HOUSE.....No. 67. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and FortyEight. AN ACT Relating to the New Bedford and Taunton Branch Railroad Corporation and the Fall River Railroad Company. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECT. 1. The New Bedford and Taunton Branch 2 Railroad Corporation, and the Fall River Railroad 3 Company, are hereby authorized, jointly or severally, 4 as may be mutually arranged, to so connect the roads 5 of the two corporations, near their intersection in the 6 town of Taunton, by constructing a curved track and 7 suitable switches, as that, between the city of New 8 Bedford and the town of Fall River, an engine and 9 cars may be run direct from the one place to the 10 other. 1 SECT. 2. In locating and constructing said track, 2 the curve shall be regular, and of not less than six 3 hundred nor more than one thousand feet radius. 1 SECT. 3. Said corporations, at joint expense, or in 2 such manner as may be mutually agreed upon, may 3 procure and run such engines and cars as may be 4 necessary and convenient to accommodate the travel 5 and business between the aforesaid places. 1 SECT. 4. This act shall take effect from and after 2 its passage. HOUSE.....No. 68. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 9th, 1848. In conformity to their appointment, the committee on "Public Charitable Institutions," have, during the present session of the legislature, visited and examined the several institutions which receive the patronage of the Commonwealth, and would respectfully present their REPORT. On the 26th of January last, they visited the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester, and were received by its able superintendent, Doct. Chandler, and by him and their own ohservation made familiar with its present administration,-its interior and exterior condition. The order and quietness that prevailed; the cleanliness of the various rooms and passages; the conveniences for all culinary, laundry and bathing purposes; the facilities for air, exercise, amusement and industrial employment, are all indicative of judicious management, and so creditably conducted by the superintendent and the subordinate officers, as to seemingly advance the desired object of the institution—that of relief, if not cure, of the dreadful malady the patients are subject to; and in all these particulars, the committee have only to confirm the able reports heretofore made by former committees of the legislature. The committee regret that, in the erection of this building, a more thorough arrangement for ventilation was not provided for, an object now so generally thought important in public buildings where many persons are congregated: they think that this desired object might be more secured, at some comparative small expenditure, under an experienced direction. They refer to this with no wish to censure, for the want thereof is much obviated by all possible existing means made use of by the watchful care of the officers, evident in the general apparent good health (except reason) of its inmates. The services of the committee would be but unfaithfully accomplished, were any means for more usefulness overlooked; they would therefore, without meaning to cast the least reflection on what has been recommended or projected by the trustees, or former committees, for intended good, speak freely their minds of the want of more suitable accommodations for the furiously insane. In contrast with other portions of the institution, this, to any observer, is very offensive, being poorly calculated for this class of patients, (who should claim the most of our compassion,) having the least advantages for light,-none for ventilation,-unfavorably located, dark, dreary, damp, and uncomfortable, to that extent as to aggravate, rather than assist, a cure of the unfortunate beings placed there. The committee would, therefore, earnestly recommend an early attention to some improvement of this department. The By an act of the legislature at its last session, the sum of nine thousand and seven hundred dollars was appropriated toward the erection of a new building for the furiously insane, and, so far as it has been applied to the female department, is commendable; but this does not meet the whole want. males should be immediately provided for. The eligibility of the building erected for the females is much questioned by your committee, being annexed to and under the same roof as the main building, with an area of only ten feet: consequently, the convalescent therein will, by its proximity, be much annoyed by the furiously insane. The committee are, therefore, of opinion that, even now, it would be better to annex this addition to the main building as an enlargement of its uses, and that a separate building, properly located, be erected for both sexes of the furiously insane, (as heretofore contemplated by the legislature,) upon a plan similar to that at South Boston, which has met the approbation of former committees, and gentlemen who have visited like institutions in this country as well as in Europe,the plan of which, being cells within exterior walls, with passage-ways between, and combining the needed advantages of light, air, ventilation and security,—as also, being remote from the main edifice,—will obviate annoyance from noise to the hearing of the convalescent there. From Worcester, the committee proceeded to Hartford, and on Thursday, January 27th, visited the "American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb." They were kindly received by the principal, (Mr. Lewis Weld.) The day spent in the examination of this institution was attended with much satisfaction and pleasure. The building erected for the use of this institution is pleasantly situated about half of a mile from the centre of the city, on a commanding eminence. Its exterior appearance somewhat imposing, surrounded by about ten acres of land used for play-grounds and cultivation. Its interior is conveniently arranged into all the necessary apartments for school-rooms, &c. Throughout the whole building, the committee were pleased to find that a proper attention had been given to ventilation, cleanliness, and other matters conducive to the health of its inmates, which was fully demonstrated by their general appearance and happy actions. Adjoining the main building, are those used for mechanical purposes, in which were engaged forty shoemakers, forty cabinet-makers, and fifteen tailors, or thereabouts : to this branch of their education, several hours each day are devoted. Their studies are attended in separate rooms by the respective classes, to each of which is a teacher; their daily studies are preceded by religious exercises. A strict attention is paid to their diet, their food being wholesome and abundant. The committee were pleased to see the affectionate attachment of the pupils to the institution and its officers, as evinced when any allusion was made to their leaving the asylum, plain evi |