Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-01-16

rope. deserve consideration. The Librarian
has given particular attention to that
branch of his duty and ought not to be de-
prived of any reasonable means of promot-
ing such exhanges. Interchange Of laws
and public documents encourage that in-
tercourse of nations which most emiDcntly
contributes ts thorough acquaintance with
the characteristics of their people. This,
the Federal Government literally recogniz-
ed when it authorized the free transmits
sion of all public records between the States
and in that spirit We may encourage
thorough interchange, as we'll with foreign
natisns, as within the Union. Many of
the most valuable aecessions made to the
/ Library within the last five years have been
by means of International Exchange.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS
I The benevolent institutions of the State
continue to make ample returns for the pat
ronagc they have received. | take great
pleasure in referring You to the Reports OF
those entrusted with their administration.
showing their operations during the past
year, and their present condition. Ac-
companying these Reports. you will be graf
i6ed to find the FIRST Annual Report of the
+ Hamilton County Lunatic ASYLUM. which
promises to be one of the most valu-
able and successful institutions of its kind,
iu the Country. No provisions having
/ been made, by law, for printing this Report.
transmit it to the Senate in MANU-
script.
! 1t viii be seen by reference to care
; fully perparcd table of institutions for the
Insane in the United States in connection
with the subject of recoveries of lunaties.
forming a part of the very valuble Report
of the Superintendent of the Central Luna
tic Asylum, that Institution has for many
years maintained position in advance Of
all similar institutions of the United States
in the proportion Of its rec''veries upon the
number of patients committed to its care.
This fact is attributed by the SuEerintend-
eut. in no small degree. to the policy of the
State in requiring all its inmates to be
maintained at the expense of the State.
and all chronic and incurable cases to give
place. when necessary. to those that are
recent and hopeful
{ Whilst this is gratifying evidence of
the wisdom of cur State policy in respect
to the administration of our ASylums for
the Insane. does not the fact that the
chronic and incurable cases must give place
to those that are recent and more hopeful,
suggest the duty of the State to make some
suitable provision for the custody and care
of the incurable insane? Would not the
erection and maintenance of an asylum for
so benefcenta purpose be in accordance
with the humane spirit of cur Constitution
and the benevolent sentiments of the peo-
pie?
OHIO MEDICAL COLLEGE.
l beg leave to call your particular at
tention to the accompanying rehort CT the
Trustees Of the Medical College of Ohio
/ The finances of that institution are seriously
embarrassed. and legislation is asked for
by the Trustees, to enable them to relieve
the college from its difficulties.
OHIO PENITENTIARY.
1t gives me much pleasure to call your
attention to the report of the Directors and
Warden of the Penitentiary. The man.
agement of the Institution during the past
year has been highly satisfactory. The
law rewarding the good conduct of the con-
victs, by shortening their terms of sentence.
has been attended with encouraging results
upon the discipline of the institution
Under its stimulating influence the prison
ers. for the most part, cheerfully perform
the tasks assigned to them. aud faithfully
I discharge all their duties to the institu.
ton.
The number of convicts in the Peniten-
tiary on the first day of November last
was 932; of whom $40 were received dnr.
ing the year. In the same period 2S3 were
discharged by the expiration of their sen
tences. by pardon. and by judicial process.
/ Five were sent to the Reform School, and
nine died.
Ike cash receipts and cash earnings of
the Institution for the year were SJ7, o.
60. The actual expenditures during the
same time we're S97 7,6lO26, leaving cash
balance in favor Of the Prison of S294.34.
The labor performed by the convicts in the
construction of shops and other buildings,
was valued at S9.07l.92. This added 10
the profits, as it should be, to make pro-
per exhibit of the ability of the Prison for
self support, shows an aggregate profit for
the year of S9.366, 90. these results
show that the Prison when flushed will
not only realize the reformatory purposes
for which it was established, without be-
ing pecuniary charge upon the people,
but that it may be made a permanent
source of revenue to the State.
The enlargement of the Prison, and con-
struction of work shO, S, authorized by
your act of March last, have been dill
gently prosecuted
In connection with this subject, I VEN
ture to suggest for your. consideration, in
case you determine upon the erection of a
new prison, that provision be made for
such construction of it as will admit a
complete separation between the minor and
adult conyicts The humane cOnsidera-
tious favOring such separation are too OBJ
yious to need a statement Of them.
INTEMPERANcE AND CRIME.
By reference to the Wardens Report it
will be seen that of the nine hundred and
thirty-two convicts in prison. only one hun
dredand ninety of them prof, tohave
been temperate in their habits, while three
hundred and seventy-nine acknowledge that
they had been incorporate. The proper
ton of the crimes committed under the in
fiuence Of intoxication does not appear, but
from the statement of the habits Of three
coDvicts and from other well known fact:
relating to the subject. there can be little
doubt that very much Of the crime fol