The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-04
State are the real fountains Of knowledge and

State are the real fountains Of knowledge and
power.
teachers. those who know and can impart.
There is probably no means oy wnicn we can
benefit our schools, and excite more intelli-
gent interest in them than by encouraging an |
fnstitution Won have already formed for this |
nnrnoseNtbe Normal School, The report of
the Principal shows this to be in yery flour
isbinr condition. As it is however regarded
by many as still an experiment, there is nat
urally much wanting to enable it to fulfil per-
fectly the important ends for which it was es-
tablished. 1t would be we'll, it seems to me,
il we have undertaken this experiment, to
make the trial fair and thorough one. The
noeral proposition OF the trustees Of Farming
ton Academy in regard to the relinqushing to
the State their buildings, ground and appara-
tus upon the payment of . claim by mortgage
on the property amounting to S4,200, cannot
but commend itself to the friends of the Nor
the sums estimated by the Principal as neces-
sary for the completion and current expenses
of the Institution, would, swithout doubt, be
judicious investment, the benefits of which
would be felt in every portion of the State. IL
will be happy thing if this school SHAH pe
| found SO adapted to its ends its usefulness anu
necessity so clearly demonstrated, or the pat
ronage and demand so much beyond us ac-
comodatons that We are forced TO an early
| opening of the other Normal Schooi at Gas
tine, now provided by law; -.
| The income of the school fund from the
| Bank tax is now seriously reduced, amount
ing this year to $685. 90 Inc sum raised by
| For the last year this is $477 131 G6; making
an average of upwards of 50 90 per scholar.
The amount of the Permanent School Fund
derived from setting apart a certain portion of
| the receipts from the sale of public lands
amounts at the beginning of the present year
| to $50, 735 79-the sum of $4,000 having been
added within few days
Since your last session the Agricultural Col
lege has been located at Orono and during
the past season some operations have been
made upon the farm. For the perfect organi-
cation of the institution everything remains
to be done. Its complete establishment and
successful working still depend upon your
wisdom. The College now being located, the
policy of requiring the Board of Trustees to be
made up of one from each county. though per-
haps desirable, is no longer imperative. 1t APP
| pears that it has been difficult during the past
year to obtain quorum at the meetings of the
| Board, and the Importance OF the case suS-
| gests the inquiry whether it might not be pos
| sible to have this Board so composed either
with view to convenience of locality or to
personal interest in the institution, that this
serious drawback to its success may not be en-
countered at the outset. There are surely men
in this State in every section and of every par
ty, eminently fit for that position, incapable of
being influenced by sectional policy or politi-
cal partizanship, who with such trust in their
hands would join with single and steadfast
purpose to build up an institution worthy OF
the State and adequate to the demands OF the
times.
This enterprise is worthy of the most Judi
cions care of the State, and of the lifetime de-
votion of the best mon among us. 1t is easy to
conceive of such an institution made a College
of the Industrial Arts as the original act con-
templates, located in a place atfording speci-
mems of the various soils in the State, near
enough to the sea for the practical study of ma
rIne dressings and marine architecture (mat
t3rs OF Importance in a State like ours), and III
the vicinity of water-pOwer capable of NOV
ing some machinery and allowing experiments
in irrgations, embracing full course of prac-
tical science and the mechanic arts, becoming a
means of incalcuable benefit to the internal
prosperity of the State and the glory OF her
name. Profting by tho experience of the past
but n.estered by its traditions, cramped by no
servile imitation of foreign institutions shaped
by dissmilar demands, comprehending the
best results of the latest scholarship, in full
harmony with the living interests of the times,
such an institution would afford an education
far moro valuable than could be obtained by
running through the curriculum" IF our col
leges. 1t would be chief means of increasing
Intelligence aud enterprise within our own
borders, and with the growing demand for
skilled labor in connection with anticipat-
ed public improvements, would open a thou
sand opportunities to attract our young men
from golden dreams of fortune fame abroad.
We need something in this State which will
educate our young men not out of their prop
er sphere, but into it; so that when they are
educated they will not disdain to work. Some
thing which instead of making boy feel that
he is bound TO follow a learned profession
though 1t leads him to failure and despair, will
rather give dignity and honor to those stations
in life which by far the greater part of us must
fill. Such an institution believe can be made
of our College OF Industrial Arts; and hence,
while am not prepared to suggest any details
of its organization, except to express the hope
that from the beginning, everything that is
done look to the execution OF plan, and the
ultimate realization OF complete idea, instead
of adopting temporary expedients to become
waste and cumbrance, L cannot but urge upon
you the most earnest and generous interest in
this important Institution.
REFORM SCHOOL.
The subject of the Reform School deserves
your especial attention Though its inmates
are those who are gathered up from evil ways,
and are detained there under sentence OF a
magistrate, yet we must regard this school as
part of our educational, rather than our penal
system. A recent visit to this school in COM
pany with my predecessor and the Council,
satisfied me Of the discretion and fidelity with
which its internal affairs are administered
The appearance of the boys was certainly such
as to excite deep interest in their behalf, and
to create the earnest hope that this institution
may be the means of saving many such wan
derers to society. am impressed, however,
with the desirableness of seps rating, if possi-
BILE, those of tender years and of scarcely an
idea of crime, from others OF ripper wlckedness,
whose conduct cannot but be communicating.
The impression seems to prevail that this es-
tablshment should be self-supporting. But 1
when we consider the youthful years of most
of the inmates it is not easy to see how that
can be reasonably expected. The whole sub
ject is full of difficulties, which will be duly
brought to your notice. The general affairs Of
this Institution will be laid before you in the
Report of the Board of Trustees, which COM
prises some of our most eminent and phlan-
thropic citizens.
INSANE HOSPITAL. q,
For the condition of the Insane Hospital you
are referred to the Report of the Superintend-
emit. 1t will be seen that still further enlarge
ments are required to provide for the greatly
increasing number who apply for the privileg
es of this Asylum. +, A wing corresponding to
the one recently constructed for female pa
tients is required for the immediate welfare of
the inmates. 1t may seem soon to suggest an |
other appropriation for this institution, but the
need is one which should be met without un-
necessary delay When this proposed addition |
is made the building will be architecturally
complete, and as large as can with profit be |
used tOr this purpose 1t has been one OF the
problems of philanthropists and political econ
omists how We can best provide for that unfor-
tunate class of citizens which seems to increase
with the advance of civilization. The great
experiment abroad has been, as measure of
humanity as well as of practical wisdom, the
separation of chronic and quiet cases from
those Of more acute and disturbed type and to |
afford the former an opportunity for agreeable |
salutary and useful occupation. The Cler- |
mont Asylum and Colony" in France embod- |
les the best results of these Investigations and
besides great success in the treatment OF pa
tents, is source of immense profits arising |
from the productive labor of the inmates. Our |
own State has not neglected this humane and
necessary care. And it may be found that in
our future provisions the erection of farm cot
tages in the vicinity of the Institution, and un-
der the same supervision, will be better plan
than the erection of another distinct and ex-
pensive establishment.
STATE PRISON.
The affairs of our State Prison have for sew |
eral years been subject of congratulations
The Prison mas become source of profit in |
stead of burden to the State. 1t appears |
from the Report of the Warden and Inspectors
that the management of that institution for the |
past year has been even more successful than |
before. The earnings of the prisoners, besides |
paying the current expenses for the year past
of S28S.57. While according to the Warden
full praise for the results of his administration
it is obvious that the task of making the prison
self-sustainng is by no means so difficult as it
is in the case of the Reform School, 1t may |
be unusual, but it certainly is not surprising |
that upwards of hundred convicts, mostly |
able-bodied men, some of them skilled work. |
men, should be able, under anything like Judi |
cious management, to make their earnings !
yield an income equal to the expenses of the |
Institution. With the present number of in |
mates the average earnings of $50 would more
than meet the estimated expenses of the pris- |
on for the coming year. We may reasonably
expect, therefore, that the financial prosperity