Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-01-18


for 1871, including extensive repairs and pernanen
improvements, S38, ,S64. 90.
The disbursements for the support of the Insti
tute for the Education of the Blind amounted tC
S19,722 40. For the completion OF the new build
ing, S22 15S As. The total cost of the whole struc
ture has been about S155 655.O0 1t is in every res
pect suitable for the purpose for which it was exc
cuted and will probably afford ample room for the
accommodation of the school for the next twenty
years. Sixty-four pupils received instruction du.
ring the past year. Estimated expenditures for cur
rent expenses this year, 100000, and for payment
Of Indebtedness, lighting apparatus, school appara-
tus and steam pump appropriation of $6973.50 is
asked for. Both of these schools give excellent In
struction.
The Soldiers Orphans Home school has fully
maintained its creditable standard during the year.
The children have been well cared for in all respects
Those in charge have endeavored to give them a
home in fact, well as in name and have succeeded
admirably. Nor is this home given to them in
charity, but as portion of the great debt due them
from the people. The children are making the most
of their opportunities, and will bring discredit
upon the state when they shall have gone forth into
the world to care for themselves. Whole number of
pupils in attendance during the year, 3S1. Amount
expended for their support S41 817 40 Current ex-
penses for 1871 are estimated at 600.
| Six pupils from the Home attending the State
Normal School at Whitewater, fitting themselves to
become teachers. recommend that larger num-
| Der be allowed this privilege.
The trustees of the Hospital for the Insane report
the institution not only out of debt at the close of
the last fiscal year, but with funds on hand suffi-
cent TO pay all expenses Of the first quarter of the
! present. Valuable improvements have been made,
additional farm lands have been purchdsed, and the
whole property is in excellent condition The only
objection to the site is about to be removed by the
establishment of station within half mile of the
building, the Baraboo and Madison Railroad.
The farm gave clear profit of S5,2S5 "A during the
last year. Whole number of patients treated during
the year, $50. Average number, 800. Current Ex-
penses for the year, $50, ,51s37 Expended for per-
manent improvements, s., 344.94 Since the hospital
was first established there has been expended by the
state for land, buildings, and permanent improve
ments, 1892, ,310.05 There has been expended for
af,,oao
Guiding ordinary repairs of buildings and furniture,
S445 123.4 The current expenses for this year are
estimated at S75,000 and Sit 200 ares reported to be
required for additional improvements and clothing
| for poor inmates.
Pursuant to the act passed by the last legislature
appointed Wyman Spooner, 81. Fl. Giles T. w. Young,
H. N Smith, Parlan Semple and J. T. Kingston, COM
missioners to act with DR.. A. S. McDil superintend-
ent of the hospital at Madison, in selecting site for
additional institution fo- the insane. An eligible
| location made in the town Of Oshkosh, on the
banks of Lake Winneb1go, where a tract of land,
containing three hundred and thirty-seven 66-100
acres purchased by the commissioners for $40,
600. This sum has been paid and the land duly
veyed to the State. Immediately after the location
was completed, appointed E. M. Danforth A. NJ.
| Skeels and D. W. Maxon, building commissioners
They have adopted plans and advertised for propo-
/ ais to erect the buildings.
The necessity for more accommodations for the
insane becoming every day more apparent, and it is
the duty of the State to provide without delay for
the proper OF at least five hundred of these un-
/ fortunates who are now penned up In our jails,
poor-houses and private dwellings,. The additional
hospital should be completed soon possible.
When this is done, and the present hospital enlarged
to the size originally contemplated, by the addition
of two wings, shall have hardly sufficient room to
receive all who require hospital treatrnont. know
that am recommending the immediate expenditure
! of much money, but, gentlemen, cannot forget
that there hundreds of insane persons suffering
for want of these hospitals No one can visit our
jais, poor-houses dwelling-houses, where insane
/ persons are confined. and see how much their mis-
cry is ted by the want of proper care, with
| out being convinced that the State ought to act
! III Nl,nT
can be properly treated only in institutions designed
for that purpose. They cannot be provided by
counties or cities. Justice and economy alike die
/ tate that the State should establish and maintain
| them and humanity protests against delay in so
| doing.
] / have heretofore recommended the founding of a
state school for the education of feebleminded chill
dren The experience of other states where they are
in operation has shown that suh schools are nearly,
if quite, beneficial in their results as those
established for the education of the deaf and dumb
| or the blind. The education of this class OF un
fortunates the highest possible development OF their
feeble faculties, is due them from the state Nor
should it be regarded charity, to be grudgngly
bestowed, but duty, to be cheerfu1y performed.
In changing their life from curse to blessing in
retaining them from life of abject wretchedness;
in saving them from sinking, with advancing years,
into hopeless idocy society viii reap the highest re-
| ward for the performance OF sacred duty be-
speak these children your earnest practical SYM
! pathy In few years the property in Madison now
occupied for the Orphans Home will be available for
the accommodation of this school, Hit shall be es-
|
ments will be required
Senators M. H. Petit, E. s. Miner and S. D. Bur
chard, and Assemblymen Matthew Keenan,, Willard
Merrill, G. G. Swayne, G. 7. Thorn, w. ?. Rounds
and 81. A. Chase were appointed members of the
visiting committee of the state. They have made a
very thorough examination of the affairs of the state
penal and charitable institutions, and visited the
charitable institutions of the city of Milwaukee,.
! Their report viii be laid before you at an early
| day.
again submit for your consideration the policy of
reducing the number of each board of trustees hav
ing charge of benevolent institutions to fve and
that there be established State Board Of Charities,
which shall have the general oversight of them all
and over the Reform School, and the county jails
and poor houses with full authority to enter and
examine into their general management, at all times
and to be required to report to the State annually.
1 am fully CO WINGED that such board VIII be OF
very great practical benefit to the State and of much
assistance to the trustees having immediate control
of the institutions. Such has been the experience
/ of every state which has organized such body.
This change will tend to the great EST possible
economy, uniformity and progress in the manage
ment of the interests thus placed under supervision
| EDUCATIONAL.
1t is source of real pleasure that able to say
| to you that system OF education continues to
meet with the hearty approval Of the great mass OF
/ the people. The common schools have been well
sustained during the past year, and are L,eadlly
drawing nearer that sta.e Of perfection which it
should be aim to have them ~ttai l. For this we
are indebted, in great measure, to the teachers.
They manifest zeal in their labors, an appreciation
of the responsibilities of their high ci1iDg, and an
|
mendation The district and graded schools should
be the best in the state, and I hope to see them
reach this point OF excellence at distant day. The
state authorizes by judicious encouragement, can
do much to hasten this consummat ton.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction we may feel in
view of the success of our common schools, the
fact that over fifty thousand children do not attend
school the State stands forth warning to the peo-
pie that O,ty thousand children are growing up in
their 8 idst to be men and women who are not NJ
ting themselves to become intelligent, useful citi-
zens Too many of them will, in consequence of
their ignorance, be vagabonds, fitted only for prs-
ons, brothes, and poor-horse3. Finally, believing
that this of future danger to the State should
| be removed, and that parent has right to thus
rear child, I renew the recommendation presented
in the lasG annual message, for the enactment OF
such law will compel each child In the State OF
proper age under ordinary circumstances to attend
| school given number of months each year, for a
reasonable number of years.
From the report of the Superintendent OF Public
Instructions, learn that the
No children OYER and under 20 years of
age is. .-..--.,, 4IZ,4ol
No. that attended school during the past
No of school districts in the state . 4,S02
No. OF teachers required to teach the
Amt expended for public educational pur-
poses Observation-Disclosures. $2O94, l6O
There was apportioned during the year, to the
school districts from the school fund income, $780,,
2T1.sS.
The state normal schools at VIII htewater and
Patteve have thus far fully satisfied the eypecta-
tions of the people. They are doing the work for
which they were established in such manner as to
reflect great credii upon the gentlemen having them
in charge. The school building at Oshkosh has been
completed, and is structure of which the state
may be proud. 1t has cost S44, As. The Regents
will put this school in operation this year, as soon
as the income of the normal school fund shall be
sufficient to pay the annual expense thereof. It viii
be several years before the income of the fund will
support the fourth school; hence it is not probable
that another school building will be erected at a
very early day.
Total productive normal school fund. $671, 1902 49
Increase of productive fund during the
Rec'ts of the normal school fund income
curing tne past year oZ,IZl VI
Balance in the income fund Sept 30 1870 11,5SS O9
There held by the state for sale S99, ,15C
of land belonging to the normal school fund.
1t is gratifying to learn from the Regents report
that another year of continued success and substan
tal progress has rewarded the labors of those i'll
charge of the State University The average attend
ance has materially increased, although somewhat
hndered here, in other institutions, by the strn
gency of the times. The standard of education il
constantly rising higher and in the direction OF
scientific studies. The faculty are efficient in the
discharge of their duties and Jealous to increase the
usefulness of he University its benefcan