The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-01-10

pills in actual attendance at the
The former OF these recommenda-
tions is made in accordance with a
memorial Of the leading teachers and
educators Of the State, and. is based
upon the acknowledged necessity for
bringing the stimulus of competent
supervision closer home to our dis
trict schools. The second is warrant
ed by sound reason and by the expe-
rience of those States Hhipk- lave
adopted the rule If energy on the
part of school officers and parents in
procuring constant and regular at,
tendance of children at school, re-
warded By increasing their share of
public fund, the stimulus is found
practically to be most powerful in
bring a larger proportion oss youth
within the Influences of edueation.-
These suggestions are concurred in
by the Commissioner OF ComWon
Schools, who will, no doubt, present
them with other recommendations
worthy of your attention
The report of several Benevolent
institutions show not only a satisfac
tory account of their management
and the good results which have &C
crued to the inmates or pupils, but
systematic improvement in the build
ings and appliances connected with
them. The appropriations made by
the last General Assembly for the
enlargement of the Northern and
Southern Asylums for the Insane,
have enabled the trustees to make
good progress in the additional build
ings, and it is expected that another
year viii see the sceommodations Of
those two Institutions nearly doubled:
The trustees appointed to locate and
buili new Insane Asylum have fix
ed upon Athens as the place for it,
aud the liberal gifts in land and mon
ey of the citizens OF that vicinity have
secured to the State an ample and
eligible site without cost. Plans for
the new building have been matured
and the preliminary work begun
When this Asylum shall be built and
the enlargement of the existing ones
finished, it is confidently expected
that the chronic insane, whose pitia-
bic condition in our country infirma-
ries is now the reproach OF the State,
will all or nearly all be brought un
der skilled and constant treatment,
and their lives made more tolerable
to them, even if cures cannot be ef-
fectde. s.5
An appropriation was also made at
the last Legislative session for the
erection of new Institution for the
Blind, and the Trustees of that Asy-
lum have selected plan, after invit-
ing competition among architects
The plan and design they have cho-
sen is admirably adapted to the Pc
culiar work they have in charge, is in
good taste, free from useless Orna-
ment and relics for its architectural
effect chiefly upon the arrangement
of the masses and parts of the struct-
ure. The sum allotted to this work
was changed at the final passage Of
the appropriation bill, whilst in terms
it required the whole to be complet- |
ed for about one half. of what the
committee had estimated to be nec-
essary. Had the appropriation been
what it was no doubt intended to be,
a partial one, the trustees would have
begun the work of building; but un-
der the language of the law they have
properly felt unauthorized to proceed
until you shall have sanctioned the
necessary expenditure. 3 - ~
The Asylum for Idiotic children is
nearly completed, and the insufficient
and unwholesome quarters at present
occupied by these unfortunates will
soon be exchanged for the cheerful,
airy and well arranged apartments of
the new building.
The new Asylum for the Deaf and
Dumb is also very nearly finished,
and the trustees hope to have the
school in progress at an early day in
your session. The old building be-
ing overshadowed by the new one,
and the sewerage being de-anged by
the new construction, became alarm
ingly unhealthy during the Sum-
mer. An epidemic fever broke out
among the pupils of so malignant a
character that the medical advisers
it necessary to suspend the
school and send the children to their
homes. By doing this promptly the
fatal cases were made very few, and
many lives undoubtedly saved. The
was taken to remove the
old building and grade the grounds,
SO that the unhealthy effects which
might result from much change of the
soil whilst the school should be IN
progress, were obyiated.
In the month of October, facts
which came to my knowledge sstis-
fed me that in the mode of conduct
ing the building of this Asylum, the
architect and superintendent, Joseph
NJ. Blackburn, had been committing |
a series of petty frauds and embez-
reaching back to the very
of his services in that
in 1864. The high charac-
ter for honesty and integrity he had
borne in Cleveland, where he resided,
and the great confidence Governor
Brough. by whom he was appointed,
was known to have felt in him, made |
ne very cautious in examining the h
question of his honesty, and with the i
assistance of the trustees of the In
and particularly of Hon. S.
Galloway, a minute and careful in 1
restigation was made. 1t was found
hat in the payment of those workmen |
directly by the architect, al
!abitual overcharge for their work il
ad been made, more being entered &
MOI, tho navrnlls receitned nv tbam IL