Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-17

nurseries of good citizens, the safeguards OF
society, and in them rests the hope of tn,
future of our Republic.
renew the suggestion of last year, ant
invite attention "to the question whether i
would not be practicable and desirable tt
establish uniformity of text book.
throughout the State, and thus effect q con
siderable reduction in the ex pense to which
parents are subj acted on this account"
PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The whole number of inmates of the In.
dustrial School for Boys during the year
was 415 and the number remaining on the
| 3Oth OF September was 318. The Institution
has been ably and economically managed,
and is performing work of great useful
ness. Complaint is made that children are
improperly committed at the instance of
parents who desire to be relieved of their
care and education, and there seems to be
occasion for more stringent legislation on
this subject.
The number of inmates of the State
Prison on the 3Oth of September 1876, was
266, and the average for the year 261, being
IN increase over any former year. Infor-
nation recently received is to the effect that
the number of prisoners has now increased
to 800, which involves the necessity of pro-
viding additional cells. To make the labor
of the convicts more profitable, it is desir-
able to secure skilled foremen, and an in
crease in the rate of compensation seems to
be necessary to this end.
1t is submitted to your consideration
whether section 5 of chapter 2S8 of the
laws of 1876, should not be repealed. The
section conters extraordinary powers upon
the board of directors, in that it authorizes
them to diminish the period announcement
as a reward for good conduct. It is ques-
tionable whether this is not in conflict with
the provision of the constitution which vests
the pardoning power exclusively in the
governor. Again, prisoner released in &C.
cordance with this provision IS not thereby
restored to citizenship. 1t would appear to
be wiser course TO provide that when
convict has earned a mitigation of his SEN
tence by correct behavior, diligence in labor,
or otherwise the directors should recon-
mend his pardon to the governor.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The trustees of the several charitable in
stitutions have submitted elaborate and in
teresting reports, to which you are referred.
The institution for the education of the
blind was maintained during the year at
cost of 500, 10, exclusive of $47, 61O expend-
ed on the new building. The whole num-
Der of persons receiving instruction was Sc.
The amount disbursed by the Institute for
the deaf and dumb was $40, 629.14, and the
whole number of pupils received during the
year was 19l. The Wisconsin hospital for
the insane, near Madison, has afforded
treatment during the year for 557 persons.
The number of patients on the 3Oth OF Sep
TENDER, 1876, was 355. The cost of their
maintenance for the year was $97, 27O.27, in
Guiding payments for repairs and minor
Improvements to the Hospital. The whole
number of patients under treatment during
the year at the northern hospital for the in
sane was 604; the number remaining on the
3Oth of September, 1876 was sos; and the
sum expended for the support of the insti-
tuition was $97, S57.26.
THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM.
AS to matters connected with the char
table and penal institutions of the State, the
recomm endations embodied in the report of
the State Board of Charities and Reform are
worthy of your careful attention. This is
especially true as a means of assisting you
in performing the duty of fixing the appro-
priations for the several institutions, since
it is made the duty of the board to revise
the estimates submitted by the trustees and
officers.
THE STATE PRISON AND THE INCURABLE IN
A Joint resolution, approved March 10,
1876, established commission to consider
the feasibility and expediency of removing
the State prison, and to recommend a site
for hospital for the incurable insane. The
commissioners proceeded with the discharge
of this duty, and their conclusions are en-
bodied in report which will be submitted
to you.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The work of the Geological Survey has
been prosecuted during the year in six diff
ferent fields, viz: The iron-bearing series
in Oconto county, the iron-bearing series in
Ashland county, the copper-bearing series
in Polk, Burnett, Douglas and Bayfield,
counties, the paleozoic region of the Upper
Mississippi river, and the archean district
on the head waters of the Wisconsin river.
Some important areas are not yet examined,
and more complete Investigations are de-
sirable upon the several metal bearing
SERIES The act providing for the survey
made an appropriation of ST., 900 per year
for five years, which term will expire in
June next. recommend that an additional
appropriation be made of such sum as may
be necessary to complete the work and
make the results available to the people.
FISH PROPAGATION.
The Legislature of 1876 partly reorgan-
lied the Board of Fish Commissioners, and
appropriated $4,000 to them to be expend
ed for designated purposes. In accordance
with the act the Commissioners purchased a
very suitable site for Matching house, near
Madison, and provided the necessary build
ings and appliances. There and at Milwau-
kee large numbers of fish, of different vari-
cites, have bsen Matched, to be introduced
into Lake Michigan and the interior waters
of the state. I am satisfied that the propa-
CATION of fish is proper object for aid from
the state, and recommend that sufficient
sum be appropriated to continue the work
of the Commissioners. .
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The law passed by the Legislature of
1876, for the creation of State Board of
Health has been carried into effect by the
appointment of six members of the medical
profession and one layman. The Board
has not entered upon the exercise of the po
lice powers that are literally conferred upon
it by the act, but has undertaken work of
great Importance in the collection of stats
tics and the diffusion of intelligence among
the people with respect to practical sanitary
principles and precautions against epidemic
and other diseases.
SWAMP LANDS.