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

carry On any building operations, but
the necessities of the institution deman-
ded some small outlays, which were
properly made by the trustees, to the
extent of about s425, which is to be
provided for at the present session.
The following are the estimates for
completing the buildings, furnishing,
&c, improving grounds, payment of
indebtedness, and support Of Institute:
For support of Institute from Feb. lst,
1852 to February 1st, 1860, $1,000 90
For suadry school apparatus and mu-
sical Instruments, 1000 90
For payment of indebtedness for els
terms and stone work, 1000 90
For finishing the upper stories of the
main building, 1000 90
For constructing cupola, pertico, and
piazza, $500 90
For gas works and burnsrs 1900 90
For plumbing hospital and bath rooms, 450 90
For erecting and furnishing workshop
for male pupils, $500 90
For fencing, grading, and laying out
Institute grounds 1000 90
The Trustees have made an effort to
economic IN Incidental expenses, in a
variety Of ways, during the past year,
and the money appropriated does not
appear to have been in any respect un-
necessarily or improperly used. They
have shown a desire to promote the
prosperity of the institution, and not
to speculate out of the SANDER sums ap-
propriated for the benefit of this great
charity. The pupils exhibited eviden-
ces OF Improvement, and have profted
well both morally and intellectually un-
der the training,and tuition of the excel
lent and able uperintendent, Mr.. II. W.
Churchman. This institution too, de-
serves encouragement. On the score
Of economy for the future, and to real
ize the full benefit of the moneys here
tofore expended in the erection and
partial completion Of the buildings,
provisions should be made, without de-
lay, for completing and furnishing the
buildings and workshops for both the
blind and deaf and Dumb Asylums-
Small sums appropriated to pay small
portion of the expenses Of erecting and
furnishing such institutions are never
expended economically Or iudiciously.
1t divides up contracts, and multiplies
contractors. The expenses Of superin-
tending are about the same for erect.
ing the half as the whole of such build
ings. Materials are wasted; bought in
small quantities, they are more expen-
sive. It costs more to keep an unfin-
ished building in repair and protect it
from the action Of the elements than a
finished one. The expenses ofsustain-
ing schools are greater because the
cOnveniences are less. Beyond these
considerations of an Incidental charac-
ter, the necessities Of the institutions
for the education and accommodation Of
the pupils absolutely require that the
buildings and workshops be at one com
pleted. 1t would be far better for the
State to economic i'll other particulars
in order to be able to make the neces-
sary appropriations to these cases.
The act Of the last legislature has prac-
tlcally worked great injury, and been
a great disadvantage to both these in
stitutions. A Amajority of persons labor
ing under the nisfortunes of blindness,
or of being deaf mutes, are in humble
circumstances in life. The attachments
Of parents to their innocently unfortun-
ate offspring is strong, and their Attic
tions great. The humanity of the age
has undertaken to soften the harshness
OF these Affections by providing these
great public charities Great States
are emuIating each other in efforts and
expenditures for their amelioration.-
But in this State the parents Of blind
child, or a deaf mute, if unable to bear
the expenses Of educating it away from
home, must procure from the poor Of
fieers Of their town or village, certifi-
Gates Of pauperism before they can take
any benefit from the institutions them
selves. Education at our common
schools is free to all, but in these pub
lie institutions Is free only to certified
paupers. This law ought to be repeal
ed.
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
The House of Refuge authorized to
be erected by the Legislature of 1857,
and located at Waukesha, is in process
OF erection. The work upon it has
been prosecuted with all the diligence
possible with the limited amount of
means at the command of the Commits
sioners. Owing to failure ofthe Leg
islature at its last session, to make
necessary appropriation, work has been
done only upon part of one wing
The plan of the building is an admira-
BILE one for the purposes designed, and
the early completion of one wing of the
building ready for use is a matter of
great public necessity. The report of
Commissioners will be laid before Won.
There has been no waste of money or
materials by the commissioners. A
detailed statement of expenditures and
|, disbursements accompanies the renort.