The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-11
BIENNIAL NE 5sA &c
or
GOVERNOR CONRAD BAKER.
tCesclssdsdl
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

Common humanity, as wei as the
requirements of the Constitution, de-
mand that the Institutions for the
Education of the Blind, aud the Deaf
aud Dumb, and the Hospital for the
Insane, should be literally supported.
When the new wing OF the Hospital
for rRe Insane, now nearly com pIeted,
shall have been finished and prepared
for the reception OF the inmates, the
capacity of the institution will be
nearly. if not quite, doubled, and many
In ali parts of the State, who are now
suffering for want of proper care and
treatment, may be relieved. The
Board of Trustees represent IN their
report that the provisions made for
the subsistence of the inmates is not
adequate to their wants. Believing
that upon a careful examination OF
their report and accompanying tables,
Won will be satisfied that their request
for increased liberality on the part OF
the General Assembly IS entirely
reasonable, I feel assured that you
will not hesitate to make such increas
ed provision as the wants of the instl
tuition may justly require.
The Board of Trustees of the IN
stitution for the Education of the
Deaf and Dumb, as we'll as for the
Education Of the Blind, ask appropri-
atoms for the enlargement OF their
respective Institutions. AT the time
of the establishment of these 1nstltu-
tions, the State contained a much
smaller population than it now does;
and we must not forget that the num-
Der Of those who need the training
which such institutions can alone i'm
part. will increase with our pOpala
ton, and we should be prepared with
additional accommodations commea
surate with the number which may
from time to time be entitled to ad
mission. For statement of the con-
dition aud wants of these benevolent
institutions | refer you to the reports
of their respective Boards of Trustees,
and recommend that every reasonable
demand made by those under whose
care Shey are placed may be promptly
and literally supplied.
soLpIERs' AND sEAMENs' HOME.
The Soldiers and Seamens' Home
near Knightstown, which was adopt
ed as one OF the benevolent institu-
tions of the State by the last General
Assembly, Is 10 successful operation,
and has already accomplished great
good in ministeriug to the necessities
of a class Of men who have done and
suffered much for their country. The
report of the Board Of Trustees Of
that institution is herewith respect
fully submitted, TO which you are re-
fcrred for a full history of lts opera
tions. The City acre tract OF land on
which the Home il situated was par
chased prloc 10 the adoption OF the
institution by the Legislature, with
the voluntary contributions of the
people Since the adjournment of the
last General Assembly the land has
been conveyed to tho Board OF Trus-
tees, created By the net OF last SEES
sion lit will be seen by the report of
the Saperintendent accompanying
that of the Board of Trustees, that,
since the esta blishment of the inSti
tuition, four hundred men, disabled
either IN the military or naval ser
vice of the country, have received
the benefits of the Home; that
two hundred and twenty-oue of that
number, after a temporary sojourn at
the Home. were DISCHARGED In an i'm
proved condition; that thirty-one have
died, and that enc hundred aud forty
eight still remain in the Institution.
che Board of Trustees have erected a
beautiful brick edifce, capable of ae-
o0mmOdatiUg about two hundred men,
and have devoted the old frame build
ings. which were on the farm at the
time Of its purchase, to the use OF the
Orphans Department, In which are
gathered eighty six children of de
ceased soldiers. Many of these chill
dren were taken from the Poor Houses
OF the different counties: and all of
them would have suffered for food,
raiment and mental aud moral cul-
ture, but for the guardian care which
the State has exercised over them IN
providing this institution.
[ feel assured that no effort on my
part is necessary TO secure from you
ample provision for these disabled
soldiers and orphan children.
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
At the last session Of the General
Assembly a successful effort was made
for the first time to execute the man.
date of the Constitution requiring the
law making power to provide House
of Refuge for the correction and re-
formation of Juvenile offenders.
The third section of the act then
passed made it my duty to select aud
establish a site for the Institution,
and authorized the procurement for
that purpose, by donation or pur-
chase, in the name of the State, of not
less than eighty nor more than three
hundred and twenty acres of land,
giving preference. other things equal,
to location central aud easy of &C.
cess from all parts IF the State.
Shortly after the adjournment of
the Legislature, persons interest
ed in the matter, were invited
by public advertisement, to make
propositions for the donation or
sale of lands which they might
judge to be suitable for the site of
such an Institution. Numerous propo-
sitlons to sell lands to the State were
received, but DO donations were Of
fered. l examined either personally
or through a competent agent about
thirty farms at SIX different points.
with view to the selection of the
best site for the Institution, and ulti-
Inately purchased two adjacent tracts
OF land IN Hendricks County. near the
town of Plainheld, for that purpose.
The two tracts contain, together, two
hundred and twenty one acres. The
purchase was made IN June, 1867. and
In the same month l deposited in the
Office Of the Secretary of State a GER
tifeate Of the location of the Institu
tion. together with the deeds OF CON
veyaace by which the lands were con
veyed to the State O1e of the tracts,
consisting Of one hundred and sixty
acres, OF upland, was purchased from
Robert r. DownaTd for twelve thou