do as in' their judg merit seemed right, and he *ouild then do the best he could with what was given him. He took the posi tion that this was a State institution and that it was not his business to unertake to lobby-th;rough. meueg, but when he had called the attention to conditions, it was the duty of the egislature to provide the means. If the legislature failed t6 de9 then' he would do the best he could .with what was placed at his disposal. South Carolina has never had a more efficient, conscientious official than Dr. .Babcock and with all respect. to the memnbers of the judiciary aam mittel. of the senate that introduced the resolution asking for his resigna tion, we submit it has been without1 a true knowledge of the facts or con I ditions, and without the proper re gard for placing the responsibility for these conditions. We would sug gest that the members of the senate1 and the house read carefully the !it te pamphlet entitled "The State Bord of Health and the State Hospi tal for the Insane, 1880-1903," *hiebh we presume was placed on the desks t of members diuring the present ses sion, and then reach the conclusion as to where the responsibility rests for the conditions at the asylum. e USE DISPENSARY MONEY. The legislature has done wisely to h rejcct the bond issue idea for theg asylum. I Caidwel Th< Offers the buying We want every barl visit our store and s housed here for you Spring Merchandise for correct 1910 We side by side along t Join the Joly I Dress Goods! 'Dress Goods!! 50 pieces fine Dress Goods at 24C. yard. 50 pieces fine 54 in. Dress Goods It 49C. yd. 2 great values in Woolen Goods. Silks! Silks!! Silks! Hundreds of new spring Silk Dress Patterns just opened. One lot beautiful Foulerds, spe cial, 69c. yard. 50 pieces Oyama Silk, the Soc. value, at 25c. yd. 400 yds. Gold Medal Taffeta Silk at 98c., worth $ 35 yd For bilks bunt the Silk Store of Newberry. Wite Goods! W ite Goods!! More White Goods to select from than .11 the other white goods stocks in Newberry combined. Come to the big White Goods sale. 20 pieces nice Madras at 5c. yd. 20 pcs, nice Madras at 1oc. yd. 30 pcs. nice Madras at I2J/2c. yd. 50 pcs. nice. Madras at- I4,c. yd. 10o pcs. nice' Madras worth up to 3oc. yard at 19c. yard. 300 yds short.length Madras a~t 18c. yd. 300 yds. short length Rep at 18c. Soo yds. short length Lawn at 5c. 50 pieces Checked Dimity, 20 and 25c. kind, 14c. yd. Long Cloth! Long Cloth!! 100 bolts Long Cloth, sale price 1.9 gbolt. 200 bolts Long Cloth, sale price 1.98 bolt. Soo yds. finer than Lonsdale :ambr'c, 1234C. yard. Miss Riser is now of Millinery and No Come every day.~ Caidweli >esay money and buy a lot of lanJd ~ight or ten miles from Columbia, vhether immediately on a railroad r not, and there would be plenty noney from t.his fund to buy the land Lnd erect the plant, if the money is fely and judiciously spent. Then et the sinking fund commission dis >ose of the property in Columbia, or, uch of it that was not needed. There~ s no necessity for a special commit ee with $10,000 to, spend in' looking round and drawing plans. The Idei ails could all be worked out by the inking fund commission. Everything that has been brought: ut by the legislative investigating ommittee was known to every one h6 desired the information and cer aily members of the legislature ave known it for Dr. Babcoek has iven the information to the ways nd means committee from year to ar. Therae isnothing new in the4 &hadtii Big St public tremendous ,ain loving Man, N acure a part of the . Three floors of of every wanted wi mAr. Meet your fr Le counters of Newb Uying Band IT Embroidery! Embroidery! Soo yds beautiful Embroidery 0 center counters, worth up to 65c yd., choice 25c. yd. Great Sale Lace. All ioc. Lace 5c. yard. ioo bolts Insertion 29c. bolt c 12 yards. ioo bolts Edgings 29c. bolt c 12 yards. Galatea Qotk 5 -o yds. best 20C. Galatea Clot at 15c. yd. G ingha ms. ait g hms. i case Ginghams at 5c. yard. 1 case Ginghams at 7c. yard. i case 122 and 15c. Gingham at roc. yard. Bed Spread and Towel Sak i0. fine large Spreads at 98( 5'o fine large Spreads at $1 34 50 fine large Spreads at $1.98. A wagon load Towels at 4c. eaci Another wagon load at 9c. eaci Reps. Reps.' Reps. The -greatest line" of Reps an Poplins in Newberry. 25 -pieces Rep, all 'colors, 25C value,tat:15c -- 25 pieces Rep, all colors, s5 irahie at 24c. 10ocases 1/leaching 6%., 8 an 93-c. yard. r bale. Cheviots, the 15c. kind at rac. yard 3,0o0 yds 25c. Cottonade a roc. yard. f bale nice Sea Island 5c. yard x case Light Percales at 7c : yd 50 pieces roc. Percale at 5c. yard in New York' buy ions ever shipped t Always something ri report. Tfhere is need for more room. Thai has 'been called to the attention o: the legislature. The, wards ar< rowded, the sanitary conditions ari bad, patients have been received wh< were not according to .the letter o: law entitled to be admitted. Al these things have been told to thi legislature. Instead of asking Dr. Babeoek t< resign the legislature better beg hi.u to remain. The solution of the whole situatior i to order the purchase of 1,500 tc 2,000 acres of land out a little dis tance -from Columbia and take thE dispensary raoney to pay for it and put up the proper buildings and eventually sell the property in Co umbia. The Best Hont of sife is whe you do somae great deed oi vAger. ore bargains this week. Vonan and Child to wonderful bargains bright, brand new eave, shade and color lends and neighbors erry's Greatest Store. esday -Moning. Linens lies mun. 1 The greatest Linen value in Newberry, 36 in. wide, 25c. yard. 50 pieces round thread Linen at 39c. yard. -5 pcs. 85c. Table Linen at 57c. yd 1oo fine Panana and VoileSkit f just received. ioo fine Wash Skirts at 98c. 6o*fine Wash Skirts at $.-49 Childrn'sReadyMade.ress ioo nice Ginghams Dresses.at 4c. each. ioo nice 'Ginghams D4sses at" 49c. each. s 1 ,oo nice Oinghams Dresses 98c. each. 1oo nice Ginghams Dressea $1.24 each. 6o nice Ginghams Dresses t $I-49 each. Men's Shirts. Men's Shids3 300 fine Shirts, Soc. value, at Z5C 300 fine Shirts, 85c. value, at49C The best Work Shirts made at 48% Come-and See them'. x ,ooo pairs Men's Sox, 2C. kindj at 15c- pair. - - 1,ooo pairs Men's Soz, Soc. knd~ at 25c. pair. - - Ladies' Hos~. CO@ed 1 case 25c. Hose at i5c. pair. i case 25c. Missy' Hose at I25{ ,cents pair4 New go&x's and good weirers. ...All the.new things CEIaW .Ties, Belts, Belting, feltBmuck1es .Pins, Buttons,and Timmings. ing the greatestk. . a Newberry tr. ~ew at the big stoe discovei- somne wonderful fact hlour eame to J..B. Pitt, of Mt., N. C.,whenbhe was suffemng t nsely, as he says, "from the-worst e old I ever had, I then prove~d to mn 'great satisfaction, what a wduder ~ful Cold and Cough etire DrKinjf' 9 New Discogeryis. For, after ta ione bottle, I was entirely cured. Yo can't say anything too good of medieine like that." It's the su. and& best remedy for diseased I Hemori-hages, IaGdippe, 'Hay Fever'-an1y Throat or L Trouble. 50k., $1.00. Tri" botl Ifree. .Gaaranteed by W. L Veiham If troubled wvitAh indigetioni, een stipation, no appetite or feed biious, give Chamnberlain 's Stomaelt. enid !Liver Tablets a trial and you willbr pleased with .the result. These tb lets invigorate the stomach andlie and strengthen the digesion. Sold 'by W. 'U. PelTaam ew1 daS .