These figures are pretty large, and will doubtless surprise those who have not given the subject much attention, and coincident with the feeling of surprise will involuntarily arise the question, what has become of all this money; has it been expended for the best interests of the State, and under whose supervision has this half million of dollars been spent? In answering these questions, as a general proposition, it may be safely asserted that the money has been used for the best interests of the institutions and under authority of law. Difference of opinion may arise as to whether these expenditures would have been always approved by the executive and legislative branches of the State government had they known in advance what was contemplated, but the improvements and betterments made through contingent fund expenditures have at least resulted in many needed additions to each local hospital which could not always be counted on as deemed necessary or urgent enough to require legislative appropriations.

Some good buildings have been erected by means of the contingent fund, and, under the supervision of the local hospital authorities, at a much less cost than they could have been built under a legislative appropriation, and by contract.

While the sums given as representing the cost of contingent fund buildings built by asylum authorities is very misleading, in that it does not show as an expense the amount of labor performed by employés working on the building and paid out of the regular hospital payroll, yet, as a matter of fact, the economical showing made is very gratifying, and the character of the work done is much superior than if done by contract.

Admitting that it may be judicious and business-like to continue to collect for the maintenance of those who are able to pay, and to sell products of State farms, is it best to continue the plan that now exists of handling the contingent fund?

The hospitals are State institutions, and the money they earn belongs to the State, and there seems no legitimate reason why it should not be expended as other State moneys are expended.

Why not have the receipts of the various contingent funds deposited monthly in the State Treasury, to the credit of the institution to which it belongs?

Let it only be paid out after an estimate has been allowed by the Lunacy Commission, the bills approved by the State Board of Examiners, and a warrant drawn by the Controller.

Statement Showing the Disbursements of the Five State Hospitals from the Contingent Fund, from the Time said Fund was Created by Law.

Machinery, hardware, etc.

Totals

From the foregoing comparative table it will be seen, in the case of Stockton, that about $5,000 less was expended during the year ending June 30, 1898, than in the previous year, while a residence was erected for the Medical Superintendent at a cost of $6,868. In the case of Napa the expenditures during 1898 exceeded those of the previous year by $2,130, but a residence was erected for the Medical Superintendent, at a cost of $7,284 86. In the case of Agnews about $14,500 less was expended during the year ending June 30, 1898, than in the previous year. In the case of Mendocino about $2,500 less was expended in 1898, and the expenditures during that period were principally for improvement of water supply. Expenditures at Southern California were less during the latter year, and buildings were erected at a cost of over $3,000. In other words, the expenditures during the latter year were almost exclusively for permanent improvements and repairs, and the numerous other expenses were paid out of support where they belonged.

EXPENSES OF FARM, GARDEN, AND DAIRY OF THE FIVE STATE HOSPITALS, AND VALUATION OF PRODUCTS.

In this report, which is based on information supplied by the various State hospitals, it is deemed advisable to give some information which has not heretofore been available, regarding the operation of the farms. belonging to the State and under the charge of Hospital Superintendents.

Although the table giving that information is made out in such shape. that comparisons may be made, it is not intended to be comparative, for it would not be fair to make comparisons where the conditions existing are so different that similar results cannot be obtained. Success in farming and raising vegetables depends to a great extent on climate, soil, possibilities of irrigation, and contour of land. Some hospitals have practically no lands for grazing purposes, others have shortage of water to contend with, and in others the amount of available land is so small that agricultural operations are impossible.

In the following table the products are calculated as being worth so much per pound, etc., the prevailing market prices being the standard. With this explanation the following table cannot be misunderstood:

Amount of Land Owned by the State Hospitals.

Receipts and Disbursements of Farm, Garden, and Dairy for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1898.

NOTE. The term "receipts," as used above, represents the value of the products of farm, garden, and dairy, based on the ruling market prices, and the term "disbursements" represents the cost of producing said products, i. e., wages, feed for stock, seeds, etc.

The data given are reliable, and can be subjected possibly to but one. criticism, and I am not sure that criticism would be just in this case. I refer to the work done on the farms by attendants, who take out patients and work from six to eight hours daily in vegetable garden or in the field. Their work is charged to the ward where a part of their time is spent.

There is no question at all that the work of patients would greatly benefit them, even if their labor did not amount to much, but as a matter of fact they do a vast amount and at practically no expense to the farm, as the attendants in whose care they work are generally charged against the ward.

The products of farm embrace nearly all kinds of vegetables, many varieties of fruit, grapes, hogs (converted into ham and bacon, used fresh, or sold), poultry, eggs, milk, hay, and grain.. Food supplies go to increase the hospital dietary and to decrease the cost of feeding all who live at the hospital, thus lowering the per capita cost of caring for the patients.

The above table is convincing evidence that it pays to keep up the farm, for by an intelligent handling of it under ordinary circumstances it materially diminishes the cost of maintenance and pays for itself.

That a practical farmer, managing these State farms for his own benefit and at his own expense, might get along with less machinery and labor is probable, but as it is, the economical results are good.

In Southern California the expense of the farm is increased to some extent by the amount paid for water; while in Agnews unusually large purchases of cows make last year's expenses high.

Scarcely any hospital has enough grazing land to maintain cheaply. the herd of cows necessary to furnish milk in sufficient abundance for the patients. Even Napa, with over twelve hundred acres, needs suitable land for grazing purposes. It has possibly eight hundred acres of land used for grazing now, but it is brushy and rocky, and when once.