Document No. 12.] [Session 1881. Ordered to be Printed, P. M. Hale and Edwards, Broughton & Co., State Printers and Binders, REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DI- RECTORS OF THE ASYLUM FOR THE COLORED INSANE.* Goldsboro, N. 0., Dec. 28, 1880. Hi a Excellency Thos. J. Jarvis, Governor of North Carolina : Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report re- lative to the completion and management of the N. C. Asy- lum for the colored Insane, located near Goldsboro. As has been stated in my last report, this property is lo- cated on a tract of land containing 175 acres, immediately on the North Carolina Railroad, about two miles west of the town of Goldsboro. The land was purchased for the State for the sum of $5,000. The site upon which the Asylum buildings have been erected is elevated and in full view of the North Carolina Railway. The location is a desirable one, quite lrealthy, and Little River furnishes an endless supply of water. The Board of Directors were fortunate in contracting for the building of the Asylum at a time when building mate- rials and labor were at their lowest rate, and I feel warrant- ed in saying that the property is decidedly cheap. The 2 Document No. 12. fSession Board has exercised all proper economy, both in the erec- tion and completion of the building, as also in the manage- ment of the Institution since it was opened for patients. The total cost of the property is about $42,000, which in- cludes the Asylum building proper, kitchen, heating and cooking arrangements, water works, gas fixtures, furni- ture, etc. To keep within the appropriation ($40,000) we were forced to adopt the hot-air furnace plan for heating the building, it being several thousand dollars cheaper than the plan rec- ommended by the architect, and does the heating well and satisfactorily, however much the other might be preferred. Owing to unexpected delay in getting brick, the contrac- tors failed to complete the buildings as early as was con- templated. Again, the absence of an appropriation for the support of the Institution retarded its opening, but being assured by your Excellency that the needed funds should be forthcoming, the Asylum was thrown open to patients the first of last August. As will be seen from Dr. Moore’s report, (superintendent of the Asylum,) the total number of patients received and cared for up to December / 1st, 1880, was 91, and there have been some received since that period, so that the Institution is filled about to its capacity, and as near as we can estimate from 75 to 100 colored insane re- main to be cared for in different parts of the State. Appli- cations for admittance continue to come in. It is estimated (see Col. Fremont’s report) that $20,000 will erect and complete the other wing of the building, orig- inally designed, which would double its present capacity. I hope your Excellency will recommend that the General Assembly make the needed appropriation in order that the capacity may be speedily enlarged sufficient to accommo- date as many more as the number of patients now cared for, and thus relieve a number of counties of the expense and annoyance in caring for the insane, and afford to the un- fortunate beings that proper care and treatment it is impos- 1881.] Document No. 12. 3 sible for them to receive in the jails and county poor houses. The estimated annual cost of maintaining the Asylum at its present capacity of 100 patients may be stated in round figures to be $16,000, and I would respectfully ask that an annual appropriation to that amount be made. This esti- mate is based upon the expenditures of the past five months. It is hoped that the expenses can be reduced some the com- ing year, relying on supplies from the farm, etc. It may be proper here to state that we have endeavored to cultivate a portion of the Asylum lands the present year, with reasonable fair results, the fact considered that no ef- forts in that direction were made until the month of April, and such other drawbacks as are mentioned in the Steward’s report accompanying this, and which, it is hoped will not be encountered next season. The land is now in a good state for cultivation. The present manner of drawing the necessary funds for the support of the Asylum might be greatly improved, and I would respectfully ask that your Excellency recommend to the General Assembly some system by which the finan- cial affairs can be more simplified and rendered less cum- brous. Under the present law the State Treasurer is the Treasurer of the Asylum, and the distance from Raleigh to Goldsboro considered, renders great inconvenience to the Directors, and especially to the State Treasurer. I would ask that the necessary funds be placed from time to time in the Goldsboro bank by the State Treasurer, sub- ject to the drafts of the Asylum officers, propeily endorsed by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, J. W. VICK, Ch’m’n B’cl Directors Colored Insane Asylum.