Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-01-18

Number in prison Oct. |, 1860, 10
Ofwhom l5S were males and ! females
The amount appropriated last year to
the States Prison. Was $4,000, together
with the sum of $3,296 "a paid by theU.
S. government for the keeping Of its con-
yicts, and balance of S1,377,12 paid
over to the present Commissioner, by his
predecessor. This sum, in The aggregate
is less than any amount devoted to State
Prison purposes since 1853. The Com
missioner reports balance on hand Oct.
1st 1869, of S. 298,49, besides the
amount due from the United States and
he estimates that the sum Of $4,000 will
be sufficient appropriation for the current
year. The Cabinet and Shoe shops in
the Prison have earned the sum of So,
458, ,35 above their expenses. A large
amount of work, amounting to several
thousands of dollars in value, in the form
of prison wall and shops, &C., has been
done by the convicts during the year -
The Reports of The Commissioner abounds
in valuable suggestions, to which your at
tenton is invited
INSANE HOSPITALS, STATE REFORM SCHOOL, &C.
My visits to the benevolent and penal
institutions of the State have furnished
the most satisfactory evidence with which
the affairs of each have been conducte
during the past year. Both the Deaf and
Dumb and Blind Institutions have careful
Boards of Trustees, who devote them
selves earnestly to the welfare of the Insti-
tutiods themselves. They are men of
sound judgment and sagacily, who feel
the Importance of their several trusts
The officers and teachers are apt and ac-
complished in their several calings, and
both Of these great charities are in -four
ishing condition, and are full of usefulness
to the unfortunate pupils committed to
them. The reports are very full and COM
plete, and show their necessities for the
current year. [ have no need to commend
them to the good will of this Legislature.
The State Reform School and the In
sane Hospital being comparatively new,
will require more care and attention than
the older institutions. that have so fre-
quently passed under the supervision of
committees of the Legislatures.
The Insane Asylum has come up out OF
some financial confusion. The Board of
Trustees, composed of substantial discreet
and able men. selected from different por-
tions of the State, and entitled to public as
well as private confidence, have spent
much time and earnest labor to render the
Asylum what the Legislature intended 1t
should be, refuge and quiet home for a
most wretched class of our fellow beings,
and at the same time hospital for treat
ment of mental disease. The very able re-
port of the Board gives complete, con-
else history of the institution in all its de-
partments. financial, curative, and other
wise.
The State Reform School has been well
managed, and in remarkable degree is
answering to the most sanguine expecta-
tions Of It's friends In this as 10 all the
other pubic Institutions. experienced and
we'll tried men have devoted themselves to
its welfare Ii the present condition of
the School, under superintendent who is
a good man, as well as man of reliable
Judgment and ability, is any evidence of
its future usefulness to the degra ded.
homeless, parentless children Of the state,
who through misfortune, want, or accident
dron into petty crimes, all gond citizens,