REPORT.

To the Legislature of the State of Michigan:

In compliance with a requirement of the act of organization, the Board of Trustees of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane, respectfully submit their fourth biennial report.

At the date of our last communication to the Legislature, the erection of the north wing had not been commenced. The means at our disposal being insufficient to complete any portion for use, were expended in preliminary work and in the purchase of material. It was proposed to commence work as early as possible in the spring of 1865, and with the anticipated appropriation, open the halls for the reception of patients in September, 1866.

Proposals for material and labor had been solicited, but pending action thereon, a law was enacted transferring the charge of the work of construction and the disbursement of all moneys appropriated therefor, to a Commissioner, to be appointed by the Governor. As the act was ordered to take immediate effect, all proceedings were at once arrested. Had there been a clause in this law, permitting the Board to make such contracts as might have been necessary to allow the progress of the work during the building season of 1865, or until the Commissioner was appointed, the wing would have been opened for the treatment of patients a year sooner.

From further reference to this law, it also appeared that the Trustees had been deprived, inadvertently perhaps, of the use of means essential to the continued operation of the Asylum. The income of the Institution, as will be remembered by those who have kept themselves familiar with its history, has been largely diminished by the nearly complete exclusion of private

patients on account of insufficiency of accommodation. The deficit in revenue had previously been met by an appropriation at the close of each biennial period. This course was deemed preferable to making an appropriation anticipatory of the want, and was practicable, by allowing the use of the moneys appropriated to construction for the purchase of supplies to the extent required. It did not at all prejudice the progress of building, and was feasible from the fact that appropriations for construction had generally been made for the two years, constituting the last year of one and the first of the next biennial period.

The possession of a fund allowing our officers to purchase in quantity and at favorable stages of the markets, is essential to economical administration. So long as a fund was at our disposal for this purpose, the necessity was met. Whether it were better, temporarily, to use the building fund-a convenient arrangement-or rely upon an appropriation for the specific purpose the more strictly correct one, was not for us to decide. The prohibition of the use of this fund, without an appropriation for the purpose, through oversight, perhaps, was seriously embarrassing. It compelled us at once to raise the charge to counties for the support of patients, from two dollars and fifty cents, to three dollars per week. We are aware that the charge at most State asylums, similarly organized, is four dollars, nevertheless, we had hoped, by strict economy, through our income from private patients, to continue to support those admitted upon county orders at two and one-half dollars pe week.

In the emergency, an interview was solicited with his Excellency, the Governor, and the whole matter submitted for his consideration. He did not feel empowered to provide any remedy for the difficulty, but considered himself justified in assenting to any course found absolutely necessary by the Trustees, to prevent the dismissal of patients and the closing of the Asylum.