1. Alterations and improvements to existing buildings upon the site, and for dormitories and other structures in connection with the farm groups. 2. The construction of a dam to provide for water storage, and for the installation of the main water system of the village. 3. The construction of the main sewer of the village, and for one section of the sewage disposal plant. 4. The employment by the State Architect of architectural, engineering, and other expert assistants. Both branches of the Legislature passed a second act carrying additional appropriations. Owing to lack of available revenue, Governor Hughes felt compelled to veto items representing a total expenditure of $375,000, providing for the construction of a laundry, bakery, storehouse, cold storage building, power plant, bridge and conduits, electric lines and conduits, steam conduits and piping, employees' building and dormitories. The items which received the approval of the Governor provide for the construction of farm buildings, the superintendent's residence, and an icehouse, and appropriated one-quarter of the total cost of these buildings. A spur track, one and a quarter miles in lengtn, connecting the institution with the Erie railroad, has already been constructed. Two dormitories, to provide for 100 feeble-minded men, are now under construction, and alterations and improvements to three houses are also under way. The two farm groups, each composed of a dwelling-house and a dormitory building, will accommodate fifty feeble-minded men and the necessary employees. The Secor and Burger houses, which are now being remodeled, will provide accommodations for the employees and will also contain the kitchens and patients' diningrooms. The new dormitories each have two wards of twenty-five beds and a central toilet section. These colonies will be complete in themselves and, as a temporary water supply and a sewage disposal system are being installed, can be occupied as soon as the work of construction is finished. The construction of a dam, the installation of the main water supply and sewage systems, and one section of the sewage disposal plant are already under way. Letchworth Village is fortunate in possessing a gravity supply of water, excellent in quality and adequate for all future needs. The construction of the dam, the main water supply pipes, and the sewer will be completed during the coming summer. In addition to the work enumerated above, the farm buildings, the superintendent's residence, and an icehouse, authorized by chapter 511 of the Laws of 1910, will be completed during the present year. Minor repairs are being made to several buildings on the site, both for their preservation and to make some of them immediately available. The next steps in the development of the village are: 1. Provision for construction of administration buildings including production and distribution of power, heat and light, laundry, store-house, cold storage building, bakery, additional farm buildings and office. 2. Provision for patients: (a) Construction of service buildings, nurses' and employees' cottages; (b) industrial and school buildings; (c) dormitories for patients. The State Architect has prepared an estimate of the total cost of buildings and improvements necessary to complete the village, spread over a period of four years. In order to secure the most favorable terms on contracts for construction, these buildings and improvements, if the necessary funds are available, should be completed in four years, the administration group being completed before provision is made for patients. The following appropriations for 1911 are therefore recommended: For construction For maintenance ... $603,750 00 30,000 00 Dr. Charles S. Little, formerly superintendent of the New Hampshire School for Feeble-Minded Children, was elected superintendent of Letchworth Village and entered upon the discharge of his new duties on July 1, 1910. He was selected, after a competitive examination, from the list of successful candidates sub mitted by the State Civil Service Commission. Dr. Little's name headed the list. The high standing of the New Hampshire school, of which he was the first and only superintendent, is sufficient demonstration of his fitness for the even more responsible post to which he has been called. In accordance with the provisions of chapter 173 of the Laws of 1910, the State Architect, upon recommendation of the board of managers, appointed Dr. Walter E. Fernald, of Waverly, Mass., consulting medical advisor in the construction and development of Letchworth Village, and William Welles Bosworth, of New York city, consulting landscape architect. Dr. Fernald was a member of the site commission's advisory committee of experts, and rendered the same valuable assistance to the commission that he has since rendered to the board of managers. Mr. Herbert F. Prescott, Deputy Fiscal Supervisor, in summing up his report of a recent inspection of the Massachusetts institutions, said: "My visit convinced me that the addition of Dr. Fernald to the advisory committee on buildings for Letchworth Village, which, as outlined, is to be the largest institution for the care of defectives in the State of New York, is an economic measure of the first importance.' e." Mr. Bosworth also brings to his task a wide experience and training which will enable him to assist the board greatly in developing this village community. The act organizing Letchworth Village requires the board of managers to proceed with its construction and development as rapidly as possible, but the rate of development is necessarily determined by the funds available. In the interest of economy and for the protection of the normal and productive population of the State, custodial care should be provided as early as possible for all dependent defectives. The following statement of the disposition of the appropriations for extraordinary repairs and improvements is brought up to the date of calculation, which is February 1, 1911; this having been done with a view to giving an exact knowledge that subsequent requirements might be more closely estimated: NEW YORK STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE CARE OF CRIPPLED AND DEFORMED CHILDREN, WEST HAVERSTRAW, N. Y. Board of Managers. Mr. George Blagden, President and Treasurer.. New York City Mr. Auguste M. Thiery, Secretary. New York City. Surgeon-in-Chief and Superintendent, John Joseph Nutt, M. D. (Appointed January 10, 1911.) Capacity of institution, 45. Average population for fiscal year, 47.97. Number of buildings, 8. The movement of the population during the year was as follows: Present October 1, 1909.. Admitted during the year. 46 34 33 47 No extensive construction work was done at this institution, which is a very small one. The Legislature of 1910 made appropriations aggregating $10,456.65 for repairs, improvements and betterments, including $4,000 for the erection of a solarium. The expenditures during the year amounted to $2,852.23. Resigned as Surgeon-in-Chief and Superintendent January 10, 1911. |