Chap. 146.—An ACT to establish the Central Lunatic Asylum.

Approved Jane 7, 1870.

Whereas, it appears to the general assembly that the present
lunatic asylums, for persons of unsound mind, are insufficient
for the reception and care of all such unfortunate persons; and
whereas, there now exist at Howard’s Grove, near the city of
Richmond, several lots of land, with suitable buildings thereon
for the reception and care of such persons, to the use of which
the state of Virginia is entitled for the term of ten years next
ensuing, from the first day of January, eighteen hundred and
seventy, under a lease made and entered into with Bacon Tait,
the owner thereof:

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That a lunatic
asylum is hereby established, to be located temporarily at
Howard’s Grove, near the city of. Richmond, which shall be
for the reception and treatment of colored persons of unsound
mind; and the governor shall forthwith appoint a court of
directors, consisting of eleven persons, as convenient to the
said Howard’s Grove as may be; and they are hereby consti-
tuted and appointed, with their successors, a body politic and
corporate, to have perpetual succession, by the name of The
Directors of the Central Lunatic Asylum; and by that name
may sue and be sued, and may and shall have and use a com-
mon seal; and are authorized to take any estate, real or per-
sonal, given or to be given to said hospital, or to themselves,
for the use thereof, so as the annual income of such donations
shall not exceed the sum of three thousand dollars.

2. The expenses of said asylum shall be provided for and
paid in the same manner that the expenses of similar institu-
tions in this commonwealth are now provided and paid.

3. The said lunatic asylum is hereby invested with all the
rights, powers, and privileges conferred, and made subject to
the rules, regulations, and restrictions imposed, by the eighty-
fifth chapter of the Code of Virginia.

4. This act shall be in force from its passage.