Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-08

there was no normal school IN the state; now,
there ale two in successful operation. A decade
since the permanent school fund, now increased
to 1891 1893, was less than half that sum. Within
that period the amount OF money distributed to
municipalities by the State for common school
purposes, has been increased from less than fffy
thousand dollars to more than three hundred and
seventy-fve thousand dollars, and including the
amount contributed by the State for free high
schools and normal Schools to more than four hun
dred and twenty-five thousand dollars; and will
reach the present year more than four hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. OF the aggregate expen-
dtures for public school purposes, about three
ffths are paid by municipalities and two-hfths by
the State, whereas ten fifteen years since
nearly all was paid by municipalities.
The free high school system adopted two
its most ardent friends dared to hope, and
promises to exert still greater Influence for
good in the future. During the past year l6l
towns have maintained $40 terms Of free high
schools, giving instruction to about 900 pupils,
at cost of not far from 100000, of which
little less than $4,000 will be contributed by the
State.
Probably the legislature will not consider it
prudent, under existing circumstances, to take
any steps at the present session looking to the es-
tablishment of a system of school supervision in
termedate between the State Superintendent and
the several School Committees. The best intr-
ests of the State, however, unquestiona5ly de-
mand the early Inauguration Of such system OF
Scnool supervision ana lnspectlon as Will give
increased efficiency 10 our public schools. 1t is
not so much more school money that is needed,
as il is more Systematic and profitable use of the
me ans now devoted to this vital interest. Our
Normal Schools are doing most valuable service
for the State in furnishing the common schools
with trained teachers; and these institutions
should receive generous consideration at the
hands Of the legislature. A proposition from the
Trustees of Bridgton Academy, offering to trans
fer to the State the property of that institution,
on condition that it be used for normal school
purposes, l am informed, will be presented for
your consideration.
In the judgment Of many Of our best educators
the lime has arrived for this State to enact law
making attendance upon some school certain
portion of the year obligatory upon children be-
tween the ages Of eight and fourteen years. In
my annual address ope year since, in view of the
dangerous increase of i'll teiacy among certain
classes of the population, urged the justice and
importance Of an enactment OF this character
whenever public sentiment shonld be advanced
sufficiently to secure its enforcement TO any con-
siderable extent. The discussions which have
taken place on this question within year or two
have certainly aroused public attention to the
danger which threatens free institutions from the
increasing ranks OF ignorance; and the indica-
tiOns are SO hopeful that such an enactment would
not be suffered to remain dead letter, but would
on the contrary prove in many cases an instru-
ment for good, that l commend the important
sui ject to your favorable consideration.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC
ARTS.
The report of the Trustees of the State College
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts ri presents that
Institution rapidly Increasing its number Of stu
dents and its usefulness; and my own observation
confirms these conclusions. The trustees ask for
an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars
to meet current expenses and outstanding liabill-
ties, purchase apparatus, erect farm house, and
make pre- eparatons for the constr, ction of another
L,,,1 kn~ IN.,h hat tt,t
is much needed the present year to put the nstitu
ton in condition OF the highest usefulness, and
that large sums beyond the interest of the fund
derived from the national grant, will always be
required from year to year, from some sources in
order to effectually carry out the object for which
the college was established. When the legislature
accepted the national grant, and thus became the
sponsor of the new institution, it deviated from
the wise and well-established policy OF leaving
the interests of the higher education to private lib
eralty and care, supplemented BY such occasional
incidental State aid as might be needed to encour
age individual effort. The reasons for this depart
ure from traditional policy, had their basis in
desire to take advantage of the liberal national
grant, and more particularly in the belief of many
emnt Mt men that new class o. higher insttu-
tions of learning was needed, which should so
direct their educational work as to turn out young
men to he better farmers, carpenters, backsmiths
and artisans generally, instead of so generally
graduating them for professional life.
w nlie tntSe COnslueTdtlUHS uuuOuDttutS CtH-
troed the les -lature, yet none of the most ar
dent advocates of the new departure imagined
that they were estabi shing an Institution which
was 20 depend entirely on public appropriations
for its support. 1t was supposed that while the
new college would be an especial object of public
regard, its principal support would come from
private citizens. l regret, therefore, TO observe
growing tendency to regard this institution
child Of the State, which needs no private aid or
care. regret this not simply from the fact that
=. L..
ture on the State treasury, but also because be-
Iieve that it would be better for the college to
bring it. elf into such close sympathy with the
people as can only be secured by relying largely
ON private contributions to further its work.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The reports of the Trustees of the Insane Hos
pital and Reform School, and of the Inspectors of
The state Prison. show that these State Institutions
are i'll an unusually favorable condition.
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
The Hospital continues to be in a very crowd
ed condi ion, over 400 names appearing on the
roll Notwithstanding the discharge of AZ incura-
BILE and mbecile patients, as directed by law. In
accordance with res olive of the last legislature
the Governor and Council have finished the un-
completed and unused chapel building erected
several years since, So as to furnish excellent ac-
commodations for about forty patients, at an ex-
pense of 1920. The balance of the appropris-
ton of So, 900 has been turned over to the Tus-
tees, for the purpose oi aiding IN furnishing the
rooms The Trustees ask for an appropriation of
81, 700 to complete the fun nishng; and also one of
So 900 for An additional boiler for hea'ing pui poses
and S25,00U for needed chapel, hall and culinary
department, in the rear of the present hospital
buildings.
The additional accommodations provided for
patients will only temporarily meet the de-
mai d, and measures should be at once inaugu-
rated looking to the early erection of another and
separate hospital, either the present grounds or
at some other point in the State. Long before
new buildings could be completed, addit onsl ac-
commodations will be imperative. 1t has been
suggested that the United States Marine Hos
pital at Cape Elizabeth might be purchased by the
State on very advantageous terms, and easily con-
verted into hospital for the treatment of the in
sane. 1t should be borne in mindthat within twenty
years the number of insane patients in our hos
pital has doubled-not because of an increase of
insanity, but because of the constantly incres,ing
disposition place persons suffering from q dis
east mind in some public hospital for treatment.
The current expenditures Of the hospital for the
past year have been about 100000, about two
hf,hs of which are paid by the State and the bal
ance by individuals and towns. Formerly towns
and individuals paid nearly all the expense of
patients, but within ten or fifteen years the laws
have been gradually modified so us to throw a
large proportion on the State.
The REFORM SCHOOL.
In accordance with authority given by the last
legislature, the Trustees have thoroughly rear
| .,al NJ ra no rod tho south uipp nf the Re-