Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • 1

I J- JnLJjj AILY LARION. 1 A T-7" yv JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1877. Number 122 THE DAILY CLAEION Daii Clarion will be delivered to every morning, by faithful I Li' 1 1 Inft in nnatnfRia X0 rS OT will kujwuivc, jre- 'orders for the paper should be sent to rC0unting Room. THE WEEKLY CLAEION I ublished every Wednead-y morning. Two epaj postage on both editions.

BY THK DOZEN COPIES. (risking extra copies of either edition nested to give notice, in the case of the evening prior to publication, and nf the Weekly, on Tuesday morning, i 40 cent9 per dozen Weekly, 75 cents dozen. Dally Advertising: ftsiles. 'rrrrr loo 'At, 1 w. 2 w.

1.00 2.00 3.00, 5.00 3 w. I 4 7.00, 8.00 3.00 6.00, 7.00 8.50,10.00 lilt siijo "f.OO; 8M 12.00 i 7.50; 10.00, 15.00 20.00; 25.00 I i i lj'jjjOAX) 2.o6: 15.00! V5.00 30.001 40.00 tTTiuare i3niae lines solid minion. If Local, or special notices, 15 cents per line pub insertion. llnchJlUO; 3.00 Col. 4-00 General Directory STATE GOVERNMENT.

i firnsK Governor. i kinloch Falconer, Secretary Executive Apartment and Adjutant General. Sims, ex-otlicio Lieutenant Governor. L'j Hill, Secretary of State. I Lawrence W.

Minor Chief Clerk. fa. Hemingway Treasurer. Sli.Gihbf, Auditor Public Accounts, jooes S. Hamilton, Deputy Auditor.

o. E. Harrif Attorney General. reph Bard well, 1 of Public Education. Mary Moraucy State Librarian and Keeper of the Capitol.

1 U. S. SENATORS. fines L. Alcorn.

expires M'rch, 4, 1877 K.Bruce Term expires March, 4, 1881 REPRESENTATIVES. q. C.Lamar, First District. Wiley Wells, Second District. D.

Money Third District. Siujleton, Fourth District, E. Hooker, Fifth District, fca.R. Lynch, Sixth District, THE COURTS. SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI.

foratio F. Chief Justice. I. Chalmers, Associate Justice. 4 A.

P. Campbell Geo. h. Harris and Uraham 11. bimrall, Reporters.

A. W. Little Clerk. UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT. I The regular terms are held in Jackson on the it Mondays in May and November.

Robert IlLJudgt; Geo.T. Swann, Clerk. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT commences for the Northern Dia-Tict, at Oxford, on the first Monday in June alDecember. Robert A. Hill, Judge; J.

H. Clerk. Session commences for the Southern Dia-ict, at Jackson, on the fourth Mondays of ke and January. Geo. T.

Swann, Clerk. Officers Hinds County. ta'l B. Thomas, Sheriff, Raymond. 'A.

J. Willis, Deputy, at Raymond. Wm. H. Taylor, Deputy, at Jackson.

J. Kerr, Deputy, at Jackson. I T. Ratliff, Chancery Clerk, Raymond jjWtn.W. Downing, Deputy, at Raymond Alfred G.

Moore, Deputy, at Jackson If. Edwards, Circuit Clerk, Raymond Wl Liviutrston, Deputy, at Jackson P. Currie, Treasurer, TXfica SB.QreaTes, Assessor, Clinton pry C. Daniel, Surveyor, Jackson. H.

Tribette, Coroner and Ranger Terry. pe8heriff, Circuit and Chancery Clerks fe.oSices in Jackson for the 1st Judicial Ir.fCt of Hinds. SUPERVISORS. District J. A.

Home Clinton. District Geo-. H. Uiati-it 1 T.1 1 it. liunaius.

District John Shelton, Raymond. District J. F. Tatom Cyram. f'gular meetings are held on the Monday Feeding Circuit Court, and may continue in oufour days.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FIFTH D1ST. Boyd, Jackson. auel Hudson Terry. Constables Fifth District. Clingaa, Jackson.

al- Jourdon, Terry Public Institutions. tJfATlc Asylum. Dr. W. M.

Compton, Su Dr. James Mc Willie, Ass't Su- Mrs. S. E. Compton, Matron; I Qill, Steward.

Board Trustees I K- Wirt Johnston. Isaiah Mitchell, Rhode, Gibbs' W- IIemiQK-p Tohnston. Secretary and W. iingway TI 1 fUr in Chas. II.

Tal KXeaXi kv Vf'n -Vniss. Matron, acilers Miss Bet tie Cab. --vlnr Jno IG k9B- Gotthelf, II. M.Avlor",n0-lreath, J. W.

Huff. W. S. Langley, Tyt Teachers in the Literary and Musi- 7Prtment8. skellenger, Master ot fcraft; G.

Roacb Literary Teacher in "epariment. woara oi iruiB Geo- L- Potter, J. II. Boyd, Go emJthe, Thos.E. Helm SOCIETY DIRECTORY.

MASONIC. GRAND nonnra. i "D0DQE. John Y.Murrv. Grand Mas- J.L.Power, Cand Secreta- I Next Communication at Vicks- wt Wednesday in February, 1877.

i8lA0JAL Arch Chapter. W. H. Wal- Hi's" u- Holly Springs; J. L.

Power Hat VMary' Jackson. Next Conveca-. icksburg, Februarv 5. 1877. COCKCIL R.

An AflTEHS. P. M. x- Qpand Master, Baldwyn. Cnwu Tr ii k.

win cv1 i hi 'Clifton Grand Commander, Colum- rower, Grand Recorder, Jackson, THE LUHATIC ASYLUM. Reports of the Trustees and Superintendent REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES. To His Excellency, J. M. STONE, Governor of the State of Mississippi The pleasant duty of transmitting to your Excellency the annual Keport of the various officers connected with the State lunatic Asylum again recurs, and we congratulate ourselves that these reports show conclusively the ability and efficiency with which this great public charity has been administered.

Responding to the call of the Legislature, itself provoked by the necessities of the people, we have, during the past year, cut down the expenses of the Institution to the lowest point compatible with the wants of the inmates. We invite the committees of the Legislature to a severely critical examination of our records, accounts, books and vouchers, and shall be happy, at all times, to aid them in any such proposed examination of them. The accompanying reports are so full and exhaustive that we might rest content by forwarding them, as we do, with our unqualified approval; but a sense of duty impels us to add a few words of our own. The Asylum is now crowded, but perfectly clean and in a healthy condition. Every particle of-furniture, bedding, contained in it has been renewed since the year eighteen hundred and seventy.

Common Christian charity, however, demands the completion of the new wing, now so far advanced, and its preparation for the reception of patients. As it is designed purely for female applicants, we feel no hesitation in pressing the matter, through you, upon the attention of the Legislature. One hundred applicants, some of them in the common jails of the counties, are now clamorous for admission and treatment, aud their appeals cannot pass unheeded by the representatives of a people so prone as ours to sympathize with the afflicted and distressed. The reports of the Superintendent and Steward show how we have handled aud husbanded tha small appropriation made, at our request, for the protection of this new wing. That appropriation, under our management, more than sufficed to accomplish the work intended, and the excess has wisely been expended in furthering the object in view.

If the sum now asked, be appropriated for the completion of the building, we assure your Excellency, and, 'through you, the Legislature, it will be economically and judiciously expended. We claim, even now, that we have the best Asylum in the South and if it be extended so as to afford a refuge to all the insane in the State who require its agency for relief, we shall feel that the claims upon the charity of the State, in that respect, have been fully met. There is a splendid young orchard attached to the Institution, which will afford an abundance of good fruit to its inmates during all coming years, if a kind Providence smile upon our efforts. The stock of cattle and hogs has been improved and can fairly compete with any in the country. The farm is poor, but by good cultivation with willing amateur laborers, and the use of cheap fertilizers, it has been made very productive.

The products of the farm and garden, for the past year, equal in value the sum of $9,084.60. 7 The average cost in the1 United States of maintaining iusane persons is $4.50 a week for each patient. This includes the item of clothing. The average cost per week in the Government Asylum at Washington, with its free access to government supplies, is $4.33 per each patient. We think the Asylum, under our charge, can be conducted on this basis.

At the begin. ling of the past year, there were on hand 324 patients; at its close, 336. An appropriation of $60,00 will answer for the Asylum as it is. If the new wing is finished and furnished for the reception of patients, an additional appropriation will be required, at the rate of about $225 per annum for each patient. Your Excellency has presided over our meetings and deliberations during the past year almost constantly, aud you have been cognizant of the motives which prompted our whole action.

While returning therefor our grateful thanks for the uniform courtesv which has marked your presidency and the kindly interest you have always taken in the comfort and pleasure of the unfortunate people committed to our charge, we appeal to you, as the Governor of a great and brave commonwealth, to aid us in firmly and fully establishing and completing the Lunatic Asylum in making it the great monument to the charity of our State and thus reminding our impoverished people that we are never so poor as to be deaf to the calls of mercy sounded in our ears by the hopeless victims of insanity. We have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your Excellency's obedient servants, W. L. NUGENT, W. H.

GIBBS, W. L. HEMINGWAY, WIRT JOHNSTON, ISAIAH MITCHELL, Trustees. ANNUAL REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT. lo ike Board of Trustees of the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum Gentlemen: In submitting this, my seventh Annual Report of the operations of this Institution, I desire to express the gratification I feel in being able to inform you that this has, in every important respect, been the most successful year under its present management.

We have accommodated more patients have had more recoveries and fewer deaths, comparatively, than in any year of the seven, and all this with a relatively smaller outlay of money. Notwithstanding our wards have been constantly crowded beyond their legitimate capacity, we have had no accident, no calamity, no important collision. We have been blessed with a perfect immunity from epidemics of every kind nor have we been afflicted with many sporadic cases of disease, other than those which are either directly or remotely connected with the disorder which accompanied the patient to the Asylum The annexed tables not only contain a condensed history ot the- Institution from the beginning, but vill give you a concise view of its actual status at the close of this year. It mav be merely a coincidence, but it is nevertheles a notable iJr that a larger proportion of patients of the educated, and former wealthy, classes has been admitted into Asylum mlLeUton than during any previous year of I nnection with the Institution. The history of insanity the lt twelve years does not show that ihe-num-te case altributable to "the results of the war is as great as oMlptfo nsvcholofrist ght have anticipated.

That the 'noSiaon of battles, running through four terrible ordeal otwathSYt7 constantly growing list of killed and anxious years, with t3 consu findefeatterminati a Sid effect upon the minds of men and women, resulting had a marked eg li have been reasonably expected in many cases lDnSuthen. Asylums do not show that these but the jittjt istics except to an extent tar could have hoped for. Can it be that the variety aud maguitude of these aggregated disasters, instead of crushing the hearts of the people, had the effect to arouse in them a spirit of determination to throw off aud rise above the accumulated calamities which oppressed them, and thus called into exercise a stronger and mors anti'v rir.ql pneror physical and mental, than they had ever known before Under the stimulation of a determined will, braiu and muscle can work wonders, but exhaustion will sooner or later follow over-exertion. Then, may it not be that some of those who entered the contest at first with stout arms and manly hearts, full of hope and promise, are now proving unequal to the conflict Excessive effort ends in prostration, and the victim finds his way at length to the Asylum, bowed with melancholia or raving with mania. We have had quite a number of cases during the past year whose history aud surroundings painfully suggest the above speculation.

C.s limn. 1 I 4. I 1 wuuic ui uiciu wave? given up me struggle ior existence entirely and have died, while others have happily recovered and gone home with recuperated strength and burnished armor, to engage in tne name oi me again. THE UNFINISHED WIXO. Occupying a position that gives me a better acquaintance with the wants oi tne insane ct the estate than any one else, and becoming, in that respect, their mediator and mouth-piece.

I feel. in view of the approaching session of the Legislature," that the highest duty 1 owe is to urge, in the strongest language at my command, that a sufficient appropriation be made, at once, to complete and furnish, ready for occupancy, the unfinished wing to the female department of the Asylum. I have written and said so much on the subject of the enlargement of the Asylum to a capacity equal, at least, to the pressing demands for admission, and have sung the song so often, that I now and then find myself wondering why somebody else has not caught the tune. I have, time and again, demonstrated by an array of fact3, compiled from the best authorities, that as a measure of economy, aside from any considerations of charity, it is absolutely cheaper to the State, in the long run, to provide more room for the insane than rcay be actually needed, than it is not to have enough of room to accommodate all the cases as they occur. But I do not propose to discuss this point now.

The argument is based upon the established fact that recent cases of insanity, under proper treatment, are curable while chronic insanity is incurable, and the proposition i3 fully illustrated in all the sta tistics of all the Asylums. (See table No. of this report.) But leaving out ot the question all other considerations, I approach the Legislature in the name of that common sentiment of humanity which animates us all when the object is praiseworthy. There are not less than one hundred female applicants on our register to-day! Many of them are curable if they receive early treatment. Many of them are doomed to permanent insanity if uot treated early.

Then consider the incessant worry and distress of all the families and relatives and friends of these unfortunates who have not the means and appliances for properly caring for them' at home! Remember, too, that all these families and rela tives and friends have already contributed their quota of taxes to the State to give shelter, food, clothing and medical attention to those who have been and are now being provided for at the public expense. They are continuing to pay these taxes, and are paying' them to day, without a murmur but in this, their hour of sore they do ask the Legislature to give them a share of this great public charity Justice and humanity back their claim WHAT WILIi IT COST It will be remembered that twelve months ago the walls of the new wing were incomplete. The Legislature made an appropriation of $8,730, which sum was deemed sufficient to finish the walls, put on the roof and protect the work against damage by exposure. Under your skillful and judicious management this has been done. The roof is on the floors are laid the windows are in the gutters and pipes are fixed.

Thus stretching the appropriation far beyond the original estimate. An estimate made by Mr. Willis, the architect, at my request, shows that it will require the sum of 19,000 to complete the building in all its parts. To furnish it and prepare it to be occupied, will require about So that an appropriation, in round numbers, of $23,000, promptly applied, will soon enable us to open our doors for the reception of between 80 and 100 of this most unfortunate class of our afflicted people. Regarding this as the most important matter connected with the insane of the State, I shall not obscure it with a recital of minor wants.

If you, gentlemen, will induce the Legislature to complete and furnish the new wing, you will accomplish a great good. CHRONIC, HARMLESS AND INCURABLE PATIENTS. I respectfully call your attention to an Act, approved March 4th, 1875, and suggest that one of the sections might be made more effective by an amendment. One object of that Act was to enable the Board of Trustees and Superintendent of the Asylum to send to their homes, or to their counties, a number of chronic imbeciles the accumulation of years and thus make room for acute and violent cases. I quote the section of the Act referred to: Sec.

3. Be it farther enacted, That in furtherance of the object of this Act, it shall be the duty of said Superintendent and Board of Trustees to give one month's notice to the parents, ruardian3, relatives and friends of such of the present inmates of said Asylum, and such as may be hereafter admitted as are chronic, harmless and incurable, and are known to have any such parents, guardians, relatives or friends, and if no such parents, guardians, relatives or friends are known, or, if being notified, as aforesaid, they shall neglect or fail to take such patient away within a reasonable time, said Superintendent and Trustees shall notify the President of the Board of Supervisors of the county from which said patient was brought to said Asylum, and the President aforesaid shall issue his order to the sheriff of his county, directing him to return said patient to such county, and the relatives aforesaid, if any within the degrees provided by law in such cases, shall be charged with the care, custody and maintenance of said patient, if able, and responsible therefor; but otherwise, such patient shall be provided for by the county, as a pauper, and the expenses of returning such patients to the county shall be paid by the relatives aforesaid, if responsible as aforesaid, and otherwise out of the county poor fund." You are aware that we have had some difficulty in having the terms of that section complied with. In most instances the "parents', friends or guardians" have come forward very promptly when requested to do so, but even with some of them I have had to engage in the luxury of a six months' correspondence. In the absence of "parents, guardians, friends," etc, I have found the Presidents of Boards of Supervisors and Sheriffs, as a general rule, punctual and prompt in responding to official notifications. But in two notable instances the county officials have failed to comply with the law.

I have long since found that there is no virtue in polite letters to Viem. I suggest that the Legislature authorize us to try something else. Perhaps an appropriate fine il 1 Ml 1- 1 for neglect or retusal to comply wun ine law win nave an awaKen-ing effect It is a good law, and ought to be enforced. CONDITION OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS. tliink wfi haves not made as manv improvements and repairs A.

A. trpnr ns usual, although, as vou eentlemen are aware, we have not been idle nor negligent in this regard. To keep up such a DUllulllg 3 LUIS requires buuaiaut taie auu vv. tion to ihe wear and tear of time, the population of our household i3 not of that class who make the most careful and tidy "RrnlrAn winrtnwfi Rnrrfn rlsterinr and ft thousand other injuries and defacements hav6 to be looked after. This we have endeavored to do.

A commodious wood-shed is the oiily addition that we have been able to make. In general terms, I may say that we are doing tolerably well. It i3 true that ur 'Asylum lacks a great many things to raise it to that high standard of excellence to which I would try to bring it, if the means were at hand but under all the circumstances whicft surround the tax-payers of the State, there should be a meusure of consolation in the fact that our insane poor are well sheltered, comfortably clothed, abundantly supplied with good substantial food, and well nursed. Perhaps we are doing as well for them as we aro able to do. OUR EXPENDITURES.

In many respects our current expeuses have been considerably reduced this year. While we have not stinted our patients in any material respect, we have to a certain extent been compelled to cut the garment to suit the cloth." At the beginning of the year we calculated to have an average of 325 patients. By a process of crowding we have brought this average up to 340, and for awhile we had 350. This of itself required a trimming down of expenses. To meet this demand, a reduction of salaries and wages upon an average of about 20 per cent, was made.

In some instances this seemed to be a hardship, but we have all lived, and are to-day in a healthy state of preservation lower wnsres notwithstanding In the purchase of coal (a large item with us) we have been fortunate iu being able to buy at much lower rates than ever before, as shown by the Steward's report. In addition to this, we ready cash all the year and have been able to the cheapest market. As our bills will show, whenever it was practicable to do so, wo have bought in wholesale quantities and at wholesale prices. I have long desired this financial arrangement. As long ago as 1870, iu my first Annual Report, I used this language 44 It has been the custom with the Legislature heretofore, in making its appropriations for the support of the Asylum, to divide it into quarterly instalments, to be drawn from the Auditor, upon the approval of the Governor.

Now, inasmuch as the bulk of purchases is made twice, and only a twice, a year, that is, in the spring and autumu, and as our resources are at both times limited to the quarterly instalment, we are compelled to make these purchases in a market where we can get credit, so that we may run into a future quarter. For instance, in the months of August and September, we are compelled to purchase and lay up our fuel for winter. Before the expiration of the same quarter, we are compelled to buy our wiuter supply of blankets, clothing, shoes, and at the same time keep up the current expenses for food, wages, etc. To do all this requires more raonev than is al lowed for one quarter. This, it will be seen at a glance, places us at a disadvantage in the markets of the world.

In many of the staple articles we might well enter the wholesale market. The present arrangement, though, simply compels us to buy at retail and at credit prices, and shuts us out from a choice of markets. 1 would suggest, therefore, that the appropriation for the support of the lustitution, however well guarded it may be, should, at all times, be 'open to the Board of Trustee upon the approval of the Governor." This change was soon made, but it is not always easy to get out of an old groove even a business groove. But we are happily out of it at last, and I sincerely trust that the Legislature will enable us to remain on the high ground that we have reached after so laborious a struggle. lhis brings me to a consideration of the ESTIMATE FOR 1877.

On this subject, you, gentlemen, who are so well acquainted with the actual necessities of the Asvlum, and who have inspected the bills of the Steward so closely, are as well prepared to make suggestions to the Legislature U3 I am. lou will bear in mind, as the Steward's report will show, that we have received from paying patients a considerably larger sum this year than usual. This source of revenue has helped us this year. We may not have that resource next year. Nearly everything we have had to buy this year has been cheap.

Those articles may be higher next year. These contingencies must not be overlooked. Again, if the Legislature should see the necessity of completing the new wing, as I feel it, and as I earnestly hope it will do, the support of the inmates of that wing will have to be provided for from the day of its opening. The amount will of course depend upon date. You may be able to make an ap proximative estimate before the adjournment of the Legislature.

At all events, the appropriation for that purpose may be made contingent and placed under the control of the Board of Trustees and the Governor. STEWARD'S REPORT. The Steward's fiuancial report has been made to you monthly, but appended to this you will find his consolidated report for the whole year, lie has also prepared a report of the products of the farm and garden which may not be uninteresting to you. I need scarcely say that much of the work done on the farm and in the garden has been cheerfully and willingly done by inmates of the Institution. THE MATRON'S REPORT Will show what has been done in her department, as well as by the Seamstress.

If in the tables or in ray remaks I have omitted to give full and accurate information on the subject discussed, or if I have failed to touch upon any matter upon which any member of the Legislature may desire information, I shall be glad to have an opportunity to supply the deficiency when ray attention is called to it. With this view I respectfully invite the Legislature, and especially the appropriate committees, to a thorough inspection of our Institution, books, papers, etc. GENERAL REMARKS. Tn reviewing the transactions of the past vear. while at every cy a step we have been aware of short comings, and conscious of an inability to accomplish all we desired, yet, upon the whole, we are somewhat comforted with the reflection that we have done our best.

We have not found it necessary to make any changes in thfi management of the Asvlurn. The same officers are with me yet. To the efficiency and faithfulnes3 with which I have been sustained and assisted by them and their subordinates is due whatever of success has attended our efforts. Experienced in their duties, with their hearts and heads in their work, they are entitled to the thank3 cf all the friends of the insane. We repeat our stereotyped expression of thanks to those editors and publishers who have gratuitously sent their papers to us.

We regret that we can only exchange our annual for their weeklies. CONCLUSION. Heretofore, in my annual reports, I have indulged in a fondness for discussing and speculating upon some subject connected -with my duties, but I have thought that it would be more acceptable to the members of the Legislature and to the friends of patients if I should give them an insight into the internal workings of the Asylum by "lifting the veil," as it were. I have, therefore, revised our rules (subject to your approval) and here with hand you a copy, and suggest that they be printed as an appendix to this report. And now, gentlemen of the Board of Trustees, I bring my report to a close.

I do not know how, and I shall not make the attempt, to thank you for the many acts of kindness which you have extended to me and to the Asylum. All our intercourse, official and personal, justifies you in taking some things for granted. Actuated by a common desire to bring this noble charity to its greatest usefulness, our counsels have been without discord. As joint guardians of this High Trust, let us invoke the blessings of God upon our future Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. M.

COMPTON, Superintendent. December 31it, 1876. 1.