Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-01-22
$3.50 A YEAR.

and an estimate of the amount REQUIRED
to complete the present wing ready for
use. 1t is too late to require any par
tlcular recommendation of the necessi-
ty Of institutions of this kind for the re-
formation and reclamation of juvenile
offenders. 1t is better, easier, cheaper
for the State, to reform and reclaim
young offenders, than to guard against
the vices and bear the heavy burthens
imposed upon the State, by confirmed,
matured and irreclaimable criminals
our early attention is invited to the
report the Commissioners They de-
sire full examination of their action
and the severest scrutiny of their plans,
expenditures and estimates There
can be no objection to the proposed
changed Of the name Of the institution.
from that Of the ''The House of Ret:
uge," to that of estate Reform School,"
INSANE ASYLUM.
The Report of the Commissioners Of
this institution explains fully the pres
ent condition Of the buildings, the con-
tracts made, the money expended, and
gives the estimates of the expense nee
essary for the completion of the build
lngs ready and fit for occupancy. The
contracts made by the State have been
very advantageous to the State, and
public money has been well expended.
1t is desirable that as speedily as pos
slble this institution should be in con
dition to receive patients. There are
between three and four hundred in the
State who require the treatment which
has become systcmatized in Insane
Asylums.
The expenses Of erecting the neces--
sary buildings for all these public in
stltutions are not among the ordinary
expenses Of supporting State Govern
ment. They are expenses which every
civilized State must bear. But they
have only to be once borne. Money is
lost to the State constantly, in expen-
ditures of this kind, from the mistaken
policy Of making frequent small appro-
priations, which enables contractors
and commissioners to do but little work
at time, and always at o disadvan-
tage. This is one reason why it al
ways costs State more than an indi-
vldual to do the same work. The re.
port of the Commissioners deserves
consideration.
INSANE PRISONERS.
by chapter Is Of the General Laws
OF A. D. 1858, the Governor was au-
thorized, "whenever it appeared to his
satisfaction that any person confined
III prison III pursuance OF the sentence
OF any Of the courts of this State, was
not a proper subject of such punishment
by reason Of insanity, to cause the said
insane person to be removed and kept
in some safe and convenient asylum
either in or out Of the State where such
insane persons might receive proper
medical treatment until he should be re-
stored to reason or his term OF impris-
onment had expired"
The second session authorized the
appointment of q commission of three
licensed practicing physicians to en-
qulre at the State Prison into the fact
Of the insanity of any prisoner. In
pursuance Of the afore mentioned act,
on notice from the State Prison Com
missioner, I appointed a commission
OF three licensed practicing physicians
to make inquiry Of the fact Of the in
sanity Of two prisoners, and report
WAS made, showing that two prisoners
were insane.
There being no suitable place in this
State for the confinement or treatment
OF such prisoners | made earnest efforts
with the Superintendents and officers
OF q large number Of Insane Asylums
OF other States, but have been unable
to procure any place for such prisoners.
The uniform objection has been that
while they received and treated insane
persons from other States in ordinary
cases, yet they could not consent to
receive insane criminals. [ have been
unable to provide for their keeping and
treatment as contemplated by the act,
STATE PRISON.
The very full and able report Of the
State Prison Commissioner will also be
soon laid before you.
The number Of convictg in the Prison Jan.
1st 1853, 100
Received during thesyesr 1853, I27
lotaI hulhpef III Tflson during the year, Zo7
No discharged on expiration Of sentence, 81
No pardoned, 10
Discharged on writ Of Hsbeas Corpus, I
Deaths,
Number in Prison Jan. 1st, 1859, 202
The appropriation necessary for past
Indebtedness is stated at 81 ,S8s 05
And for current expenses for 1852, $4,000 90
The recommendation and sugges-
tions of the Commissioners are entitled
to grave consideration. They look for
the reformation of a very numerous,