would be abandoned as a hospital site led to the sale two years ago of nearly seven acres, which now form a part of the Motor Parkway running from Queens to Ronkonkoma and passing almost directly through the center of the Creedmoor property. The hospital at Flatbush will naturally serve as a receiving center for the Brooklyn district, from which patients can be transferred to the institution at Creedmoor, which should accommodate at least 2,300. This will provide for the Brooklyn admissions probably for many years to come. At the northeast end of the site there is a small strip of about twenty-five acres which is separated from the rest of the property by what is known as Clinton avenue. South of this another highway, known as Marvin road, crosses the grounds. There are twenty-four acres between Clinton avenue and Marvin road. The Motor Parkway or speedway referred to above is inclosed by a fence on either side and can be crossed only at one point, where a bridge has been built for that purpose. This will be the only access afforded patients or employees to the part of the land which lies north of the parkway. It will therefore be necessary to construct the buildings on the southern part of the site, thus limiting the space available. It is to be hoped that an appropriation of $500,000 can be obtained from the Legislature during the coming session for the development of the institution. A railway switch should be erected and work commenced on the power-house, coal pockets, storehouse, bakery and other service buildings. The building formerly occupied by the Seventh Regiment of the National Guard has been used temporarily for the accommodation of thirty patients and several employees. A number of the National Guard buildings can be removed to the grounds north of the Motor Parkway and used permanently. A tuberculosis pavilion can also be located on this part of the site. If one-half of the appropriation above mentioned is made available by the Legislature during the coming year, considerable headway can be made toward the development of the institution, which will, on completion, materially relieve the overcrowding in the Metropolitan District. As in the building of the Mohansic State Hospital, the Commission believes that the general type of construction as illustrated by the Smith group at Central Islip should be fol

lowed. Owing to the high prices prevailing, it will be impossible to obtain more land adjoining Creedmoor and the erection of three-story structures will probably be necessary. The water supply of the institution and the proper arrangements for modern disposal of the sewage will constitute a problem worthy of serious consideration by the Commission and the Board of Managers.

UTICA STATE HOSPITAL-MARCY SITE

The growth of the city of Utica and the fact that in the not distant future the farm lands adjacent to and south of the hospital buildings will be required for building sites and streets, in addition to the necessity for increased room for patients, made it important to secure an available site in the country. It was very generally advertised in the papers that a new site would be needed, the general character of which was described in the notices, and all persons who were in a position to bring a suitable site to the attention of the Commission were notified to do so. Five sites were visited and inspected by the Commission and after the most careful study a site was finally selected at Marcy, about five miles from the city of Utica. It is believed that this site combines in a marked degree all the features necessary for an ideal hospital location. It immediately adjoins the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg branch of the New York Central railroad; a State highway from the city of Utica passes by it, the land in the main slopes gently to the south and is exceedingly well adapted for hospital buildings. The barge canal is reached by one portion of the property and in the future a trolley line may be extended to the grounds. Some rich and fertile land particularly adapted for farm and vegetable gardening purposes is included in the purchase.

Arrangements are being made for the building of a reservoir which will give the hospital an adequate supply of good water and a sufficient pressure for all purposes, including that of fire protection. The advice and counsel of the State Engineer has been appreciatively received in connection with the problems of water supply.

At one time it was thought possible that the old buildings at Utica might when abandoned for hospital purposes be turned

over to some other department of the State, but the great demand for additional beds led to the conclusion that the best interests of the service required the continued use of these buildings for the care of the insane. It is probable that when the land south of Hickory street, which now crosses the present hospital property, is sold, the buildings may be used for a class of patients that will not be able to do farm work and that will have all necessary opportunities for proper out-of-door life on the grounds which would then remain surrounding the present hospital buildings. As the superintendent and steward of the hospital will be in charge of both the Utica and Marcy properties and other officers and employees will in the same way work for both institutions, there will be a material saving in fixed charges over the maintenance of two institutions under separate management. The Legislature will be asked for the appropriations necessary to do whatever work can be undertaken in the current year. It is hoped that the new buildings will be in every way models of the best type of hospital construction and arrangement.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS AT OTHER HOSPITALS

In addition to the new construction planned at Yorktown, at Creedmoor and at Marey, it will be absolutely necessary to provide additional accommodations for some of the institutions in other parts of the State. With this object in view the Commission recommends the erection of another building for female patients at the Binghamton State Hospital, a tuberculosis pavilion at Middletown, a pavilion for tubercular cases at the Hudson River State Hospital, an infirmary and a cottage for disturbed patients at the Rochester State Hospital. It would be well to obtain an appropriation for additional buildings for at least 100 acute cases at the Kings Park State Hospital, as well as a group for chronic cases to accommodate at least 300 at the same institution. The erection of a new building at the Manhattan State Hospital designed for the accommodation of at least 200 male patients is recommended by the Commission. A reception building is needed at Central Islip for at least 100 patients. It is believed that these buildings, when completed, and this should be accomplished at the earliest possible moment, will be no more

than sufficient to provide for the increase in population which will necessarily take place during the next few years.

DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION WORK

A subject which has engaged the very careful consideration of the Commission is that of delay beyond the specified contract time in the completion of buildings and construction work at the State hospitals. The law provides for the award of contracts to the lowest responsible bidder after open bidding. In a number of instances, work has been delayed to an extent that has not only inconvenienced the hospitals, but has been a source of very great anxiety to the Commission. The rules in regard to the enforcement of penalties against contractors are unsatisfactory and the question has been taken up with the Attorney-General. It would appear that under the law as it now stands, and the inability of the State to offer a bonus or premium for completing a contract ahead of the specified time, the only course to pursue would be to make every possible effort to see that the persons to whom the contracts are awarded are so reliable that they can be depended upon to complete the work within the time specified by the contract.

LONG ISLAND STATE HOSPITAL-TITLE TO FLATBUSH PROPERTY

The Commission has conferred during the year with Mayor Gaynor and with members of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in an effort to bring to a close the negotiations which have extended over many years to secure an exchange of the properties on Randall's Island controlled by the society for those of the buildings at Flatbush. It has also united with the Board of Managers of the Long Island State Hospital in urging speedy action on the part of the municipal authorities in turning over permanently the latter properties to the State. Early in the year the Attorney-General began suit against the managers of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents and the city of New York to compel performance of a contract heretofore made for the exchange of these properties. Meanwhile, a bill was introduced into the Legislature at the suggestion of the Commission, to enforce the demands of the State. The Commission regrets that the suit above referred to had not at the close of the year

reached anything more than a place on the calendar for the fall term. As the bill referred to, after passage by the Legislature, seemed to be unnecessary by reason of the friendly attitude of the managers of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, it was vetoed by the Governor at the request of the Commission.

The attorneys for the society have now requested a postponement of the pending suit until after the next session of the Legislature, claiming that the law under which the contract for the exchange was made could be amended so as to eliminate the society from the matter. This suggestion appeals to the Commission as a reasonable one, and an amended bill will be introduced having that object in view. This will involve the preparation of a new contract between the city and the State, providing that the former should transfer the Flatbush properties to the State of New York, receiving in return the portion on Randall's Island controlled by the society. The Commission is assured that this new agreement will be approved by the city of New York. Should this be the fact, the Commission will feel disposed to discontinue the pending action.

Much against its will, the State Hospital Commission has been obliged during the past two years to spend approximately $100,000 in the up-keep of the dilapidated buildings at Flatbush. The safety of the inmates and the preservation of the buildings made this expenditure imperative. Furthermore, the Legislature at the session of 1912 made an appropriation of $30,000 to provide for a new storehouse and cold storage plant, with equipment, on the grounds as Flatbush. The investment of these large sums by the State of New York has been based upon the understanding that the good faith of the authorities of the city and of the Randall's Island House of Refuge were staked on the exchange of properties. The buildings have now been placed in comparatively comfortable condition and the Commission hopes to chronicle in its next report the complete transfer of the properties for State hospital purposes.

WARD'S ISLAND LEASE

Chapter 2 of the Laws of 1896 provided for the transfer of the New York city asylums for the insane, located on Ward's Island and at Central Islip, Suffolk county, N. Y., to the custody