Washington's Insane Asylums Need Nearly Half a Million Dollars
A legislative committee reports that the state's two insane asylums require $459,757.55 for maintenance, new buildings, and deficiencies — a staggering sum for 1893.
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OLYMPIA, Feb. 26.—[Special.]—The committee appointed to visit the insane asylums will present its report in a day or two. It will illustrate how great an expense the care of the insane entails upon the state, as it will recommend appropriations for the institutions amounting to $460,350 for maintenance and new buildings and other improvements.
The appropriation bill introduced for the Medical Lake asylum provides for $203,150, but the committee advises that this be reduced to $158,750. The appropriation asked for the Steilacoom asylum was $256,357. This sum is not materially lessened by the committee, a reduction of but $4,757 being recommended. The Steilacoom deficiency bill calls for $19,470.55 and the Medical Lake deficiency bill for $30,000. Thus, even if no more than the committee recommends is appropriated, the total amount of the sums set apart for the care of the insane will reach $459,757.55.
“It will illustrate how great an expense the care of the insane entails upon the state.”
In 1893, Washington state was spending nearly half a million dollars on mental health care — a significant sum for a young state. Today, the debate over how to fund care for the mentally ill continues, with the same tension between institutional costs and community-based solutions.
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