Heretofore the large boilers were used at great expense to furnish the power to run the laundry machinery and saw the wood. I have added an engine-room to the laundry building, and a small boiler is made to do the work during the Summer months, it not being necessary to fire under the large boilers for this purpose. laundry appliances, machinery, etc., from age and constant use, were found in such condition as to necessitate immediate repairs in order that they might be continued in use. They were put in proper shape, and will now answer for some time to come.

The

A two-story brick building 30x40 feet was built, the lower portion of which admits of ample space for ice and vegetable storage, also meat and milk house, thereby removing such necessities from the basement of the main building, where they were formerly kept at no small loss to the State and detriment to the health of the inmates. The upper floor of this building has seven large and nicely finished rooms, including bed-rooms, sitting and bath-room for the outside employes.

The Superintendent's residence has been entirely remodeled and renovated. It now presents an appearance in keeping with the handsome property of the State, besides furnishing a complete, commodious and modern home for the officer in charge.

The large water tank and the structure which supports it has been repaired and strengthened.

The Legislative Committee recommended "that a new sewer be built, leading from the southwest corner of the main building. Upon investigation this was found to be impracticable, as the pipes in the building as they were laid would have been comparatively useless, so the plans were changed and a new sewer of eight-inch terra-cotta pipe was laid, connecting with the drainage system at the northeast corner of the building, to a point well out in the river and below the grounds of the institution.

FARM AND GARDEN.

The farm is a valuable adjunct to the Asylum property, in that it gives employment to a large number of patients who are able and willing to work, besides being a factor as a source of economy in the maintenance of the State wards. The product for the two seasons last past has been ample for the needs of the institution, in so far as hay for the stock and vegetable and root products for the table are concerned. As a whole it will be seen by tables following this report that the farm is a profitable investment for the State. In connection with this I may add that I have arranged for the rental, at the nominal sum of five dollars per year, of a strip of land adjacent to the State property, comprising about eleven acres. This I have had fenced and seeded with alfalfa for pasturage purposes. Oats were also sown and a crop of oat hay cut this season, the same paying fully the expenses of fencing. This land can be

rented indefinitely and, by the increased acreage of pasturage for our cattle, will assist materially in reducing the expense for milk and butter, of which we use a great quantity. By the aid of this land we will be enabled to raise some stock for slaughtering, which will materially reduce the expense of maintenance. At the open

ing of this Asylum a section of ground on the farm was reserved for a cemetery and some twelve bodies buried there before the present cemetery was chosen. The location of this first site was so peculiary situated that quite a large area of farm land was made useless. I had the bodies carefully taken up and removed to the Asylum cemetery and the land ploughed and properly cultivated. The lawns, ornamental grounds and driveways have been improved and a large number of flowering plants and shrubs put out. I have planted some two acres as an addition to the orchard, having set out a large number of fruit trees of several varieties.

A new poultry house has been erected and the various barns and outbuildings repaired and improved. I have set out a large number of shade trees in and about the barnyard and along the driveways leading thereto.

THE ASYLUM CEMETERY.

A substantial and neat fence surrounds the burial plot, and I have had the grounds properly cleared, the avenues laid out and the graves mounded up. I also had a plat drawn so that the name, age and date of death of the persons buried there could be entered upon it. I would suggest, however, that further improvement could be made at small cost. A monument suitably inscribed, to be placed in the center of the plot, and also small granite or marble tablets could be procured on which the name and age of the deceased could be inscribed.

SALARIES OF EMPLOYES.

When I assumed charge of the Asylum I found that in some instances the salaries paid were so low that it was impossible to keep efficient help after they could find more congenial employment. This occasioned constant changes in some of the departments, which was detrimental to the management, as well as to the care and treatment of the inmates. I consequently raised the salaries of the supervisor of wards from $50 to $60, matron from $40 to $50, some of the men attendants from $40 to $45, the lady attendants from $30 to $10, the engineer and mechanic from $85 to $95. The result has been that no changes have occured in the service for over a year, save in one or two instances where employes have, after due notice, resigned for other reasons than the question of remuneration, and our corps of employes is at present efficient and very satisfactory.

I desire to call the attention of your Honorable Board to the following:

RECOMMENDATIONS.

I would suggest that the name of this institution be changed from "Nevada Insane Asylum" to that of "Nevada State Hospital for the Insane." In doing this we would but simply be following the example set by many of our sister States, and the name would more properly represent the province of the institution, as well as mitigate to a large extent the natural prejudice and objection to such an institution, that many people entertain, besides removing to some extent, from the minds of patients who have partially or fully recovered, that sensitiveness which they so naturally feel at having been committed to an asylum. The aims of the institution are to faithfully treat the unfortunates sent to it, and if possible, restore them to their former walks in life as useful members of the community. To this end as little odium as possible should be attached to their having been confined within its walls.

THE SULLIVAN DITCH.

The owners of this ditch, of which the State owns one-sixth interest, and from which the Asylum receives its water for irrigation, often dispute as to their several rights, amount of work performed, material procured, etc. This has been a source of annoyance and unpleasantness, being without laws or regulations, or a proper head to settle these differences. Steps should be taken to incorporate, or place it under such management as would insure each owner an equable division of the water, and of the labor and expense of keeping the ditch and dam in repair. This would preclude the possibility of any further misunderstandings.

A NEW DITCH.

I obtained the survey of a ditch line leading from the pumphouse to the dam near the Reduction Works, with a view of constructing a large ditch and abandoning the flume now in use, which is insufficient to carry the necessary water to drive our electric dynamo and pumping machinery. The flume is much out of repair and is leaking badly, and if its use is continued it will be necessary in the near future to nearly, if not entirely rebuild it, at considerable expense. By the construction of this ditch the steam power at this station will only be required when the water is at a low stage during the summer months, or when obstruction occurs from ice during the winter. The consequent saving in fuel, as well as the augmented power will be at once apparent. The cost will be comparatively small, as nearly all the labor can be performed within ourselves, and further than this the outlay will be nominal. only await your approval to at once carry out this project.

PICKET FENCES.

I

It is necessary to the proper preservation of the extensive picket

fences around the grounds that they should be repainted the coming year. As the fences are absolutely necessary as well as ornamental, I suggest as a matter of economy that this should be attended to

at once.

THE MAIN BUILDING.

In calling your attention to this subject, I desire to lay especial stress on the following:

It would be economy to again paint the roof, during the coming year, as this is necessary to its proper preservation, and will also add to the appearance of the building.

The rear walls of the building should be extended so as to admit. of passage-ways directly from the several wards to the patients' dining-rooms. The dining-room would then be a portion of the ward to which it belongs. The present arrangement necessitates the use of the several landings for patients in going to and from meals, creating much confusion and some risk of accident and escape. The cost of this change would not be great, and the convenience and benefits. considerable.

STEAM HEATING.

While much has been done to improve our heating system and a great saving of fuel insured, I am of the opinion that further improvements can be made. I would recommend that the several systems in vogue be investigated, and if deemed unwise to put in a new apparatus, the one now in use might be so much improved as to justify the expense.

FIREPROOF VAULT.

A vault should be built for the safe storage of the Asylum records which are accumulating each year, and the loss of which would be serious. There is also jewelry and valuables belonging to patients, and the safe in use is only an ordinary one and is overcroweded and insufficient.

SHOES FOR PATIENTS.

I would respectfully suggest that means be taken to have the prison authorities use wooden pegs in the manufacture of the class of shoes we use here, instead of the nails now used. I find the latter to be very destructive to our floors which have been newly laid, and will last for years if subjected to ordinary use. I am also satisfied from observation, that the pegged shoes for our patients will wear nearly, if not fully, as long as those in which nails are used.

COMFORTS FOR PATIENTS.

In conducting an institution of this kind, it has become the vailing idea as part of the mode of treatment, to encourage the

patient to feel that they are with friends and at home; to secure this, many articles in the way of home adornments and home comforts are obtained by many like institutions, such as pictures for the ward walls, suitable pieces of furniture, easy chairs, etc., and such articles as will tend towards giving a homelike and cheerful appearance to the wards and sitting-rooms. I would recommend that the Superintendent be empowered to purchase such articles as named, many of which can be purchased at small expense and the resulting benefit will more than balance the expenditure.

AN ASYLUM LIBRARY.

Many of the inmates hunger for, and are fully capable of appreciating, good reading, and with this in view, I would suggest that some method be devised for the beginning of a miscellaneous library. Donations of books and magazines from private parties and the issue of the several State papers would be acceptable, for which due acknowledgment and credit would be given, as well as the further assurance that such reading matter would be duly listed, and under systematic rules furnished to the inmates. I may add that the only papers now furnished the Asylum free of cost are the San Francisco Weekly Examiner, the Daily Nevada State Journal and Virginia Enterprise.

THE COMMITMENT OF PATIENTS.

A very large source of expense to this institution is the improper commitment of patients. Probably one-third of all those sent here are either suffering from delirium tremens, or are incurable cases of old, decrepit and weak-minded persons, who are simply proper subjects for the County Poor Farms. A number of them have been so sick as to die within a few hours or days after their arrival. Patients suffering from delirium tremens will either die or recover in a few days. No such case, or any case where the patient can live but a few days, should ever be sent here. A heavy expense must always be incurred in bringing them to the Asylum, and it would generally be better for the patient to be treated and cared for at home than to undergo the hardships of the long journey often necessary. Such commitments as these are generally owing to the negligence, or want of attention to the case, of the committing and examining officers. By the law of 1869 (General Statute, section 1457), it is especially provided that no case of idiocy or imbecility or simple feebleness of intellect, or old case of harmless demention or any class of old, incurable and harmless insanity, nor any case of delirium tremens, shall be sent here, but this clause was left out of the Act of 1881, and is perhaps not the law now. It is respectfully submitted, however, that it should be the law still, as both humanity and economy require that such cases should not be sent here. They are simply proper county charges, but naturally the county officers