Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-19

VIII AAA1oCAANAh1 4hGICdoC Ato capacity lOL
usefulness. It can now accommodate
300, and the trustees confidently expect
that by April next it will be full
Should this recommendation receive
your concurrence, an additional ward
will be made of the room occupied by
the school, thereby providing for at
least fifty more. 1t is thought that the
house will then accommodate all of the
really destitute soldiers orphans in the
state who wi ever apply for admission,
The trustees also ask an appropriation
of $4,000 for current expenses this
year.
No state in the union has made bet
ter provision for the care and mainten-
ance of the orphans of its soldiers, than
has Wisconsin. What has been thus
nobly begun must be generously con-
tinued. These children, to whom we
owe so much, cannot be the objects of
charity from the state. They are the
beloved wards of the state, and when il
provides for them home and an edu-
cation, it pays but little of the debt it
owes them. Nothing should be left nm
done which will contribute to their
present happiness and future success.
They have thus far progressed III their
| studies with commendable rapidity, and
evince a zeal which proves their appre-
CATION of the advantages which you
| are extending to them. L am confident
| that the Institution has been ably man
aged in all its departments, and that
the children have received that paren-
tai care which belongs to them. Ineed
not commend them to your care, for
| ao.h Of fhar, I H.,rrur hoe
in your hearts.
The trustees of the institution for the
education of the blind, report the con-
dition of the same as very uusatisfacto-
ry, owing to the adverse working of
the law passed by the legislature at its
last session, requiring from the people
payment for board, or the presentation
of Il certificate from the county Judge
of inability of parents to make such
payment. They show that the number
of pupils who receive the benefits of
the l. stitution has been reduced from
81 to Is, and seemingly justify the as
sertion that ''from one of the most
prosperous and efficient schools of its
kind in the country, the institution
| has, by the action OF this law, suddenly
been reduced to one of the most insig-
nificant. The language OF the law
complained of is general, and applies
| alike to all the state benevolent institu-
tions, except the Orphans Home. On
| general principles l very much question
list propriefy. Wisconsin cannot afford to
be niggardiy in her charities. The
people not only do not ask it, but are
perfectly willing to bear whatever small
| old;F;on 20 tba3r I,urdor, Of foxaS y,,ax,
be necessary to the proper care of such
of their fellow citizens as are blind,
deaf and dumb, or insane. / concur in
| the earnest recommendation of the
trustees that this law be repealed. The
expenditures for the last fiscal year
were, for building shop, and other i'm
provements, 81, 1905, and for current
expenses, $16,47l.74. An appropria-
ton of SO, 10000 is asked for pay
ment of current expenses this year,
also small sum for the purchase of
few acres of much needed land.
The state has every reason to con-
graduate itself on having secured for
the management of its benevolent in
stitutions men remarkable for their
zeal and ability. Our institutions will
compare favorably with those of any
other state in the Union, either for the
successful prosecution of the work
which they were established to perform,
or for the care and economy with which
their business affairs are administered.
/ recommend that liberal appropria-
tions be made for their support. For
the convenience of managers, it would
be well to pay quarterly IN advance the
20 fnf. aI1pFnnf
penses of institutions under their
charge.
Before dismissing this subject, I will
call yOrr attention to another class of
unfortunates for whom substantial pro-
vision should be made by the state.
allude to imbecile and idiotic children.
Census statistics, necessarily imperfect
in this particular, show that we have In
this state many O. these poor creatures,
for whom, under our present system,
there seems really to be no place. Ii
sent to public schools and brought into
competition with children of fuh men
tai vigor, they fail rapidly. If kept at
home and lett to themselves, their fee
BILE lights gradually go out, and with
advancing years tDey sink into hopeless
idiocy. Schools already established In
other states, demonstrating that by
proper care and attention they are
greatly benefited 1t is our duty as a
people to provide for their education.
In company with a portion of the
state officers, / extended the annual IN
spectiOn of the state institutions to the
Protestant Orphan Asylum, st. Rose
Orphan Asylum, Saint Mary's Hospi-
tai aud Passavant Hospital, located IN
the city of Milwaukee. A careful ex-
animation proved them ali to be in an
admirable condition. They are not
state institutions, but are working great
good, are of great aid to the state, and
should receive from it a yearly allow
ance. They confine their benefits to
no,loeality, but admit inmates from ali
portions of the state, the care and sup
port of whom would otherwise devolve
upon the people
THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
The board of managers of the State
Reform School report that the whole
number of children received since the
opening of the school, July %, 1860, is
400. OF these $40 were boys and 60
girls.
The whole number of inmates during the past
year was...-......--.... .....-...-.,.....,. 209
Number Of inmates. October 1st. 1s65.....-... 155
do do do LIST, 1856. 134
Largest number of inmates at any time. -. 100
No death has ever occurred among
the inmates since the school was first
established.
On the 10th of January, 1866, the
mann building was destroyed by fire.