The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-02-04

The Soldiers Orphans Home school has fully
maintained it's creditable standard during the year.
The children have been well cared for in all respects
Those in charge have endeavored to give them
home in fact, well in name and have succeeded
/ admirably. Nor Is this home given to them in
charity, but portion of the great debt due them
from the people. The children making the most
of their opportunities, and will bring discredit
upon the state when they shall have gone forth into
the world to for themselves Whole number of
pupils in attendance during the year, 331 Amount
expended for their support, $4 ,S77 40. Current
penses for 1871 are estimated at $40. 900.
Six pupils from the Home are 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 hand sufli-
Gent to pay all expenses of the first quarter of the
present. Valuable improvements have been made,
additional farm lands have been purchased and the
whole property is in excellent condition. The only
objection 30 the site is about to be removed by the
establishment of station within half mile of the
| building, on the Barabeo and Madison Railroad
The farm gave clear profit of s. 2S57 IA during the
last year. Whole number of patients treated during
| the year, 532. Average number, $50. Current Ex-
penses for the year. $50 518.37. Expended for per-
manent improvements, s., 34494 Since the hospital
was first established there has been expended by the
| state for land, buildings and permanent improve
| ments, S432, 31e.05. There has been expended for
the treatment and support of the insane inmates
Guiding ordinary repairs of buildings and furniture
S445 The current expenses for this year are
estimated at $4,000, and 200 reported to be
required for additional improvements and clothing
Pursuant to the passed by the last legislature
appointed Wyman Spooner Fl. II. Giles, E. w. Young
H. N. Smith, Parlan Semple and J. T. Kingston, com
mlssioners to act with DR.. A. S. McDi superntend-
en of the hospital at Madison in selecting site for
an additional institution for the insane An eligible
location made in the town of Oshkosh, on the
banks of Lake Winnebago, where tract of land,
containing three hundred and thirtv-seven 66-100
acres purchased by the commissioners for Sf0-
000 This sum has been paid, and the land duly con-
veyed to the State. Immediately after the location
was completed, appointed f. NJ. 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
fortunates who are now penned up in our iails,
poor-houses and private dwellings. The additional
hospital should be completed possible.
When this DONE and the present hospital enlarged
to the size originally contemplated, the addition
of two wings, shall have hardly sufficient to
receive all who require hospital treatment. know
that am recommending the immediate expenditure
of much money, but, gentlemen cannot forget
that there are hundreds of insane persons suffering
for want of these hospitals. No one can visit our
iails poorhouses, or dweling-houses, where insane
persons confined. and see how much their mis-
cry aggravated by the want of proper care with
out being convinced that the State ought to act
promptly and literally In this matter. The insane
can be properly treated only in institutions designed
for that purpose. They cannot be provided by
counties cities. Justice and economy alike die
tate that the State should establish and maintain
1
| doing.
have heretofore recommended the founding of
state school for the education of feebe-minded chill
dren The experience of other states where they
in operation has shown that such schools nearly
if not quite, beneficial in their results those
established for the education of the deaf and dumb
or the blind. The education of this class of
fortunates the highest possible development of their
feeble faculties, is due them from the state. Nor
should it be regarded charity, to be grudgingly
bestowed, but duty, to be cheerfully performed.
In changing their life from curse to blessing: in
| 20 Nod,
, in saving them from sinking, with advancing years
into hopeless diocy, society will reap the highest
, ward for the performance of sacred duty. be-
speak for these children your earnest practical sym
pathv. In a few years the property in Madison DOW
occupied for the Orphans Home will be available for
the accommodation of this school If it shall be
tablished immediately, only temporary arrange
ments will be required.
Senators NJ H. Petit, E. 8. Miner and S. D. Bur
chard, and Assemblymen Matthew keenan,, Willard
Merrill G. G. Swayne, G. T. Thorn, w. p. Rounds
and Fl. A. Chase appointed members of the
visiting committee of the state. They have made
thorough examination Of the affairs of the state
penal and charitable institutions, and visited The
charitable institutions of the city of Milwaukee,
Their report will be laid before you at an early
| dav.
again submit for your consideration the policy Of
reducing the number of each board of trustees hav
ing charge of benevolent institutions to FIVE and
that there be established State Board of Charities
which shall have the general oversight of them all
| and the Reform School, and the county Jalls
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
am fully convinced 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 greatest possible
J | economy uniformity and progress in the manage
ment of the interests thus pat ed under supervision
EDUCATIONAL.
It 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 steadily
drawing nearer that state of perfection which it
| should be our aim to have them attain. For this
are indebted. in great measure, to the teachers.
They manifest zeal in their labors, appreciation
of the responsibilities OF their high calling and an
emulation to excel. that merits the warmest com
mendaton. The district and graded schools should
be the best in the state, and hope to see them
reach this point of excellence at no distant day The
state authorities, by iudcious encouragement, can
| do much to hasten this contamination.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction we may fee! in
| view of the success of common schools, the
fact that over fifty thousand children do not attend
school the State stands forth warning to the peo-
pie that Oftv thousand children growing up in
their : idst to be men and women who not fit
ting themselves to become Intelligent, useful citi
zens. Too many of them WILL IN consequence OF
their ignorance be vagabonds, fitted only for pris
ons brothels, and poor-houses Finally, believing
that this source 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 last annual message, for the enactment of
such law will compel each child in the State of
school given number of months each year, for
reasonable number of years.
From the report OF the Superintendent of Public
Instructions. / learn that the
No children 4 and under 20 years of
age is. ....-.......-.- .-......-. 4lZ4Sl
No that attended school during the past
ear.... -. ..-.......'........ 264525
| No of school districts in the state =. Asp
No. of teachers required to teach the
Amt expended for public educational pur-
poses % o94, aOo
| There was apportioned, during the year, to the
school districts from the school fund income, $751;,
2T1.3S.
The state normal schools at Whitewater and
Platteville have thus far fully satisfied the expecta
lions of the people. They doing the work for
| which they established in such manner as to
reflect great credit upon the gentlemen having them
in charge The school building at Oshkosh has been
completed, and is a structure of which the state
may be proud. IT has cost 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. 1t win
be several before the income of the fund viii
support the fourth school, hence it is not probable
that another school building will be erected at
| very early day.
Total productive normal school fund.-. SOL, S02 "a
Increase of productive fund during the
past wear Observation-Disclosures. 81, $50 so
Reefs of the normal school fund income
during the past year oZ,lzI ~
Balance in the income fund Sept. 30 1870 l,5SS ea
| There held by the state for sale 500. $50
of land belonging to the normal school fund.
1t is gratifying to learn from the Regents report
that another of continued success and substan
tia progress has rewarded the labors of those in
charge of the State University The average attend
ance has materially increased, although somewhat
hindered here, in other institutions by the strin
| gencv of the times. The standard of education is
| stanfly rig