The union Democrat., 1871-12-16
SONORA. TUOLUMNE COUNTY, DECEMBER is, 1871.

es, and the enactment of laws making own
ers of stock responsible for trespass by it
will doubtless engage your attention. Ii is
manifestly unjust to compel each farmer
who purchases or takes up quarter section
to expend more than the price of his land &c
protect himself against his neighbor's cattle
Every man ought, in justice, TO be required
to take care OF his own stock or suffer the
consequences. The present fence system has
been an incubus upon agriculture. which ii
becoming every year more intolerable.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The subject of popular education il Justly
regarded as of vital Importance to the main
tenance of democratic institutions.
The people of this country are as unanim.
Gus as any people could well be on any Sub
ject in favor of an efficient system of common
schools, removed from partisan aud sectarian
influences where the whole mass of children
can receive instructions at public cost. The
Improvement and growing efficiency of our
common school system is o subject of just
pride and of hope for the future.
Vice and despotism are the offspring OF
popular ignorance virtue and liberty, Of
popular education. The report of the Super
intendent Of Public Instruction gives the fol-
lowing figures of results for two years past.
The whole number of children in the State
between the ages of 5 and Is years is report
ed at $50. l16, of which number 127 ,90S are
white 901 colored. and 1907 Indians under
the guardianship of white persons; the num-
Der under 5 years of age is GO ,292-making
the total number under Is, LOG, 40S, against
l70, 726, reported two years ago. Four years
ago the number under Is was lao, 306-an
increase in four years of IL l02.
The number in attendance at the public
schools during the present year was So, Cos /;
at private schools, Is, 524 attending no
schools, 30,964.
STATE PRISON.
The receipts and disbursements at the pris-
on are given in the report of the Resident
Director. The number of inmates on the first
day of August last was $50, and in Novem-
Der last. 907.
The Resident Director and the majority of
the Board in their report makes variety of
recommendations, to which your attention is
invited.
There is one change needed, however,
without which, in my judgment, it is useless
to expect anything like a perfect system of
prison discipline and management--that is,
that the Lieutenant Governor should be re-
lieved from the custody of the prisoners and
permanent Warden appointed. A Board
of Prison Directors of three, FIVE or seven
ought to be appointed by the Governor, to
serve without further compensation than
their travelling expenses, as is the case with
the Directors of the Insane Asylum.
The Directors should be appointed by the
Governor without reference to partisan poll
tics, and subject to removal by him. The
Warden should be appointed by the Board of
Directors and subject also to removal by
them and he should select his own subor-
dinates. 1t is certainly strange that 1t should
be difficult to inaugurate this sa!utary reform.
There can be no question as to its expediency,
both on the score of economy and humanity
At the last session bill was prepared and
introduced into the Assembly establishing
this system, but it failed to pass that body,
and in lieu thereof bill perpetuating the
present system, and making it if possible still
more Objectionable, passed both Houses. but
was not approved. The Warden of prison
where eight or nine hundred men are confn.
ed ought to be selected with reference to his
aptitude for the care and management of
such an institution, and should not be SUBJ
ject to removal with the entire corps of sub
ordinates whenever there is q change in party
ascendency.
INSANE ASYLUM.
The reports of the Directors aud Superin-
tendent of the Insane Asylum show at present
in that institution /, 900 persons, of whom 7S6
are male and 304 female. The care of its in
sane is sacred duty resting in the State, and
all who are jealous of its reputation for hr-
mainly cannot avoid feeling of chagrin that
this large number of these unfortunate beings
should be crowded together in quarters so in
sufficient for their proper accommodation. 1t
has been an arduous task to make adequate
provision for the care and treatment of this
large number of insane in buildings the dor
mitories of which are fitted to contain not
more than two thirds of the number.
The great increase in the number of pa
tients has caused deficiency in the expendi-
lures of the institution, the amount of which
will appear from the reports.
This ought to be provided for early in the
session. The management of the institution
by the Superintendent and assistant pbys-
clans has been unexceptionable, and the Di-
rectors have been actuated by single desire
to promote the welfare of the inmates, and at
the same time to make a judicious expendi-
ture of the appropriation.
ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND.
The number of boys and girls in this insti-
tuition September 18th, was l02, as follows
GA deaf and dumb-37 male, and 81 female;
81 blinds male, and Is female. The num-
Der would be increased doubtless if the peo-
pile of the State were more generally inform
ed that no charge is made in the institution
except for clothing and travelling expenses.
The Directors report deficiency of S2S, 900
of which more than S20,000 appear to be for
permanent improvements. The gentlemen
composing the Board of Directors, and the la
dies who visit the Asylum, give their time
without compensation to this benevolent
work.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The State University has been gradually
enlarging its sphere of usefulness during the
past two years, and has now in its classes Sol
students, not including those who attend the
lectures before the Mechanics Institute os
San Francisco. and who are enrolled as stu
dents of the College of Mechanic Arts.
These numbered last Winter about 500
more, and the same number will probably be
enrolled this Winter. There ought to be but
one opinion as to the great benefit which this
institution will confer upon the State, and
have regretted to notice an impression upon
the minds of some that there is q conflict in