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

mas Tile nealDy innucnce OF lnis system DeeH Itl
in the school, and inspired well-founded hope
that, by carrying out and extending the policy
inauguracd, all the good results hoped for in such
an institution will be attsined. The Trustees ask
for an appropriation of $1,000 to re-arrapge and
repair the north wing, and thus complete the
system inaugurated. The current annual expen-
ditures of the Reform School are about $4,000
in excess of receipts from the labor Of the boys.
THE STATE Prison.
The Inspectors report that the current expenses
of the State Prison for 1874 have been $50, ,904,
and the net income from the manufacturing oper-
ations carried on by convist labor S28,Ol9,
leaving q balance of s., ,SS5 against the prison.
This showing is hardly SO favorable as for several
previous years, but the Inspectors think that it is
as we'll as could have been reasonably expected
considering the business depression and the fact
that the fire in the prison one year since and the
building operations during large part of the past
year, have seriously intertered with the industrial
operations Of the prison. A new brick carriage
shop 1870 feet long and IS wide, with two stories
wholly above ground, and three basement stories
Ito replace the old building destroyed by fire
has been completed the past season at a cost OF
So, ,0O0 The Inspectors ask for an appropriation
of $4,000 to meet the balance due on the cost OF
this building and the expenditures for the erection
of a carpenter shop and for repairs during the
year. The prison is now in excellent condition,
and for the first time fully prepared to advantage
ously carry on the industrial operations in which
the convict labor is employed.
HOME FOR SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
The Bath Home for orphan children of soldiers
and sailors, to which an annual appropriation OF
$4,000 has been made for several years, has 90
children under its care, and is deserving the con-
tinued assistance of the State.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
The Industrial School for Girls, to which an ap-
preparation Of 10000 was made by the last legis
aturc is about to open with tiattering prospec 5.
The inn rtn cf suph insfitutnn whose oh
ject it is to provide home and healthy training
for girls in danger Of falling into evil ways, can
hardly be estimated and it will doubtless re-
ceive from time to time such encouragement and
substantial assistance as 1t may deserve.
MAINE GENERAL HosPITAL.
TIE Maine General Hospital at Portland, which
the State has aided by large appropriations, has
been opened for the reception of patients, and can
but prove of great public service.
STATE CHARITIES.
The expenditures of ,he State for charitable
and reformatory purposes have largely increased
during the PAST twenty years. and afford evidence
of the humane character Of our people. About
S3S, 600 have been expended in supporting the in
sane poor, about Sc 900 for support of paupcrs in
urincorporated places, Sl5,3l4 fer education Of
deaf, dumb and blind children, $l2,553 for aid to
the PenobscOt aid Passsmaquoddy Indians, Ia
part of which, however, is the interest of q trust
fund guaranteed by the State), Sl4 900 for reform
SCHOOL, GlE.OUu lOr 1DuuStflal scDOOl I0r RlTlS,
5000 for increased accommodations for insane,
ss6 900 for improvements in reform school
building, an $25, 600 for Maine General Hospital
AN aggregate of Sll4367. In addition to this
Sl2 600 has been expended to provide home for
children Of deceased soldiers.
The FISH COMMISSIONERS.
The report of the Fish Commissioners gives q
valuable and interesting account Of the efforts to
re-stock our rivers and ponds with valuable fish.
The expenditures of the Commissioners have been
S4,45s.
STATE INSPECTORS OF STEAMBOATS,.
Under the provisions of an act of the last legis
lature, the gentlemen who were acting as u. s. in
spectOrs of steam vessels in Maine waters outside Of
the jurisdiction Of this State, have been also ap
their duties with fidelity and success. By an
oversight of the last legislature, no appropriation
was made for the compensation of these officers,
and consequently they have not been paid.
The STATE CENTENNIAL BOARD.
BY authority of a resolve of the last legislature,
board of directors has been appointed to look
after the interests of the State with reference to
the proposed Centennial Exhibition at Phadcl-
phia in 1876, and to aid in promoting the success
of the celebration Of the hundredth anniversary
of the nations existence.
The MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Adjutant General shows that
the Volunteer Militia of the State, comprising ten
asslR neu ana TWO COnlpanlts OF infantry
and one battery Of artillery all having 9lS enlisted
men and 55 otficers,-is generally in good condi-
ton. The aggregate cost of supporting the mill
ary arm of The State, has been nearly Sl2 900, OF
which about one-half for the State cncamp
ment at Bangor in September last.
The Adjutaut General has also administered the
pension department with rare fidelity and pru.
dence. The payments from the State treasury to
632 pensioners, aggregate S22,29i
THE LAND DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Land Agent gives detailed
account of the progress made in closing up the
affairs of the land Office. BY authority of re
solve of the last legislature, such timber land.
and rights TO cut timber and grass as we're not in
volved in the claims set up by the European &
North American Railroad Company. were sold al
public auction Cor the sum OF Sli5, ,553, little
more than one third of which was paid in cash
and for the balance notes were given payable in
one and two years. 1t was not thought expedient
to sell any portion of the lands set apart for set
tlement until all questions affecting the title o
the State to them should be finally settled. Mos
of these questions have been settled in favor o.
the State by de csion of the court render ed dur
ing the past year; and an agreement has been en-
tered into by the State authorities and the Euro
pean & North American Railroad Company, by
which The remaining controverted questions art
to be Immediately submitted to the court for set
tlement.
This will open the way for such disposition oi
the LAG, 900 acres of vacant public lands set apart
for settlement as may seem wise. 1t is estimated
that not over 40 900 acres of the lands thus sci
apsrt are suitable for settlement and that the re
naming 100, 600 acres are mainly valuable fol
tin ber recommend that these lands be eXamir &c
early next season and that such portions as ART
unfit for settlement, together with such other in
&C cnsiderable tracts of timber lands may prove
to be owned by the State, be sold. Whatever Gis
position may be made of the vacant State land
suitable for settlement, it seems to me highly i'm
por4 ant that nothing should be done to ard the
conversion ints cultivated farms Indeed, it il
desirable that you should inquire whether an,
measures can be devised to further encourage tht
settlement of wild lands held by proprietors, o.
which about 5000 900 acres are owned by individ
uals and 734 900 acres by the European Il NORTH
! American Railroad Company. 1t may be well tc
bear in mind that most of these lands are locateC
| in unncorporated townships and are subject t.
| only about one fourth Of tie assessment imposed
| on capital invested in improved lands and Other
property in incorporated places, in consequence
of being taxed only for State and county purpose.
| and on valWtion too of only about five million:
of dollars. This alone, it will be seen, is practi.
cally an indirect encouragement for capitalists tC
hold these lands as q permanent investment ant
discoui age the opening of them TO settlers.
| A resolve of the last Legislature provided fol
the abolition of the cffice of Land Agent and slst
! for discontinuance OF the land office at Bangor
and removal of the books and papers to August.
| at the close of the year just passed. The Bango
| Office has been discontinued and the books ant
| papers removed, as contemplated by the resolve