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TRUSTEES.
COMSTOCK, GEORGE F.
ALFRED WILKINSON,
FREDERICK D. HUNTINGTON,
FRANK HISCOCK
FREDERICK HYDE, M.D.,
GEORGE B. SLOAN,
NATHAN F. GRAVES,
RALPH FRISSELLE.

State Officers -- Ex-officio Trustees.
DAVID B. HILL, Governor.
" , Lieutenant-Governor.
JOSEPH B. CARR, Secretary of State.
ALFRED C. CHAPIN, Comptroller.
WILLIAM B. RUGGLES, Supt. of Public Instruction.

Permanent Chairman.
FREDERICK D. HUNTINGTON.

Secretary.
ALFRED WILKINSON.

Treasurer.
ALFRED WIKKINSON, JR.

Executive Committee.
ALERED WILKINSON,
NATHAN F. GRAVES,
RALPH FRISSELLE.

OFFICERS.

Superintendent.
JAMES C. CARSON, M.D.

Matron.
Miss ALVIRA F. WOOD.

Assistant Matrons.
Miss MILDRED A. PETERSON,
Miss EMILY E. RADWAY.

Housekeeper.
Mrs. MARY A. YOUNG.

Teachers.
Miss SARAH P. YOUNG,
Mrs. MARIA E. COOK,
Mrs. OLIVE SAWTELLE,
Miss IDA KIPP,
Miss MARY F. COZZENS,
Mrs. LAURA EATON,
Miss E. JOSEPHINE BALCH,
Mr. JAMES EGGENBERGER.

Steward.
BENJAMIN N. EASTMAN.

In Charge of the Custodial Branch at Newark.
Mr. and Mrs. C. C. WARNER.

STATE OF NEW YORK.

No. 19.

IN ASSEMBLY,
JANUARY 15, 1885.

THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE NEW-YORK ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.

To the Legislature of the Slate of New York:

Agreeably to the provisions of the act establishing this institution, the undersigned trustees respectfully submit this their thirty-fourth annual report.

RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR.

CLASSIFIED SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES.

On current expense account of the New York Asylum for Idiots for the Year ending September, 30, 1884.

From an examination of the books of the asylum we are able to report that on the 30th day of September, 1884, there were outstanding obligations and cash assets in the following amounts:

Outstanding Indebtedness, September 30, 1884.

Assets September, 30, 1884.

The apparent exhibit of assets over liabilities, in the resources of the asylum aince -sic- the 1st of October, 1883, is chiefly accounted for by the fact, that the supply of coal on hand is considerably less than has been usual heretofore at the close of the fiscal year.

The numbers during the coming year will probably be increased, both in the educational and custodial departments. It is believed, however, owing to the prevalent cheapness of all general supplies and provisions, a larger appropriation for maintenance than was made last year will not be required this year, namely, $63,000 for the former, and $20,000 for the latter.

At the present writing this institution has in charge nearly 500 per-sons of both sexes, 300 of whom, mostly children, are provided for at the main asylum, 140 adult females in the Custodial Branch at Newark, and about forty of the older and larger boys in the cot-tage built two years ago upon the farm at Fairmount. The pro-vision made for these boys upon this farm was a new feature in the history of the institution, and the experience of the year at this place has proved eminently satisfactory in all respects, their occu-pation at farm work being desirable, and a kind to which they can adapt themselves better and easier than almost any other. If further provision is to be made for this class of boys more land should be acquired. as the present farm only comprises eighty-seven acres, and is hardly sufficient to keep a larger number employed. We have been of the opinion, however, that suitable and permanent pro-vision should first be made for feeble-minded adult females as the class requiring more important protection and custody. For this purpose, and in accordance with this view, with the authority given and the means appropriated by the Legislature of 1884, a new building located about twenty-five rods to the west and rear of the present buildings was commenced in August last. This building is now all inclosed and good progress being made toward its early completion. It con-sists of a series of framed cottage dormitories grouped together in the form of a triple cross, two stories high, with outside brick walls, and comprises eight apartments twenty feet by forty-six feet, three apartments thirty -- six feet by forty-two feet, besides supervisors rooms, attendants' rooms, dining-room, kitchen, clothes-rooms, bath-rooms and other conveniences. The whole has a frontage of 200 feet, the central extensions 115 feet, and flank wings at extreme ends fifty feet. The trimmings are of stone, the roof of slate, and the cornices of galvanized iron. Being built in this manner and grouped in this way together into one structure, the cost of building will be very much reduced, and ample accommodations provided for 160 in-mates, more than double the number at first contemplated. An ap-propriation of only $3,000 will be needed to completely place the build-ing in readiness for the heating apparatus, plumbing and furniture. To warm it, two new boilers will be required at the main boiler-house similar to those now in use, which, together with the necessary steam pipes and radiators, the sum of $6,000 will be sufficient according to our estimates; $1,500 will also be required for gas fixtures and plumbing.

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As soon as these dormitories can be made ready for occupancy, the inmates of the Custodial Branch at Newark, now under the care and authority of this board of trustees, will be transferred to them, and such additional cases of the same class received as the accommodations will admit.

The erection of the fire-proof corridors at the north and south ends of the main central building, for which an appropriation was granted, last year, was not commenced until late in the season, and owing to a failure on the part of the contracter in securing the requisite iron material at the expected time, the work was delayed, but is now ap-proaching completion.

The barn and sheds at the Fairmount farm were entirely overhauled and rebuilt during the summer months. As now arranged, the ground floor of the barn is fitted up with stalls for horses and cattle, the loft above being reserved for the hay, grain and other products of the farm. A shed attachment provides shelter for wagons, tools and farm implements.

Your attention is respectfully invited to the recommendations of the superintendent, and his reasons therefor regarding the renewal and reconstruction of the steam and water piping throughout certain portions of the present buildings; for the erection of a new laundry building; for providing outside hospital accommodations for the sick, and preventing the spread of epidemic or contagious diseases among the inmates. With these recommendations we are in hearty accord and believe them to be both important and essential to the growing wants of the institution, and its healthful, convenient and economical administration.

To recapitulate: Appropriations are asked and required for the pur-poses and amounts specified, as follows:

At the time our report was presented last year, we supposed the services of Dr. G. A. Doren, as the superintendent of this asylum, had been permanently secured; certain unexpected contingencies, however, arising soon after in the work of rebuilding the Columbus Asylum with which he had been previously connected for a period of nearly twenty-three years, he felt obliged to withdraw his acceptance of the position here, and much to the regret of this board, resumed his work at the Columbus institution.

Upon the retirement of Dr. Doren, Miss A. B. Wood, matron, was continued as the acting superintendent. Miss Wood had been con-tinuously in the service of this asylum since its organization in 1851, and other than medical, possessed a thorough knowledge of all duties required. In this connection it is just and proper to say, that she discharged the duties devolving upon her with commendable satisfaction, thus again exemplifying the value to the institution a long, faithful and intelligent experience gives.

At the annual meeting of the board held on the eighth of October, Dr. J. C. Carson; of New York, was unanimously elected superintendent, and commenced his duties a few weeks later. Dr. Carson had an experience of nearly thirteen years as an assistant physician at the Willard Asylum for the Insane, and for eighteen months prior to his appointment here was the superintendent of the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb.

Since our last report was made one change has taken place in our membership. Our late secretary and treasurer, Hon. Allen Munroe, for thirty years a member of this board, was removed by death October 6, 1884. An appropriate resolution relative to the sad occasion was adopted by the board at the annual meeting held two days later, and may be found in the appendix of this report. At the same meeting, Mr. Alfred Wilkinson was elected secretary of the board, and Mr. Alfred Wilkinson, Jr., treasurer of the asylum.

Before closing their report the trustees desire to make public expression of their confidence in and gratitude to the officers, teachers, attendants and employes, for their general faithfulness, the conscientious discharge of their duties, and their interest in the welfare of the asylum so manifest throughout the year.

ALFRED C. CHAPIN, Comptroller,
W. B. RUGGLES, Supt. Public Instruction,
F. D. HUNTINGTON,
GEORGE F. COMSTOCK,
N. F. GRAVES,
FREDERICK HYDE,
GEORGE SLOAN,
R. FRISSELLE.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

To the Trustees of the New York Asylum for Idiots:

GENTLEMEN -- In compliance with the requirements of the law and of your board. I have the honor to present to you herewith, as obtained from the books and official records kept, the following report exhibiting the statistics and operations of this institution for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1884.

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Movement of the Population.

The general health of the asylum inmates and of the entire household throughout the year was excellent. Three cases of scarlet fever occurred among the pupils, none of which were fatal. No other contagious or epidemic disease prevailed. As noted above, eight deaths occurred among their numbers. The causes of death as given were as follows:

Of these, five were males and three were females. The average age of those who died was sixteen years.

The matron presents the following report; of sewing done by the boys and girls:

Boys' List.

Girls' List.

The steward reports the following as the products of the farm and garden for the year ending September 30, 1884.

Having received the appointment of superintendent of the asylum in October last, and not until after the close of the fiscal year, the operations and general administration of its affairs are only familiar to me except as obtained from inquiry and examination of the books and official records.

To become a successor of such an eminent and experienced physician and gentleman as the lamented Dr. Wilbur, and without special experience in this particular field of labor, to carry on a work he began and with such marvelous success conducted for a period of over thirty years, was, under the circumstances, a position not easily assumed without a possible misgiving.

In looking over his long and successful administration, and viewing the prosperity and reputation of the institution that has always attended it throughout its history, the future opens out a vast work that requires a resolution it is hoped may not fail in its faithful performance. From close and careful observation, a strict attention and devotion to duty on my part, with a corps of loyal assistants trained to the work under the care and direction of the master mind, that so long and so wisely guided the fortunes of this tender charity, to aid my efforts, together imparts a courage to forecast some degree of hope and promise. The special aim of the institution, the education of the idiotic and imbecile youth of this State, and all that pertains to their general mental and physical improvement and development will continue to be the foremost object sought.

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Recommendations.

From the brief period of observation of the special and pressing wants of the asylum that I have had, I would respectfully renew the recommendations made to you last year by my predecessor, Dr. Doren, and according to plans and estimates made under his direction regarding the erection of a new laundry building, and of certain desirable changes in the steam and water pipes throughout the central and north buildings. The laundry and bakery, now under one roof, were erected years ago before many of the later accommodations were provided or even contemplated. They are much too limited in size and capacity to permit the proper and regular performance of work, always of such absolute necessity to be performed promptly. The new cottage building, now in process of erection, and to be occupied with one hundred and sixty additional inmates during the coming season, will still more materially tend to embarrass the convenient performance of this very essential work. Besides, the walls of the present laundry are badly cracked, sprung outward, and only kept from tumbling down by props, stays and other extra support. Even with these precautions the absolute safety of the building is questionable. In my judgment a new laundry building and better equipments are among the first necessities of the institution to be considered.

The water and steam pipes of the central and north buildings were unfortunately originally placed within the partition walls, and under the cement floors of the basements. The main water supply pipes in these buildings are of iron, while many of the connections are of lead. The expansion and contraction of these metals are not always equal, and at their points of union are frequently springing a leak, causing not only damage and injury to the walls, but defacing them, and entailing upon the institution much expense and inconvenience. The steam pipes to the north wing extensious -sic- were laid ten or more years ago, many of them beneath the cement flooring or under the ground without sufficient protection from the elements, and in almost inaccessible places. They are becoming badly rusted, are constantly bursting, producing frequent and heavy expense for repairs, and oftentimes great discomfort while the repairs are being made. Careful estimates for their renewal and reconstruction have been prepared and are submitted.

In a large household like this, hospital facilities and conveniences are always needed. With the present arrangements of the house there is no convenient way of caring for the sick, or of entirely isolating them from those that are well. Fortunately, in the past, the asylum has been remarkably exempt from serious outbreaks of epidemic or contagious diseases. It would be pleasant to know that this condition of things might alwas -sic- continue. The history of other large institutions, however, would hardly Warrant us in entertaining a belief in such marked immunity for all future. If so, is it not wise and prudent for us to be prepared? As it is now, certain rooms in the house are set apart and occupied by a few sick and ailing ones, or held in reserve for those who may become so. With so many children and youth as are here provided for under one roof, we are particularly liable at any time to an outbreak of some form of epidemic or contagious disease, especially some one of those forms that so commonly prevail among children. In order to be prepared to meet such emergencies, and to provide at other times better and separate facilities for the care of the sick. I would recommend the erection of a small two-story and inexpensive frame building, at a proper, safe and convenient distance from the present buildings, to be used exclusively for hospital purposes. In our judgment this building should provide room for about twenty beds, ten of each sex, and be placed under the immediate charge of a trained nurse, who will reside in the building, and be on hand to give constant attendance. It is believed such a building would ordinarily, in the absence of any prevailing disease, relieve the asylum proper from all sick, feeble and helpless inmates, and at the same time permit the reception of quite an additional number of pupils into the parts of the house now necessarily used and reserved for hospital purposes.

At the present writing the following cases are cared for in four separate rooms, in which are sixteen beds; two cases of consumption, two helpless paralytics, two helpless epileptics, one case of scabies recently admitted, and one of typho-malarial fever, nine in all, three boys and six girls. In a small detached hospital these cases could all he better and more conveniently attended to by one nurse, and the sixteen beds in the four rooms now occupied by them would soon be taken by new pupils, who are now refused admission for want of sufficient accommodations. Plans and estimates for this building and other work recommended are herewith respectfully submitted for your inspection and approval.

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CONCLUSION.

To Miss Wood, matron, and to Mr. Eastman, steward, for their kindly aid and cordial co-operation I owe grateful acknowledgment. Their knowledge and familiarity from long experience with the conduct of affairs and the methods of administration in vogue, combined with a cheerful willingness to perform all duties required, made them of special benefit to the institution while the vacancy in this office existed.

To you, also, gentlemen, I am specially grateful for repeated assurances of your confidence in commencing this work; for the uniform courtesy with which you have listened to my frequent appeals for counsel and advice; and for the kindness and consideration shown to me personally.

Respectfully submitted
JAMES C. CARSON,
Superintendent.
SYRACUSE, December 23, 1884.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

Alfred Wilkinson, Jr., Treasurer of the New York Asylum for Idiots, in account current with the State of New York, for cash received and expended for the general supplies, and the salaries and wages of officers, teachers, attendants and servants of said asylum, during the year ending September 30, 1884.

RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR.

DISBURSEMENTS.

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF BUILDING.

Receipts.

Payments.

NEW YORK STATE ASYLUM POR IDIOTS, SYRACUSE, N. Y., January 14, 1885.

We certify that we have examined the above statement, with tables annexed; have compared it with the treasurer's books and with the various books kept at the asylum, and the bank book, as also the vouchers for the moneys expended, and find the same correct.

N. F. GRAVES,
R. FRISSELLE,
Executive Committee.

REPORT 0F THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

The committee of the board of trustees charged with the special oversight of the Custodial Branch of this institution for adult, idiotic and imbecile females herewith present their report of its affairs for the year ending September 30,1884.

The following are the statistics for the year:

The causes of death were as follows:

The following is a summary of the receipts and disbursements:

Receipts.

Disbursements.

Outstanding indebtedness, October 1,1884.

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Assets October 1, 1884.

The Custodial Branch of the New York State Asylum for Idiots was opened for the reception of cases and commenced operations under the control and direction of this board of trustees six years ago. The chief and special object intended was the care, custody and protection of a class of adult female idiots and imbeciles of the child-bearing age. It being the first attempt of the kind in the State, and in fact in the country, to provide for a special class of idiots requiring simply custodial care, it was in one sense a matter of experiment, and at that time so considered and understood by its projectors. For this purpose an unoccupied and unfinished school-building located in the town of Newark, Wayne county, was accordingly leased for a term of years, fitted up, furnished and put in order for the reception of inmates in the summer of 1878. How well it has performed its mission and met the want for which it was established, the previous reports of this committee and of the State Board of Charities will give ample and abundant testimony.

The experience of its operations for the past year has not been in any sense .materially different from that of previous years. The one hundred and fifty-two girls it has provided for have at all times been kept in a cleanly and presentable condition, properly fed, comfortably clothed and protected from the community and the dangers of the county poor-house system to which many had been to their ill fortune previously surrounded.

As an evidence of the actual necessity of maintaining this or some other similar establishment of its nature, it is but proper to say, that of the girls already received under its protection, about twenty per cent of the number had, prior to their admission, borne illegitimate children, several of them more than one, and one as many as four. These conditions came about in nearly every instance while residents of the county poor-houses, and as the result of a loose and inefficient system of supervision permitting an unfortunate and scandalous misassociation of the sexes. The result already accomplished has been not only to awaken the attention of the poor authorities to a greater vigilance over this class of cases, but also, especially to relieve the various counties of a source of their increasing dependents, and when fully considered in all its significance, has indeed become a blessing of large proportions to the future welfare of the State.

It has besides all this accomplished still another happy result in proving itself a training school for these girls to pursuits and habits of industry. As a matter of record, when they were brought from their homes and from the county poor-houses to this place, save two or three exceptions, none of the others knew how to sew even as much as to hem properly an ordinary garment, or to do the simplest kind of work. Now there are from fifteen to twenty of the present number who can operate the sewing machine, many of them skillfully. About thirty are kept at sewing daily, either by hand or with the machine, and in all over ninety are regularly employed at some kind of work required in or about the house.

The average cost of support for the inmates of this branch has always been moderate in amount, and for the past year rather less than heretofore, owing to fewer repairs and improvements, less new furniture and the diminished prevailing cost of all kinds of supplies and provisions.

The appropriations made in previous years for its maintenance have been generally sufficient in amount, and for the coming year although the daily average number of inmates may be slightly increased, it is believed that not more than $20,000, the sum appropriated last year. will be required to cover all expenses likely to occur.

At the opening of this building in 1878, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Warner were placed in its immediate charge, a position they continue to hold with entire satisfaction to this board and with credit to themselves.

N. F. GRAVES,
R. FRISSELLE,
JAMES C. CARSON,
Special Committee in charge of the Custodial Branch.

APPENDIX.

Extract from the minutes of the annual meeting of the board, October 8, 1884.

On motion of Mr. Wilkinson the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, Since our last meeting the Hon. Allen Munroe, for thirty years a member of this board, for twenty-eight years its secretary, and for twenty-two years the treasurer of the asylum, has been suddenly removed to a higher and better state of being; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we fully recognize the zeal and constant interest which Mr. Munroe always manifested in the welfare of the asylum, so far as we know, never having missed a meeting of this board;

Resolved, That in his urbanity, courtesy and philanthropy he was a christian gentleman;

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Resolved, That we shall cherish his memory as that of one who had a high regard for his duties as a citizen in promoting the cause of public education, and as a philanthropist in ameliorating the condition of suffering humanity;

Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize with the widow and family of our deceased associate and friend in the bereavement which they have sustained under this dispensation of Divine Providence;

Resolved, That this board and the resident officers of the asylum attend his funeral;

Resolved, That our secretary be instructed to enter these resolutions upon the records of this board and to send a copy of them to the family of Mr. Munroe.