The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-07


working OF system OF popular education In consider
further changes that may be proposed should
duee the divisions that been 40 happily but with SO
much difficulty, healed.
In pursuance Of resolution of the last Assembly,
appointed Samuel s Randall Commissioner to emboiy
in single act common school code for the State. His
report will be placed before you at early day and will
doubtless receive the respectful consideration due to
commeDdations coming from whose long experio
and enlightened zeal in the cause Of education
widely and justly appreciated.
The ordinary appropriations In support OF colleges
omitted by the last Legislatures The present
condition Of the Uued States Deposit Fund is such
utiy moderate grant in aid Of the higher institutions
of learning and would renew the recommendations in
their favor contained in my last annual message Se
vera institutions ncludDg the Genssee College and
the Rochester University which have yet enjoyed
the public bounty present strong claims encourage
ment, and 1t would but just and reasonable that
sey should be admitted to equal participation in the
patronage Of the State The University OF Albany has
been organized under favorable auspices and the
sgn OF its patrons and professors shall be realized will
ultimately be made equal to the best universities Of
Europe.
Much interest has been manifested for SO me years
past in favor OF creating institution for the advance
of agricultural science and Of knowl edge in the
machanic ants. The views in favor of this
pressed in my last annual communication, remain un-
changed My impressions are still favorable to the
Of combining in college two distinct depnr
instruction in agricultural and mechanical sciences but
many, whose opinions entitled to weight contend
that separate establishment for each branch would be
most advantageous to both Before adopting any final
action the subject the merits of the several systems
OF organization that have been proposed, should be
matuIey considered would respectfully rec ON n nd
that sufficient portion of the proceeds Of the sale
ofaDde for taxes be appropriated to the erection Of
institution which shall stand as lasting memorial Of
munihc and contribute to the dfusisn of the
useful sciences and the elevation of the producing
classes during all future time.
Our charitable institutions continue to uld the bene
fceDt purposes for which they designed The par
tcuar condition of these establishments will be present
ed in the annual reports Of their officers. We may
template with intense satisfaction the blessings that
n he Of ad hv
the humane spirit Of past legislation The State has
given its powerful aid to every plan Of practical phlan
thIopy calculated to ameorate the condition of the
fortunate So far human skill supply the facu
ties of which they have been deprived by their Creator
the blind have been made to .es the deaf to aud
the dumb to speak Liberal provision has been made for
the infrm and destitute; the paterna guardianship of
the Legislature has been extend to the fatheress the
insane, and even the idotic / cannot TOO strongly
mend the agencies by which these aims re
accomplished, to your fostering and attention.
appears from the official report that the number Of
inmates in the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, the
sOth November last 4s5 the number in the lunatc
ylum on Blackwes Island, the Goth of December
was 523.
The total number Of insane persons in this State in
1850 shown by the OF that year 1896 of
whom 1l06 were in asylums, leaving 400 to be sup
ported in private families poor houses 1t is evident
therefore that further provision ought be made
for the relief Of this unhappy class Of fellow beings
he number pupils In the Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb, at the close OF thesyear, was 2, Of whom the
State supports l60
The New York stituton for the Blind contained l39
IL m8teS OF Whom % are state benehciarea. In pur
of the act passed by the last Legislature the
trustees appointed Tor the purpose have established
asylum for idiots They have fortunately secured the
services Of Dr. H. b. Wllber Superintendent, whose
efforts for the Improvement of imbeciles been at
tended with great suitable building pro-
cured in the vicinity Of this city and the school has
been opened under encouraging circumstances The
port OF the trustees will present their proceedings
ny and impart some valuable information in regard
the merits and prospects Of this noble undertaking
The Houses of Refuge for the reform alton of juvenile
delinquents have been administered with degree OF
fidelity and succeed which reflects high credit upon the
managers CT these institutions At the date Of the last
return the number Of inmates was rs follows
New York House of Refuge. 393
WeAteIn 10 90 ........................ lZ5
Some further legislation is in regard to
youthful conyicts between the ages of sixteen and twen
ty As the power Of the courts to send denq to
the Houses Of Refuge confined to persons under the
age Of sixteen mar young osaaers who have passed
that sentenced to hard labor In the State prison
fer term Of years Some of them the victims of early
abandonment ignorance and vicious associations; and
II placed in proper school for reformation might be
restored to virtue and prepared for life Of honest indus
try 1t is worthy of confederation whether separate
department for this class Of offenders should not be added
to present houses Of refuge, erected distinct
establishment.
The important institutions in the city Of New York,
under the supervision Of the Governors Of the Aims
House, are In excellent order and condition. The
penses have been largely reduced the discipline i'm.
proved and every branch ef their management gives
evidence of ekil, efficiency, and fidelity.
After the adjournment OF the last Legislature, regard
j
pertaining TO my official action visited each Of the
State Prisons and made personal examination of their
condition. The result was, in most respects, highly
satisfactory. Great Improvements have been made In
the system Of prison management and discipline Ex-
perience has shown that humane administration Is
more favorable to subordnation than stern despotic
eeverty Every practicable arrangement to have
been made for the health comfort and moral improve
ment Of the convicts Much praise is due to the
officers, chaplans and physicians for their efforts to
amend the condition and reform the minds Of the
wretched beings who have been bsuished society
to expise their offences against its laws. Many have
been redeemed from the deepest degradation the
usnce OF kindly teaching aud example The endeavors
Of the inspectors to improve the financial management
Of the prisons have been attended with considerable
No branch Of the public service ures
constant vigilance TO integrity and economy in
the expenditures striking Improvement is psrcepti-
bic in tho affairs OF the Sing sing prison For the first
time in many years its officers deem 1t unnecessary to
call on the Legislature for pecuniary aid.
The finances Of the Auburn prison in less prospe
rous condition, and considerable apr opraton will be
required for it's support This necessity has been pro-
duced partly by large expenditure n erecting new
buildings, which had become indispensable.
From a careful examination Of the subject, am
vnced that the unfavorabe results at the Clinton pri
may be attributed in part to the incomplete
ton CT the original plan which included the necessary
works for making iron and manufacturing it In of
it's der forms That part OF the design has been
elected No forges furnaces have been erected and
the employment Of prisoners has consisted excavang
and separating the operation which affords but
little profit in the present condition Of the iron maket
The difficulty has been increased by the failure of ore
"
heavy for the privilege Of working adscent
tract result much more favorable may be produced
erecting furnaces for smelling and manufacturing the
ore scale sufficient for the employment Of two
hree times thelpresent number Of convcts The addi
tona expense Of maintaining larger number would be
comparatively small The labor Of the convcts would
be much more remuneratve in the manufacture than
.he excavation Of the ore. Other than financial cons-
ieratons may be urged In favor Of this policy
Complsnts continue be made of the employ OF
large share of the convict labor In mechanical
supatons, which conflict with the interests of honest
,itizens engaged in similar pursuits.
This evil, unavoidable to certain extent, should be
diminished far practicable. leading motive In
the establishment Of the Clinton prison to withdraw
large class Of prisoners from mechanical employ
But that purpose has been only partially fu filled Aside
rem other Inducements, am OF opinion that the man
gement Of all the prisons would be improved by trans
errng Of the convics from Auburn and Sing Sing
to Clinton At Auburn the number Of prisoners
times exceeds the number of cells The increase Of GRIM
nals consequent upon the growth Of population and
her will soon produce the result at Sing
Sing The evils produced by oyercrowding the prisons
their regular capacity too serious to be oe
rated 1t cannot be doubted that the future necessities
Of the State will require third prison After making
20 large an expenditure upon the establishment at Gin