American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-01-12

pointed by the Commissi IneH OF Hamilton
county. That county, ther, fore, now consti
tutes the Southwestern Lunahc Asylum Dis
trict, and the Institution Just oTganized is Il
receive all the idiotic and insane within III
limits, 10 be supported by a county tax, snC
appropriations from the State Treasury, equa
in amount to the taxes collected in the count,
for the maintenance OF State Lunatic Asylums
| | am informed that no such county tax as i,
described in the act is authorized or levied in
Hamilton county. Some legislation, therefore
will doubtless be necessary TO provide for III
support.
THIS four Lunaiic Asslums are now open in
the State, capable Of receiving q few more
than twelve hundred inmates. Large as thi,
provision is, il is yet sadly certain that il /.
not large enough. Not less than a thousand
insane, needing the beneht ofsuch institutions,
must still remain either wholly neglected OF
inadequatsly provided for.
cannot recommend, however, additional
public provision. Judicious legislation regu.
lating County lnhrmaries, and authorizing
private asylums, would, in my judgment, al.
lord all needed relief, and perhaps diminish
the large expenditure now borne by the State.
The number Of inmates in each OF the three
Lunalic Asylnms heretofore organized, was
less al The close OF the last than al the close OF
The preceding year. Sufficient reasons for the
dlnIlnution are assigned in the several eports.
The TACT, however, is much to be regretted,
though compensated in part by increased suc>
cess IN treatment. II may be safely said, |
think, that these Asylums were never in bet.
ter condition than now.
The total expenses Of the three Asylums
during the past year. were $685. ,427, and the
appropriations asked for 1850 are sill So
The general aggregate Of disbursements must
be increased duTirg the present year, by the
necessary provision for the South Western
Asylum. The strictest economy will be ne
ceSsSry to bring thel annual cost OF the four
Asylums within limits satisfactory 10 the peo-
pie.
The number OF boys remaining on the State
Reform Farm at the close Of 1850, was l02.-
At the close Of 1859, it was 80. The expen
ditures during the last year were 2l,5Ii ol
which large proportion was for building and
other permanent improvements which have
added largely 10 the value OF the farm ss prop.
erty. This institution has thus far fuRlled The
wise and humane design Of the Legislature.
Its direct agency in reformation has been quite
ss efficient as was anticipated, while it wo'd
he difficult to measure its. untility in the pre-.
vention Of crime.
Under the influence Of its example Indus.
duslIial Schools have been Organized in
Cleveland and Cincinnati for that class OF va.
grants aud destitute children social orphans
who cannot be brought into the Common
Schools, and from whose numbers the ranks
OF crime are continually recruited. The In
stitution at Cleveland Offering not only some
measure Of instruction, but employment and
food aS Inducements 10 attendance, has been,
thus for, extremely useful, and gives promise
Of yet greater utility. Vsgrsncy, pilfenng,
and more serious crime, have sensibly dimin.
ished under its influence. That at Cincin-
natl, more recently begun, is yet 10 make
proof OF it's efficiency for good.
Upon e10mninR the report OF the various
institutions, you will doubtless observe con.
siderable differences in amount and value of
and in modes OF treatment.
have heretofore suggested, and now renew the
suggestion, That the several Superintendent
or Presidents OF boards OF Trustees be feouif.
ed 10 meet at least once a yeaI for consul.a
ton upon plans OF management, and on modes
oil making up reports. | do not doubt that
such consultations will promote economy In
administration, and secure much clearer and
better statements OF its theory, history and re.
suits.
The administration OF ihe Pententary dnr.
ing tho last year was tminen,ly successful -
While the number OF convcts increased from
6s3 TO s53, exceeding the number of available
cells by l53, and compelling the use of the
chapel and hospitable as convict quarters. the
judlcious discipline Of the prison was such
that industry, order and health prevailed in
unusual degrees within IFS Walls n was i'm
possio'e, al once TO md profitable employment
iot 80 numerous BODY oi prisoners, and yet,
thohgh expenditures necessarily increased with
NUMBERS ,hey were exceeded by The earnings
o lhe year. The Two additional buildings di.
'ec'eu oy tne last uenetal Assembly are
nearly Completed al a cost considerably re-
uuced ny we employment of convict labor in
portions o. The work. When finished they
VIII supply seventy hve additional cells
but the number WIN sui be lar too small, and
u prisoners continue 10 multiply at the pres.
eht 'a'e, .he ulspfoporuon already inconven>
'en,, hus' soon become dangerous.
onueI joint resolution OF your predeces-
sots appointed Commission OF three citi.
aens 70 enquire INTO The eHpediency OF fur
tnei ehiaIgihB the present prison, or construct
sng new one IN some other part OF the State
lne'I report presume, WI soon be submit
tcu 70 you ana u ~lll DO ior you to determine
VIVA. acl'on IS required by the public interest
nave 'hought u my DUTY TO exercise the
power o, pardon somewhat more sparngly
.nan most OF my predecessors. No light reA'
son nus oeeh CONSCIOUSLY permitted to Induce
interference WIN the veIdlcm OF Juries and
.ne sentence OF courts sun the number OF
cases IN winch have felt myself bound to
,h.etposo mas not been very small. 10 some
'ne 'nnocence OF the prisoner has been made
man''est' 10 otheisi mitigating circumstances
nave nave come some 70 llgnt, winch, II known would
nave aDa'ed the Tigor Of the sentence, and in
emnIsy conSuct i" o,iSnn Win o,ha, S;'s Sau un
stances. seemed ~ ,soo;,. .c,,on SO .,
will he immsdi.,aiv la,a Iosn ,, ,epo,'