Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-09

pursuance of a general movement designed
to reach all similar institutions in this country.
The report of the Commissioners Of a pro-
posed new Insane Hospital, appointed by vr
tue Of resolve of the last Legislature, will
be found of such importance as to claim your
considerate attention. Two members of the
commission report in favor of erecting, on the
present Hospital grounds in Augusta, a new
Hospital, to accommodate one hundred pa
tients, at an estimated cost of one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. One member re-
ports in favor of the erection, on the Hospital
| grounds, of two or three cottages at first, and
subsequently others as they may be needed,
to severally accommodate about twenty pa
tients, at an estimated cost of about five
thousand dollars each The present Hospital
building is over crowded, and additional ac-
commodations are already required.
STATE CHARITIES.
During the past year the State has expend-
ed about fourteen thousand dollars in educat-
ing tifty-fve deaf and dumb and eleven blind
beneficiares. The cost Of supporting insane
State paupers has reached the large
sum Of thirty thousand dollars, and
of paupers in unincorporated places
six thousand dollars. 1t is more than
probable that an amendment of the law re-
lating to these charities is expedient.
TIE INDIAN TRIBES.
:, In accordance with treaty stipulations and
the provisions of existing laws, more than
twelve thousand dollars have been expended
in aid of the remnants Of the two Indian
tribes still living within the State, about S.
700 of which has been devoted to the Penob-
scot tribe, and S., 200 to the Passamaquoddy
tribe OF the amount devoted to the penob-
scots, however, about s. 900 was the interest
on the fund belonging to the tribe held in
trrc hxytl tl,n y ,S {
the last Legislature, the proceeds of certain
shore rents amounting to over $1,000, are to
be distributed among the members of the
tribe As probably some heads of families
entitled to receive large sum, would make
an improper use of the same, it is possible
that the law may need some amendment to
give a larger discretion in the disposition of
the fund.
INDUSTRIAL School FOR GIRLS.
| regret that the late financial disturbances
have as yet prevented the Trustees of the
Maine Industrial School for Girls, from secur-
ing the twenty-five thousand dollars required
through private subscriptions, before they
| could avail themselves ofthe five thousand dol
lars conditionally granted by the State to aid in
the establishment and maintenance of the pro-
posed institution. The School has been To-
Gated in Hallowell, in consideration of liberal
donations from two benevolent ladies of that
city; and it is intended to put it in operation
as soon as the balance of the private contri-
buttons required can be secured. 1t is to be
| hoped that measures to that end will be sue
cessful at an early day, so that the State may
be provided with school so much needed for
a class of girls leading an idle vagrant or
vicious life, or in great danger of falling into
habits of vice or immortality. To secure such
a school the State may wisely extend liberal
| assistance.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
| The report of the Superintendent of Com
mon Schools, which will be laid before you at
an early day, presents an encouraging view Of
the condition and prospects of the educational
interests of the State. The increase in
school money arising from the State militia
end the tax on Savings banks; the improve
ment in methods of teaching, growing largely
ont of the work of our Normal Schools; and
the already marked influence of the Free
High School System adopted by the last Leg.
islature; have materially improved the char
acter and efficiency of our public schools,
and aroused a new interest in the cause of
education.
FREE HIGH Schools.
The Free High School system, especially,
although in practical operation but little more
than half of the past year, has already achiev-
| expectations OF its warmest friends, and to
promise, within a reasonable time, results
that can but satisfy all of the wisdom of the
policy. The official reports which have been
received by the Department of Education,
show that 100 Free High Schools. in 1873 diff
terent cities, towns and plantations, repre-
senting every county in the State, have been
maintained from one to three terms each since
the first of March last; and that these schools
| bov baa tod b,
tons TO the amount of SS3, ,523, and State aid
to the amount OF S29, ,l3i. in these schools
1926 pupils have received instruction in
those branches usually taught in the common
schools, excluding primary studies and also
in such other directions as are demanded by
the increasing industrial and business wants
of the times. Ii is especially noteworthy that
a large portion of the youth of both sexes
reached by these schools, are those who had
already withdrawn from the common school
with deficient education; or whom poverty
or other circumstances had prevented from
leaving their homes to obtain better oppor
tunities for education than those afforded by
the short winter term of their district school.
Many youth who will hereafter make most
valuable teachers OF our common schools, are
receiving in the Free High School that broad
er and deeper culture so essential to prepare
them for this high work. The influence on
| the common schools OF such pupils as have
attended the Free High School, is already
proving in the highest degree beneficial. SO
far as | am informed, in most of the towns in
which such school has been held new inter
est has been awakened in the cause of educa
tion.
1t was feared by some that the system would
be impractcable for small or sparsely settled
towns; but some of the most successful Free
High Schools maintained during the autumn,
have been in ust such localities. In one case,
at least, a sparsely settled plantation has
maintained most iourishing school for eleven
weeks, by municipal appropriation of sew
enty-tive dollars, increased by an equal
amount from the State Indeed, thus far the
most complete success of the Free High
School System has been in exclusively farm.
ing towns, where this adjunct of the common
school system is affording such facilities for
education as can but serve to increase the at
fractions of that rural life which is the source
of our national strength and purity. With
continuance of the system, there Can be
scarcely doubt that within a brief period
the Sc schools will be established in most Of
the towns of the State; and will give such an