Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-01-17

andtWo appointed by the Commissioners
f Hamilton county. That county,
herefore, now constitutes the South
festern Lunatic Asylum District, and
tle Institution just organized is to re.
GIVE all the idiotic and insane within it's
limits, to be supported by a county tax,
and appropriations from, the State Treas
uy, equal in amount to the taxes col
ieeted.ini the county for the maintenance
OF State Lunatic Asylums. l am in
farmed that no such county tax as is de-
sGibed in the act is authorized or levied
in Hamilton county. Some Legislation,
therefore, will doubtless be necessary to
provide for its support.
Thus four Lunatic Asylums are now
open in the State, capable of receiving
a few more than twelve hundred in
mates. Large as this provision is, it is
yet sadly certain that it is not large
enough. Not less than thousand in
SINE, needing the benefits of such insti-
t1tions, must still remain either wholly
leglected or inadequately provided for
1 cannot recommend, however, addi-
fonal public provision. Judicious leg
Station regulating county infrmaries,
and authorizing private asylums. would,
in my judgment, afford all needed relief,
and perhaps diminish the large expendi-
.tures now borne by the State
= The number of inmates in each of the
three Lunatic Asyiums heretofore or
.ganlzed, was less at the close of the last
than at the close of the preceding year.
Suilicient reasons for the diminution are
assigned in the several reports. The fact,
however, is much to be regretted, though
compensated in part by increased success
in treatment. 1t may be safely said, [
think, that these Asylums were never in
better condition than now.
The total expenses of the three Asy-
Eums, during the past year, were S93, 427 427
and the appropriations asked for 1860
are Ill $50. The general aggregate OF
disbursements must be increased during
the present year, by the necessary pro-
vision for the Southwestern Asylum
The strictest economy will be necessary
to bring the annual cost of the four Asy-
lums within limits satisfactory to the
people. ..a-
The number of boys remaining on the
State Reform Farm at the close Of 1859
was 102 At the close Of 1853, it was
I33. The expenditures during the last
fyearswere S21, ,517; of which large pro-
portion was for buildings and other per-
manent improvements which have added
largely to the value of the farm as prop
ierty This institution has thus far full
filled the wise and humane design of the
Legislature. Its direct agency in refor-
nation has been quite as efficient as was
anticipated, while it would be difficult tc
measure its utility in the prevention ot
crime
Under the influence of its example In
Idustral Schools have been organized in
cleveland and Cincinnati for that class
Of vagrants and destitute children-so-
Gal orphans-who cannot be brought into
| the Common Schools, and from whose
numbers the ranks of crime are contin.
ually recruited The Institution al
Cleveland offering not only some meas
ure of instruction, but employment and
food as inducements to attendance, has
BEEN thus far, extremely useful, ano
gives promise ofyet greater utility. Va
'grancy, piliering, and more serions crime
Ehave sensibly diminished under its in
fugnce, Z hat at Cincinnati, more re.
Gently begun, is yet to make proof of it;
efficiency for good. ss
Upon examining the Reports Of tho
various Institutions, you will doubt!es:
observe considerable differences il
amount and value of information, and il
modes Of treatment | have heretofore
suggested, and nowrenew the suggestion
that the several Superintendentso or Pres
idents of Boards Of Trustees be required
to meet at least once a year for consulta
tion upon plans of management, and OF
modes of making up Reports. [ do moi
doubt that such consultations will pro,
mote economy in administration; and Sc.
cure much clearer and better statements
of it's theory, history and results
The administration ofthe Penitentiary
during the last year, was eminently sue
cessful While the number of convicts
increased from 693 to 953, exceeding the
number of available cells by 153, and
compelling the use of the cha pei and hos
pital as convict quarters, the judicious
discipline Of the prison was such that in
dustry, order and health prevailed in un.
usual degrees within its walls. 1t was
impossible, at once, to find profitable EN-
tployment for so numerous a body o.
|prisoners, and yet, though expenditure:
necessarily increased with numbers, they
We're exceeded by the earnings Of the
year, The two additional buildings di
rected by the last General Assembly, are
nearly completed, at cost considerably
reduced by the employment of convict
labor in portions Of the work. When
finished they will supply IS additional
cells. But the number will still be fal
too small, and, if prisoners continue tc
multiply at the present rate, the dispro-
portion, already incongenient, must soon
become dangerous ..I l....r 4s.5.
Under Joint Resolution of your pre-
decessors, [ appointed a Commission Of
three citizens to inquire into the expe-
diency of further enlarging the present
prison, or constructing new one in some
other part of the State. Their report, !
presume, will soon be submitted to you
and it will be for you to determine what
action is required by the public interest
I have thought it my duty to exercise
the power of pardon somewhat more
sparingly than most Of my predecessors.
No light reason has been consciously per-
mitted to induce interference with the
verdicts of juries and the sentences of
courts Still, the number of cases in
which l have felt myself, bound to inter
pose, has not been very small. Insome,
the innocence of the prisoner has been
made manifest; it others, mitigating cir
cumstances have come to light, which, if
known, would have abated the rigor of
the sentence; and in others clear evidence
of reformation, and exemplary conduct
;n ,r;con with othar circumstances