Litchfield enquirer., 1871-05-25

aged, but is quite inadequate to the de- mands made upon it. The managers have been compelled to defer or decline during the year 203 applications for admission. The necessity seems to be absolute that the law regulating admissions should be changed, or that the accommodations should be enlarged. There were on the lst of April 237 patients in the institution. Admitted during the year. 75; discharged, TO- Of the 237 patients. l75 were paupers, 58 indigent, and private. For the last year or two, since the hospital at Middle
 town has been full, and patients still de- handing admission. the State has sent them to institutions out of the State--as Northampton. Mass, Concord, N. H.. and Providence, R. l. But we are now able.to send them only to Providence, the others declining to receive more from us. There are now some seventy or eighty at these institutions and at the Retreat in Hartford. The two wings originally contemplated at
 Middletown, can be completed at g cost of about eighty thousand dollars each, includ
 ing furniture. They will accommodate,
 when finished, about 120 patients each As the law now stands, the physicians de- signated by the judges of probate to in quirs into the lunacy of patients, are di- rected also to inquire into their pecuniary circumstances. This should be changed. A committee was appointed by :he last General Assembly to look into this whole question, and to their report would refer you for further particulars. 1a
 By the report Of the directors of the State Prison. it win be- seen that there
 were at the commencement of the year 219 prisoners. Received since, 99. Discharg- ed in various ways, 10l. Five have died and one escaped, leaving in confinement at present, 211. It is entirely self support ing, and shows net profit of $2, ,657. or. Since the last report the late es unable warden, Captain Willard, was brutal ly murdered by a convict, by which cowardly act the State lost one of the best officers it ever had and one of it's best citi- zens. The subject of prison, management and discipline-the relation of the State to the prisoners, who are it's wards, the con- tract system. the proper treatment of pris- ones, whether punative or reformatory, or both, and in what degree-has of late attracted much attention. Not many years ago Connecticut was in advance of most, if not all, of the other States in the perfec- tion of her prison system. I fear this is not the case at present, and if it is not, it is because the State has not given its best thought to the subject. Our increase of population and wealth, the growth of cities, and the consequent increase of crime and criminals, also increase our responsi- bility in this direction. Iwould suggest the appointment of commission to ex- anime this subject and report to the next General Assembly. and that the governor be added to the board of State Prison Di. rectors. a.i # The Industrial School for Girls was for mally opened on the 30th of June last, and is now Tn complete and successful opera. ton. There have been admitted to it's guardianship since the first of January, 1870, ffty-seven girls, of whom fifty. two remain. It is both educational and re- formatory in it's character, and the results thus far have shown not only the great need of such school, but it's entire fitness for it's work. I commend to your favor able consideration modification of the law relating to admission to this school, so that children who are liable to fall into, or are exposed to vice. may be entrusted to it's care without the intervention of 8 crim inal court.
 The condition of the State Reform School is represented by the report of it's trustees to be exceedingly prosperous. The $30, ,O00 by the General Assembly of 1869, have been judiciously expended in the erection of new wing according to the original plan. Many improvements have been adopted and much has been done for the comfort of the inmates. No legislative action is asked for. There have been connected with this school since its opening in 1854, 1862 boys. It has re- ceiyed the past year 152 boys and discharg- ed in various ways 127, leaving inthe school March 31st, 1871. 292.i No death has occurred during the year. It is entire ly free from debt, having balance in the treasury of the sum of $1,955. Is. The profits of the labor of the boys amounting to more than $l5.0O0 the past year, to- gether with the $2.50 per week which the State pays for each boy, under the good management of the superintendent, quite supports the institution. *
 The American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, though located in and receiving it's charter from Connecticut, may well be re- garded as the common property of all the States who choose to avail themselves of its advantages. By the ability and intelli- gence of it's instructors, the devotion and good management of it's directors, it main ,tains it's deservedly high position among the benevolent and educational institutions of the country. The number of pupils in attendance the last year has been 262, of whom 54 are from Connecticut. The. sud- den death of it's eminent principal, the Rev. Collins Stone, last December, is con- sidered by all public calamity. For 19 years an instructor of deaf mutes, and sub- sequently principal for ten years of an institution in Ohio, and for the last seven at Hartford. his whole life was identified with the work to which he brought very rare qualifications, both of mind and heart.
 No reports have been received from the Soldiers Orphans Home, at Mansfield. or Darian, though understand they are able to acommodate all that apply. The num- Der of children of deceased soldiers re- ported on the books at the comptroller's office is 1,648, for whose support the State pays one dollar and half weekly each. Fifty five have attained the age of fourteen during the last quarter, and therefore cease to receive aid. Should the accommoda- ions at the asylums already provided, be found insufficient, I trust these homeless children of our gallant dead will not be overlooked by you. ..r
 Reports have been received from the commissioners of insurance and the survey. or general, bat too late for an examination. Your attention is invited to them. as they are very complete; that of the surveyor = 4 As .z.-s s