Jan. 21 1897.
THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT.
How They Are Housed and Cured
at the Hospital Near
This City.
A BIG PERCENTAGE REOVER
From
Interesting Facts Gleaned
the Superintendent's Report
More Room Needed.
A Well Managed Institution.
There ia food for profitable reflection
in the report receutly eubmitted to the
governor by Superintendent Abbott of
tlie Nebraska honpital for the insane.
The ri-port is specific and complete as to
jvery detail of management of the insti
:ution, and reflects the utmost credit
jpou the gentleman now in charge. After
years of mismanagement that led to
.'startling scandals and criminal indict
ments, it is refreshing to see the insane
hospital in the bands of men whose evi
dent purpose and determination is to
administer its affairs with the same pre
caution for economy, the same zeal for
its .efficacy and the same pride in its good
uume and good offices as it the insane
hospital were their own individual prop
erty.
The report shows that at the com
mencement of the bienuium the hospita
had 341 inmates, and that there were
482 admitted during the two years.mak
ing a total of 823. Of these 216 were
discharged as recovered, or over 2G per
cent. This proportion of recoveries is
considerably above the average in simi
lar institutions. Fifty others were dis
charged aa improved, and 25 as unim
proved. 34 were released on parole, and
' 91 were sent to the asylum for incurables
: at Hastings and other institutions.
During the two years there were 49
- deaths, 46 of them from disease, two
from suicide and one was killed by a
? fellow patient. This is a remarkably
: small death rate. In each of thecasualties
the coroner was summoned, juries were
empanelled, full investigations madeand
verdicts rendered wholly freeing the
authorities and employes from any
shadow of blame.
Of the 823 inmatee five were dis
charged as not insane, t wo escaped and
351 remained at the close of the bi
enuium. The greatest number present
at any time was 364 in July, 1896, and
the smallest was 323 in January, 1896.
The daily average for 1895 was 360 and
for 1896 was 350.
' With the exception of a very few aged
or quite young persons, all cases or m
:' sanity for whose admission application
was made were received promptly. There
has been little or no complaint upon the
Dart of local authorities within the
boundaries of the hospital district about
not receiving their insane.
The number of patieuts discharged as
recovered or improved has been very
gratify iug and creditable to the institu
tion and the state, especially when the
crowded conditiou of the hospital is
considered. The system of permitting
patients to go home on parole has been
continued, as thechange, even if for only
a short time, has been found beneficial.
The large number noted as discharged
improved is caused by the pressure for
admission oi acutely insane patients,
which necessitated the removal of some
who were convalscent but not fully re
covered.
With the exeeptiou of a mild epidemic
of typhoid fever, in the summer ot I ',,
probablv caused by the opening of a
water sewer some distance from the
main buildinz for use in irrigation, the
ireneral health of the hospital has been
good and its freedom from acute disease
exceptional.
The allowances of food supplies have
been ample in quantity, qualitv and va
riety. Special diet is at all times furn
ished invalids confined to Deas, ami the
very elderly and weakly have special diet
lists from which are selected sucn roods
as are deemed best for them. Fresh
vegetables are furnished to all onceevery
day, and those who work have them
oftener. Fresh milk from the hospital
dairy, fresh fruits in season and canned
fruits are generously supplied, and fresh
meats, egifs, fowl and fish are among the
common articles of food.
Of the 4S2 patients adlnitted during
the , biennum, 78 are from Douglas
county, 54 from Lancaster, 32 from
Gage, 23 from Adams, 15 each from
Hall and Otoe, 16 from Hichardson, 13
from Saunders, 12 each from Cuss,
Fillmore, Jefferson, 11 each from Nuck
ols and Polk, 10 each from Johnson,
I'helps, Saline and Thayer. There are
43 counties represented.
Of the 482 inmates admitted 261 are
married, 161 single, 37 widowt-d and 1 1
divorced, while the civil condition of 12
is unknown. As to nativity 316 are
natives of the United States, 58 are
German born, 38 from Sweden, 12 from
Bohemia,!) from Austria, 8 each from
Canada and England, 7 from Denmark,
and 6 from Ireland. There are 164
foreigners and 3 whose nativity is un
known. There are 133 farmers out of the 482
admitted, 141 housewives, 35 laborers,
22 servants and no more than 7 of any
other single occupation.
The most fruitful cause of insanity
is intemperance, which is listed as
the cause of 33 cases, 30 are attributed
to financial losses, 17 to domestic
troubles, 13 to disappointment in love,
9 to grief over deaths of relatives, '.) to
childbirth, 5 to political excitement, 21
to religious excitement. 2 to want of
work, 2 to worry, 1 to remorse, 6 to sun
stroke, 3 to jealousy, 1 to a iawsuit,3 to
overwork, 2 to overheat, 1 to exposure
in a blizzard, 50 to heredity and the re
mainder to various physical ailments
and abuses.
The report is fruitful of statistics bear
ing upon the institution and its inmates.
It sets forth in detail the expenditures of
the hospital and the products of its In
bor. Owing to the dry season of 1895,
the farm and garden product was much
diminished, thus materially adding to
the expense of maintenance, but in
the two years the hospital lurin
and garden yielded 5,690 pounds of
dressed beef, 2,800 bushels of field corn,
5') tons of cane, 1,000 chickens, ,j2
-at tie sold, 155 tons of ensilage, 1m;$
l.m.iil tlilV "'(I O'.lll tXllllllM III 111)!'
sold, 5,775 pound of dressed pork, 2
pound of veal, 3S.344 gallons of milk,
l,9ot bushels of oats, 6,200 heads of
I'uiilniijf. 5.000 celerv plants and nearly
5,(MHt bushels of garden truck.
There were made in the kitchen dur
ing the two years 2,uuu glasses oi
jelly and over 4,000 gallons oi pre
serves, pickles, canned fruits and vege
tables, mince meat, Bauer Kraut,
maugols, cbow chow, piccalilli, etc, and
in the sewing room there were turned
out in the two years 15,213 garments
while 24.559 garments were mended.
lu making his summary of ap
propriations asked for current ex
penses for the new biennial pe
riod, the superintendent has bused his
estimutt-s on the present number of pa
tients, oov, aim me rr caput cosi ai
171.45 for each year. The
nt.l Hinniuit is $1-10.000 for the two
years endiug March 31, 1899, but the
additional nve months to August ai,
1899, increases the estimate to f 145,-
000.
tenilniit Abhott lias also sub
mitted an estimate for certain perma-
. . . I . L. Ml ..
nent improvements wuicu win ma
terially increase the capacity
of the institution without costing
the state very much money. It shows
that by expending about $16,800 room
could be made for some seventy-five
additional patients. This sum includes
2,000 for an ice house an cold storage
room, $500 for repairs and new fit
tings for the steam heating plant,
$1,000 for repairing the electric light
plant and securing a new dynamo, f 1,
500 for removing and rebuilding the old
barn and implement house, $500 for re
pairing porch in front of the main build
ing, $300 for repairs and new machin
ery for the laundry, $8,000 for a work
shop aud resident quarters for conval
escent male patients, $2,000 lor an
extension of the sewing room
for workshop for convalescent female
patients, and $1000 for other needed
repairs aud improvements. Should the
appropriation lie made and the hospital
population be increased to the extent of
seventy-five patients, the estimated cost
of running the institution for two years
with its increased attendance would be
$134,500, and for two years and five
months to Aug. 31, 1899, it would be
$162,520.
The hospital was constructed tor the
accommodation of only 320 patieuts,
but for years it has been overtaxed.
There are now in the jails of the state
some 500 or 600 insane pat ieuts who
should find room in the hoepitals and re
ti.u nnru Mini treatment which it is
the duty of the state to provide for
them. The capacity ot the hospital
should be considerably increased so that
the greater number pf these could
be admitted without the necessity
of discharging patients not yet fully re
covered to make room for those whom
it is absolutely necessary to place under
restraint. The state hospitals should
not be obliged to turn out a single pa
tient who is not fully recovered. There
is no class of beings who are more lia
ble to create ulunn, to do material mis
chief in a community than an insane
person. Any community would rest
..nuier with a murderer or robber
running at large
in its
midst than if it
knew that
an insane person had been
More room is almost a
neriiiit even the proper
turned loose,
necessity to
care of the
patients now under confinement.
Dr. Abbott has kept about him only
the most competent assistants he was
able with care to procure. There have
been no scandals em .tinting from
the Lincoln hospital for the insane. It
has been ably, competently and honestly
managed, and when the legislators
begin the work of cutting down .salaries
of the heads of state institutions,
it would be well for them to
consider well the advisability of any
change in the salary of the superinten
dence of the Lincoln hospital. The
place is one frauuht with great care and
responsibility, and it is a question if any
competent man would be willing to give
the pUce his entire time, as lias the in
cumbent, for' less than the $2500 per
annum now paid.
Very much of the success of any kind
of a crop depends upon the quality of
the seed sown or planted. Doubtless
many of our readers have suffered sore
disappointment and serious loss in the
past from having unwittingly planted
old and impotent seeds. These are
among the reasons why all should en
deavor to procure fresh seeds. Our
readers will note on another page the
ad of the Kansas Seed House, F. Barm-Ides
& Co., LanYence, Kans., who adver
tise fresh seeds of every variety. This
is an old and well established house, and
we recommend that you send for their
catalogue and look it over before mak
ing your season's purchases.
STOLEN GEMS
Scrutiny of the list of populist con
gressmen reveals the fact that they
ought to be able to save the country.
They have a Bell to ring on legislative
chestnuts; a Castle for a stronghold; a
Bodkin to punch holes in goldhug argu
ments; a Gun for defense;a Fowler to
snare; a Skinnerto take the hide off; and
a lJakerjtodo the roasting. Shelby Sun.
About seventy-five nations own their
telegraph systems. The United Statt-a,
Cuba, Bolivia, Honduras, Cyprus, Ha
waii, and a few other back numbers still
prefer to be robbed by monopolies.
Clay Center l'atriot.
Notwithstanding the republican poli
ticians and bosses gloated over the re
port that the new state treasurer could
not give bonds and Ihe people were dis
posed to believe that such was the case,
Mr. Meserve conies up with what Gov
ernor Holcomb pronounces the strong
est und best bond ever given by a state
officer in Nebraska. Those competent
to sign the bond are just a little more
disposed to sign the bond for a man
,who openly and without reserve de
clares his intention to comply with the
law, than to sign the bond of those who
deal with the political board of trade.
Auburn Granger.
The Nebraska Inekpkndk.nt has been
recently greatly improved. The ed
itorial paire is well seasoned with those
lofty, yet rigorous, practical, patriotic
utterances which made' William Lloyd
Garrison and Wendell Phillips heroes in
the 40's. and 60's. Columbus Argus.
A boy took a dog's bide to a tanner
to sell,
"Was the dog fat?" asked the tanner,
"why ho was the fattest dotr you ever
diti see.
"Then," replied the tanner. "I don't
want it, for the hides of fat dogs are
not first class."
"Now see here, mister," replied the
boy, "that dog was not so gaul darned
fat after all."
And now il appear that the good
times are not coming riirht away.
Weexiected the bubble to burst in a
few months but it has not outlived two
weeks.
That dog was not "so gaul darned
fat alter all." Ignatius Donnelly.
Senator Allen is determined that the
eight hour law, as applied to arovern
ment employes and employes of govern
ment contractors, shall not lw violated.
On Tuesday he offered a resolution to
inquire into the alleged violation of the
law by Brooklyn navy contractors.
Madison Reporter.
None of the states that voted for Bry
an send men like I'latt, Hanna cr Mad
den to the United States senate. Feats
of that kind are left, to those states
which stood like bulwarks apainut dis
honesty aud repudiation. Itocky Moun
tain News.
Why is it that the United States gov
ernment can not establish a postal sav
ings bank? There is no doubt such a
move would meet with the approval of
the majority of the people. Our Cana
dian neighbors have demonstrated that
such an institution can be maintained
successfully, so the claim can not be
made that it would be au experiment.
Thousands of people who have no confi
dence whatever in our present hanking
system would hail with joy the estab
lishment of a postal savings bank, and
millions of dollars now reposimr in safety
deposit vaults or hidden away would by
this means be placed in circulation.
The Typographical Journal.
"Never before was a irreat cause more
brilliantly and more ably championed;
never before was there such a combina
tion of adverse comments and bastile
forces to meet, while the forces of pluto
cracy and corruption will seat Mr. Mc-
Kinley, now the silent usher in Fame's
great temple will conduct the people's
champion to the highest place ot honor
In a free country a political party stands
for a principle not nn appetite. Today
we celebrate the birth of Andrew Jack
son, because he stood erect before the
children of men and defied the forces of
plutocracy." John P Altgeld.
"Government of the wisest." Do you
know where it existed? When it exist
ed? Governments of the strongest, gov
ernments of the craftiest, governments
of the richest, governments of the fattest,
these we recull, butgovernmentsof the
wisest . Yet we have been such. Wash
ington's was such. Lincoln's was such
And what kind of governments were
Washington's and Lincoln's? Repre
sentative in name. But in spirit? demo
cratic. The whole people was nroused.
alive to the issues which faced thecoun
try. The whole people demanded the
actions which stamped those adminis
trations ' wise. The details were in the
hands of the generals and secretaries,
but the policy was the Zeitgeist, breath
ing through and from the masses. 1 he
Altrurian.
All the leading nations of the world,
with the exception of two or three, have
postal savings banks, and all have bet
ter facilities for the accommodation of
savings depositors than has the United
States. While savings deposits in this
country have shown a gradual increase
during the past quarter of a ceutury,
the savings deposits and number of de
positors in countries having postal sav
ings banks have grown by leaps and
bounds. In the United States 80 per
cent of the savings banks anil savings
deposits are in the New England states
and New York. Throughout the west
and south, except in the great centers of
population, it is impossible for private
enterprise to furnish saving facilities suf
ficient to meet the needs of the people.
Besides, the depositor of small means
frequently is not able to pick out from
private banks those that are safe, and
consequently will trust none, whereas all
should have confidence in an institution
controlled by the national government.
Postal savings banks would contribute
materially to the wealth and happiness
of the people and to the stability of the
tif thu government. Congress should
not dvlny longer in establishing them.
Trades Review.
Senator Jones, chairman of the d3ino
cratic national committee, is not dis
couraged over the out look for the de
mocracy. Replying; to a lotter to a
prominent western politician recently,
lie wrote: "I don't ntrree with the
gloomy view yon take of our efforts.
When we polled a million more votes
than Cleveland did four years ago, when
he was saiii to have carried the country
by a landslide, we certainly have accom
plished a great deal, especially when we
remember what the feeling of the party
was when, the Chicago convention met.
Another thing is a matter of decided
satisfaction to me, and that is that we
polled at leant two-thirds of all of the
intelligent votes in this country. The
large republican vote embraced millions
of Negroes and utterly unlettered for
eigners, who have no conception of the
genius of our government, no appre
ciation of the obligations of citizenship,
and no idea of economic questions. In
this country I believe that intelligence is
bound to win, and considering the fact
that the overwhelming majority of
Americans and the overwhelming ma
jority of intelligent men on our side in
tins controversy, 1 see nothing to dis
hearten us. Sutler County Press.
Insult to Injury.
It's enough to give a man a pain in his
right-hand lung to hear the pops yelling
for the promised good times that were
to follow McKitiley's election. They
seetn to tliink that as soon an it is known
that they are defeated that hogs ought
to get lat in one night, and mi-ear of
corn ought to swell up to the size of a
half bushel. 1 hey are great fellows to
believe in magic and legerdemain. York
Times.
Well, darn your picture, is there any
thing wrong in nskinir you to fulfill your
promise, or kicking because you lied to
us? Didn't you tell us all through the
campaign that prosperity would come
the minute Mckinley was elected? Has
it come? You lied when you said it.
You knew you lied, and we know that
you knew that you lied. We do not be
lieve in your "mngic and legerdemain."
We did not believe it when yon prom
ised it. We said it was false, and now
Rich, Red
Blood
1 absolutely essential to health. It Is Impos
sible to get it from so called - nerve duties "
and opiate compounds. They have tempo
rary, sleeping effects, but do not (TKE. To
have pure blood and good health, take
Hood's Sarsaparilla, which has first, last,
and all the time, lieen advertised as Just
what it is the best medicine lor the blood
ever produced, lu tact,
rui
in
Sarsaparilla
Istlie One True Blood l'tiriller. All druggists, ft
li it rj'll asslst Digestion andciire
IIOOU S PUIS Constipation, us cents.
wi have the proof of it, as we have had
the proof of every prediction we have
made. Go soak your head, Tim. You're
a political chestnut. Instead of abusing
the pops because they remind you of
your false promises, go down on your
marrow bones and apologize to the hon
est republican suckers whom you and
vour party fooled into self-destruction.
Tell them the truth, for once. Admit
that you lied to them, wilfully, ma
liciously and diabolically, because Mark
Hanna told you to. Promise them that
you are sorry for it, that you are
ashamed of it, Hiid that henceforth you
will try to be honest, truthful and pa
triotic. They may condone your heinouscrime.
but can never forget it. Adding insult
to injury will never brim you the re
spect and eonfidedeo of honest men.
Clay County Putriot.
CORPORATION INTIMIDATIONS.
How it was Practiced in Indiana. From
a Man on the Ground.
The following letter was received by a
gentleman residing at Bartlett, this
state, who kindly gave it to the Inde
pendent for, publication:
Goshen, Ind., Dec., 18, 189(5.
Mr. R. II. Shapland,
Dear Sir: Your favor recently received.
I was glad to hear from you and to
learn your sentiments on gold standard
rule. Your sentiments agree with mine
as well as thousands of others in north
ern Indiana. I can safely say that had
the laboring mnsses of northern Iudiana
understood the coil of the rope that was
being wound about them their ballot
would have been cast unanimously for
Bryan.
In the littie city of Goshen we have a
population of 10.000 souls and from 30
to JJ5 factories, large and small. Some
of these mills employ as high as 150
hands and one factory employs 300
hands when running with full force.
Their managers posted notices that on
Monday following the el.ction, if Mc
Kinley was electedf they would start the
mills with their full quota of hands an
Ml
Our
time
OS
mm
LAST
01 worth
AND FURNISHING GOODS.
To be almost given away before February ist. Be among the shrewd buyers
and secure your share of Browning, King & Co.'s Fine Merchandise at prices
actually less than cost of raw materian.
Owing to the fact that the time is
forced to make greater reductions than ever in order to close out our siock.
Now! Now! Now is the accepted time! Now is the day for bargains! Buy
for your present needs! Buy for your future wants! There is no way
you can invest your money where you will get as large returns as you sure
ly will by investing in our truly MONEY-SAVING BARGAINS.
OWNING,
in this way they fooled the people-into
voting against their own interests. Now
I mention Goshen because I . live thew
niltl WHM R flf'tllV llAtlil ITiru..ll' ut th..
time and know what lam talking about.
F.lkhart is another manufacturing city
situated ten miles north of Goshen. Elk
hart is a railroad division city and has
a Dot n lit t ioti of IN (Will Kiilu it .
ceived the same promises before election
nini is suuermg me same disappoint
ment.
In the ritu fit Smithlinml uilnntu.l
about twenty miles west of Goshen,
there were 5,000 people on the streets
begging for bread or work a few days
ugo. Southbend has about 25,000 pop
ulation. How the people are wishing
they had the chance to vote again. Well
1 will close this subject or I will get to
talking politics. A. F. Summy.
Legislative Chip.
House roll 101, by Rouse of Hall, pro
vides that the county clerk, if ha has any
reason to believe an assessor's returns
are not right, may by compulsory pro
cess compel the attendance of the person
whose property is assessed, who shall
submit to an examination. If it shall be
found that he has concealed anything,
he shall be made to pay the costs en
tailed by the xamination. .
Sheldon's bills for the establishment of
the initiative and referendum system of
legislation tire doubtless tlm most im
portant bills yet introduced. They
divide all legislative acts into two classes,
urgent measures and those not urgent.
Urgent measures may not be passed ex
cept by a vole of three-fourths of the
members of the legislature. All "not
urgent" bills by the legislature go into
effect ninety days after they are
passed, all others immediately on pas
sage. During these ninety days, by pe
tition of the voters, the "non-urgent"
bills may be ordered presented by the
electors for confirmation. Five per
cent of the electors are required to t-Vko
the initiative in any measure. If the
legislature does not heed the request of
the voters, the bill shall go to the
electors for their decision.
" House roll No. 107, by Wiebe of Hall,
is a bill to repeal the net creatirg the
soldiers' and sailors' home at Milford,
which was recommended in Governor
II olco nib's message.
Hull of Harlan has a bill to appropri
ate $25,000 towards making a Nebraska
exhibit at the centennial anniversary of
the admission of Tennessee to the union
in 1897, at which time an exposition will
be held at Nashville.
A bill by Stebhius of 'Lincoln . county
provides a stay of three years after
property has been sold on execution,
order or decree.
A bill by Lindell of Douglas recog
nizes the modern tendency towards ex
clusiveness. In the same way that doc
tors, dentists and professional men have
hedged themselves about by laws
restricting competition, Liddell proposes
to protect the horseshoer and the wair
onmaker. His bill provides that a horse
shoer who puts' shoes on ahorse or a
wngonmaker who fixes a wagon has a
lien on the horso or wagon till his
claim is paid. Lindell also wishes to
create a state board to examine horse-
shoers and to provide that no black
smith can shoe horses mm! they have
Losing
him
CALL
lease expires February ist.'at which
we will discontinue business at Lfncolu.
(Nothing,
BARGAINS SUPREME:-
short and money is so scarce we are
KIN
1013-1019 O STREET.
proved, by passing an examination.tlmt
they nre competent,
A bill by Burkett of Lancaster pro
poses the adoption fJf f he blanket ballot
whereby one can vote the straight party
by making a single mark on the official
ballot and th designation of tbe parties
thereon by partv emblems.
The Aug was flying 'over the senate
chamber today, a new one having been
secured, but not one with the required
number of stars.
Hon. G. M. Hitchcock will speak before
the committee on finance at the open
meeting Tuesdny evening to discuss the
Traus-Mississippi exposition.
Dr. Hall today sucwded R. II. Town
ley as secretary of the banking board
and all of the old examiners have been
notified that their terms have expired.
The board was informed that one of
them was hiiHtling as he had never
hustled before, trying to examine eight ,
banks in seven days so thut he would
secure the fees.
I It not Quenched, That Christmas Star?
Is it not quench d, that 'Christmas star,
That shone so bright o'er Bethlehem's
plain?
Has it not set 'neath clouds of doubt
And hopeless, waiting, weary paiu?
Is it not hushed, that angel song,
That filled, that night, the Christinas
skies?
Is it not stilled by battle's roar.
By maniac shrieks, starvation's sighs?
Alas for him who hopes to see
The star the wise men followed then,
Or hopes to hear the angles call,
"Peace now on earth good will to men."
For Bethlehem's star can ouly shine
In eyes, that having looked on grief
And sin und death and agony,
Live but to bring to each relief.
And anthems, sung by angel choirs,
That tilled with joy the earth and skies,
Are hushed. No ungel speaks of peace
Save those who walk in human guise.
Paul C. R. Stone.
How'i This?
We olt'tr On Hundred Dollar! Reward (or any
ens n Catarrh tbat can not be sored by Hall's
Catarrh Cure,
F. 3. CHENEY ft CO.. Prop!., Toledo, 0,
We, the nnderalsned, have knows V. 1. Cheney
lor the Inst 15 yenri and believe him perfectly
honorable In all business transaction and finan
cially able to carrj ont any obligation! made
hv their Arm.
Went ft Tmax. Wholesale DrURKlnt", Toledo, O.j
Waldliiff, Kluiian ft Marvin, Wholesale Drofr
glut, Toledo, O.
Hitll'eCatiirrh Care le taken Internally, artln
directly on the blood and mucous surfaces ut the
evetom. Price, 75c per bottle. Sold by ail drufc
glate. Testimonial! tree.
MISSING LINKS.
Kite flying is one of the chief sporti
of the adult Malays.
Tattersalls, the famous horse resort
was founded In 1766.
Last year 17,500,000 pounds of hop
were imported from the United State
by British brewers. ' ,
A Richmond (Me.) woman has work
ed twenty-five years In a Lewlston
mill, the most of the time at the on
loom. '
Rlpans Tabules: pleasant laxative.
Out
Sae!
Hats.
&
CO
V
'e j
A1
it'
f 1
f. ' I
