4. The Board of Commissioners of Public Charities is hereby directed to report all its acts under this act to the Governor not later than thirty days previous to the meeting of the Forty-second General Assemby of the State of Illinois in its first or regular session, that the same may be reported to said Assemby. In said report they shall include a bill for a proposed act making provisions for control and management of said epileptic colony.

5. There is hereby appropriated the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, to expend for the purposes of this act. The necessary expenses of the Board of Commissioners of Public Charities in carrying out the provisions of this act shall be defrayed out of said appropriation.

26. The Auditor of Public Accounts is hereby authorized and required to draw his warrant upon the State Treasurer for the amount herein appropriated upon presentation of proper vouchers certified to by the Board of Commissioners of Public Charities and approved by the Governor.

Approved April 19, 1899."

In order that we might be able to better discharge the several duties imposed upon us by this statute, we deemed it best to first familiarize ourselves with this class of institutions now in operation in other states. Visits were therefore made to the Ohio Hospital for Epileptics, located at Gallipolis, and to the Craig Colony for Epileptics, located at Sonyea, New York, brief descriptions of which are here given.

The hospital at Gallipolis is the oldest institution of this character in the country, having been established in 1890. It has 285 acres of land, most of which is very hilly, and very little of it tillable. The buildings are substantial stone structures, constructed on the congre-. gated plan. The cottages are intended to provide for 50 patients, 200 patients, and 86 patients each. Separate quarters are provided for insane patients. About the only regular industry carried on at this place, which yields any revenue, is basket making. All the clothing for the female patients is made here, as are also the boots. and shoes worn by the patients. As soon as shop room shall have been provided, it is expected to make all the clothing for the male patients, and also brooms, brushes, etc. The last report shows an annual per capita expense, based upon those present and temporarily absent, of $140. This, however, would be materially reduced could the patients be given work in industries, the output of which would yield a revenue to the State.

The Craig Colony for Epileptics in New York is by far the best arranged for caring for this unfortunate class in this or any other country. It embraces 1,895 acres of land in the fertile Genesee valley, which was purchased by the state at $65 an acre from an old Shaker society. A valuable feature of the property is a forest containing 640 acres.

The necessity of making ample provision for the employment of all patients was early recognized at this colony and has been carried into effect, as far as possible, in all its undertakings. Industrial shops were early provided for. A farm and garden are among the

most valuable parts of the institution. During the first year of its existence, when the number of inmates averaged less that 200, there were produced on the farm and garden, products to the amount of $14,200, In its second year this amount was increased to $25,810, being over 50 per cent of the cost of maintenance for that year, and in the third year the market value of these products reached $36,000. This increase in the output was due, not alone to the increase in the number of inmates, but to the fact that more epileptics, by reason of the successful care and treatment given them, were able to perform valuable service. It has been the endeavor of the Colony from its inauguration to produce as far as possible all the food stuffs used by it. Its endeavors in this direction have been crowned with success, each succeeding year showing material gains, thus decreasing by so much the per capita cost to the State.

A great many industries are also successfully carried on here. Last year over 500,000 brick were made. Those not needed for erecting new buildings on the premises were sold in the open market and were a source of revenue to the institution. Between eight and nine thousand gallons of tomatoes were canned last year, and the product of fifteen acres planted in peas and twenty-five acres in sweet corn was also canned for future use.

The colony now has a population of 616, eighty per cent of whom during the summer months are employed at some kind of remunerative labor. The population by January 1, 1901, will be 740, and and when the buildings now in process of construction are completed, which will be about July 1, 1901, there will be accommodations for 840. As the population increases the per capita cost is more than proportionately reduced, owing to the fact that a larger percentage of inmates are employed in developing the farm and the many industries which are made possible. The colony is still in its infancy, but when it is fully developed according to the plans now under consideration, the population will reach 2,000. All the buildings are plain, but substantial, everything about the buildings and grounds impressing one with the idea of a well officered village.

We were very favorably impressed with this colony plan and with the governing principle that work should be provided for all who are able to perform manual labor. First, because regular and steady work is now recognized by all well informed and expert students of the problem as the very best remedial agency that can be employed to benefit the health of epileptics, and make this terribly afflicted class as contented and happy as possible. And,second, because such employment is a source of revenue, thus reducing the cost to the State of their care and maintenance. With proper management, we see no good reason why such a colony should not in time become entirely self-sustaining.

Other states, such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania have been quite active in making special provision for epileptics. However, knowing in a general way what they have done, we have not visited any of these States, believing that the State of Illinois can not do better than to pattern after the Craig Colony in New York in establishing its State Colony for Epileptics.

Having adopted a general plan to be followed in the construction and management, we sought to ascertain the number of epileptics in the State. It was an easy matter to learn the number confined in State and county institutions, of which the State and counties had a record, but to take the census of those outside of such institutions proved to be a difficult task. This census was taken during the past summer and fall when making the annual inspection of jails and almshouses required by law to be made by the State Commissioners of Public Charities. The only way to get at the statistics was to make inquiry of such physicians at every county seat as our representatives might come in contact with. The one generally questioned on this subject was the county physician and the figures obtained were, as a rule, from this source of information. It is obvious, therefore, that the number reported can serve only as an approximation to the actual number in the State, since the county physicians throughout the State can not know personally all of those afflicted with epilepsy in their respective counties. Again, the number reported by a county physician is, as a rule, only those with whom he has come in contact by virtue of his office as physician for the very poor, needy and dependent.

The number actually reported to us has been 1,091, as follows: In county almshouses. 335; in the State hospitals for the insane, 404; in the asylum for feeble-minded children, 112; reported by county physicians, 240. No attempt whatever was made to ascertain from the county authorities of Cook county the number of epileptics in that county outside of county institutions.

As a conclusion of a careful study of this question we believe that it is fair to assume that there are about five times as many in the State as those actually reported to us, or at least 5,000 in all. Some authorities place the number in the State between eight and ten thousand. We are inclined, however, to be conservative in this matter, and think that a fair estimate is 5,000.

Upon satisfying ourselves as to the probable number of epileptics in the State, the number for which the State should make provision remained to be disposed of. After carefully considering this matter we have come to the conclusion that the State should make provision to ultimately care for 2,000. As above stated, New York has purchased the necessary land and has buildings and accommodations planned for 2,000, which, the management of the colony in that State informs us will not be equal to the demands upon them in years to come. We have also come to the conclusion that an acre of land per patient should be provided; in other words, that the State should ultimately provide at least 2,000 acres of land for the purposes of this colony.

The plan of the colony, the number of epileptics in the State and the amount of land that should be purchased having been decided upon, the board proceeded to examine the sites which had been offered for its inspection, taking into consideration in our examinations the specific directions in the statute, namely: "The natural aptitude of any proposed location for the purpose of husbandry,

adequate possible supply of land for said purpose of husbandry at reasonable price, natural facilities of any proposed location for adequate and suitable drainage for all necessary buildings or improvement and an ample natural water supply for the requirements of said epileptic colony, and such other advantages and adaptability as" in our judgment, "may be necessary to the erection of a model epileptic colony."

These sites were eight in number, located at the following places: Two in the vicinity of Grafton, Jersey County; two in the vicinity of Sailor Springs, Clay County; one at Mt. Carmel, Wabash County; one at Decatur, Macon County; one at Grand DeTour, Ogle County; and one at "Notchcliff" and "Eliestoun" in the vicinity of Elsah, Jersey County. Casual examinations were also made of other sites in different portions of the State.

After a minute examination of the above enumerated sites, and after listening to the arguments presented by the representatives of each, we recommend the purchase by the State of Illinois of the "Notchcliff" and "Eliestoun" site, which is hereinafter referred to as the "Notchcliff" site.

This site is located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Jersey County, near the town of Elsah which contains 300 inhabitants. The Grafton branch of the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railway runs along the river under the bluffs. The main line of said road runs North and East of the properties, Beltrees, a small station on said line being about three-quarters of a mile from the North line of the "Eliestoun" property. The elevation is from 200 to 400 feet above the River.

The properties contain approximately 1,630 acres, of which about one-half is now in cultivation, one-quarter in forest and one-quarter in parks and pasture. Two-thirds of the whole can be put in cultivation, if desired.

The grounds around the "Notchcliff" and "Eliestoun" houses are in a high state of improvement, having been designed by eminent landscape architects and containing great quantities of the finest ornamental trees and shrubs in addition to the native forest trees. Good roads have been laid out through both places and, to a considerable extent, macadamized. There is an endless supply of good building stone on the premises and great quantities of gravel, suitable for road material.

At "Notchcliff" the main building is a three-story stone house, containing twenty rooms, all very large, and four bath rooms. Nearby is an ice house and dairy. There is also a large barn, a cow stable and a piggery and a superintendent's cottage of seven rooms. At the entrance to "Notchcliff" is a stone lodge house of three rooms. A short distance East of the lodge house is another six room frame house and a barn. On other parts of the farm there are two more frame houses and barns.

At "Eliestoun" the main building is a three-story cement and frame house containing fourteen rooms. There is a superintendent's cottage

of six rooms, a large barn, a large cow stable, sheds, etc. There are also two small cottages on the place.

The water supply at "Notchcliff" consists of five large cisterns and a large tank. This tank is supplied by a steam pump from the River and has distributing pipes throughout the grounds and building. "Eliestoun" is supplied by an artesian well, 1,600 feet deep, the water rising to within 120 feet of the surface, whence it is distributed by a large wind mill. The supply is inexhaustible and of good quality. In addition to the above supplies, there are a number of good springs on both places.

The improvements in buildings alone on both places cost over $70,000.

The soil is peculiarly adapted to the production of apples, peaches, pears, plums, and small fruits, such as blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, etc. Good crops of wheat, oats, corn, hay, and clover are grown here, while the pastures are well sodded with a luxuriant growth of blue grass, sufficient in quantity for the pasturage of the necessary live stock of the colony.

The greatest good to the people whom it will shelter has been our guiding consideration in recommending the location of this colony at "Notchcliff." The healthfulness of this site can not be excelled by any point in the State. It is free from malaria and has an abundance of good water for all purposes, while its topography is such as to make the natural drainage of the premises almost perfect. As the occupation of the patients should be largely out of doors, it will be readily seen that this site, which offers a later fall of about two weeks and an earlier spring of about the same length of time than any site which could be selected in the northern portion of the State, possesses material advantages with regard to climatic conditions. It is accessible to a good market for garden and farm products, but not within such easy reach of a town or city as to make indiscriminate visiting possible. The tract is as diversified as possible with regard to soil, elevation, drainage and mineral resources. There is an abundance of clay, suitable for making brick, while the quarries under the bluffs contain an inexhaustible supply of stone, similar in quality to the celebrated "Grafton" stone, which can be used for building purposes. There is also an abundant supply of sand on the premises which can be used for industrial purposes. In short, the natural facilities for a diversity of agricultural and industrial pursuits can not be surpassed.

The title to the "Notchcliff" property, containing 899 and 13-100 acres is in the name of Mrs. Lucy V. Semple Ames and Mr. Henry Semple Ames. The title to the "Eliestoun" property,_containing 730 and 76-100 acres, is in the name of Mr. Henry S. Turner. In compliance with the provisions of the act above referred to, we have obtained options upon these tracts, copies of which are as follows: OPTION ON "NOTCHCLIFF" PROPERTY.

66 'ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. November 21, 1900. KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That, whereas, we, Lucy V. Semple Ames and Henry Semple Ames, the undersigned, are the owners of the fol