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New York State Idiot Asylum At Syracuse, Fifth Report Of The Trustees

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Date: February 11, 1856
Source: Steve Taylor Collection

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State of New York

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No. 99.

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IN ASSEMBLY, FEB. 11, 1856.

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FIFTH REPORT Of the Trustees of the State Idiot Asylum.

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To the Hon. the Legislature of the State of New York:

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In conformity with the law establishing an Asylum for Idiots, the undersigned trustees of said institution respectfully

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REPORT:

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That the institution which has been entrusted to their care and supervision, still continues to be prospered in the increase of its numbers, the health of its inmates, and the confidence it has inspired in the public mind.

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The report of the Superintendent herewith transmitted, presents the main facts in the history of the institution during the past year; the removal to the new buildings at Syracuse, the increase in the number of pupils, the mode in which persons interested may avail themselves of its benefits, and the general objects and ends of the institution; and also makes a suggestion as to the prospective growth of the institution.

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Since that report was written, an abstract of the census furnishing the number of idiots in the State under 14 years of age has been received by the trustees. The number thus rendered is 296. This does not include the number already at the Asylum. It is imperfect to the knowledge of the officers of the institution, because not including quite a number for whose admission to the Asylum application has already been made.

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Now making all allowance for those who are confirmed epileptics, for those who are so feeble in point of health as to debar them from coming to the Asylum, and for those whose parents would be unwilling to send their children to the Asylum, and it will be seen that there are yet subjects enough to fill the institution to its utmost capacity.

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It would not be desirable in the estimation of the board of trustees, to receive at once, all the pupils who might present themselves, even if they were supplied with an abundance of pecuniary means. The true policy is manifestly to increase in accordance only with the public appreciation of the necessity of such an institution, and a public disposition to contribute to its support. While the results of the system of instruction at the Asylum continue to develop themselves so satisfactorily to those most interested in the subject, the trustees feel an entire confidence that the public need of such an asylum will be more and more felt as a public want, and the public provision for its support will be commensurate with such apprehension of its wants.

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During the last fiscal year there has been drawn from the treasury of the State, for the proper current expenses of the Asylum, the sum of $8,710.20, the sum of $1,529.00 has been received from pay pupils, $68.72, contingent fund on hand, Oct. 1st, 1854, total $10,307.92.

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This has been expended in the following manner:

Provisions and supplies $2,487.81
Bread 371.45
Meat and fish bills 814.32
Furniture and furnishing 406.09
Fixtures and repairs 257.67
Stable stock, &c 534.22
Salaries, wages and labor 4,005.17
Fuel and lights 794.76
Stationery and school books &c. 47.86
Postage $20.57
Expenses in sending children home 14.00
" in sending pupils to Insane asylum 10.99
Rent 400.00
Funeral expenses of child 8.50
Sundries 134.51
$10,307.92

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Since the last annual report, the new building then in process of erection for the use of the asylum, has been completed and is now occupied.

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This has been accomplished very nearly in accordance with the plans submitted by the trustees to the Legislature of last year. By a reference to the legislation of last year, it will be seen, that an appropriation was made of forty thousand dollars, based upon the estimates then presented by the trustees of the asylum. It remains, therefore, at this time, for the trustees only to present such facts and figures as will show that the expenditure of the appropriation has been in accordance with the plans submitted to and sanctioned by the action of the last Legislature. In the report of last year were submitted tabular statements showing the mode of expenditure of the first thirty thousand dollars, and also the proposed disposition of the additional forty thousand dollars then asked for.

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The whole subject, however, will be better understood by a statement at this time, of the whole expenditure from the beginning.

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Land purchased at Albany $6,810.00
Grading and drains for same 179.00
Fences for same 57.70
Recording deed 1.05
John Bridgford, contractor for mason work and cut stone 25,841.64
James Christie, contractor for carpenter work on buildings and out-buildings 22,035.87
David Wilcox, mason and sub-contractor for extra work in buildings and out-buildings 2,496.26
Sam'l. Hurst, for excavation and grading $2,545.62
George Grattan, plumber 2,627.00
Norton & Bradley 423.27
Wm. L. Woollett, architect 1,388.79
G. L. Rowe for services as Supt. of building and incidentals 829.30
Pierce & Marsh, gas pipe 486.49
Wands, Warren & Brower, for furnaces, &c. 2,268.37
Tuttle & Bailey, registers 343.09
Perhyn Marble Co., slate, mantle and blackboards 225.00
Sidney Stanton, marble slab 60.50
Coal for warming building while being erected 209.41
Printing 167.24
Freight bills 51.87
Brower & Agar, speaking tubes 31.90
Interest on land 196.00
Wills & Dudley, for plans of build'g in part adopted 150.00
Labor in grading 94.00
Lightning rods 106.26
Jas. B. Jarvis, carpenter 46.88
Contingent expenses 484.13
$70,156.64

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