The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-01-20

their efficiency, cannot be too urgently COM
mended to your care. They are the
nurseries of good citizens, the sal egusrds OF
society. ard In them rests the hope OF the
future of our Republic.
L renew the suggestion Of last year, and
invite attention Ito the question whether 1t
would not De practicable ana desirable o
establish a uniformity OF text books
throughout the State. and thus eHect con
siderable reduction in the expense 10 which
parents are subjected on this account"
PENAL INsTII UTIoNs.
The whole number of inmates of the In
dustrial School for Boys during the year
was 415 and the number remaining On the
Both of September was 318. The Institution
has been ABLY and economically managed,
and is performing a work OF great useful
ness Complaint is made that children are
improperly committed at the instance OF
parents who desire TO be renewed OF thelr
care and education, and there seems 10 De
occasion for more stringent Legislation on
this subject.
The number Of inmates OF the State
Prison on the Both of September 1876, WAS
266, and the average for the year 26l, being
en- increase over any former year. 1Dfor-
nation recently received is to the effect that
the number of prisoners has now increased
to 300, which involves the necessity OF pro-
viding additional cells. TO make the labor
of the convicts more profitable, u is oesr-
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 of chapter 2S8 OF the
| laws of 1876, should not be rep; 2 cd. The
| section confers extraordinary powers upon
the board of directors, in that it authorizes
them to diminish the period OF confinement
as reward for good conduct. 1t is ques-
tionable whether this is not in conflict with
| the provision of the constitution which vests
the hardening 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 q
convict has earned 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
situations have submitted elaborate and in
teresting reports, to which you are referred
The institution for the education OF tht
blind was maintained during the year at
cost of $22, TO, exclusive of $47, 610 expand
ed on the new building. The whole mum
Der of persons receiving instruction was Sc
The amount disbursea by the Institute TO
the deaf and dumb was $42, 62914, and th'
whole number of pupils received during TIT
) year was 1911. The Wisconsin hospital fol
the insane, near Madison, has afforded
, treatment during the year for 557 persons
The number of patients on the Both OF Sep
TENDER, 1876, was 355. The st of thei
j, maintenance for the year was $97, 270.27, in
!, Guiding payments for repairs and mino
improvements to the Hospital. The Who'll,
number of patients under treatment during
the year at the northern hospital for the in
sane was 604 the number remaining on tht
Both of September, 1875. was SOB; and tn,
sum expended for the support of the inkti
tuition was $97, 857 26.
THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM
As to matters connected with the char
liable and penal institutions of the State tn,
recomme ndatiops embodied in the report Of
the State Board of Charities and Reform arr
worthy of your careful attention. This il
especially true as means or assisting yoJ
in performing the duty OF fixing the appro
priations for the several institutions, sinC,
it is made the duty Of the board to rev 81
the estimates submitted by the trustees an(
officers.
TIE STATE PRISON AND THE INCURABLE IN
joint resolution, approved March Is
1876 established commission to consider
the feasibility and expectancy of removing
the State prison, and to recommend a site
fot 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
n in, Giy
ferent fields, viz: The iron bearing series
in Oconto county, the iron-bearing series il
Ashland county, the copper bearing series
in Polk, Burnett, Douglas and Bayfield,
counties, the pale0Zoic region of the Upper
Mississippi river, and the archeau 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 $4,000 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 anC
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 8
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 been Matched, to be introduced
into Lake Michigan and the interior waters
of the state. l 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 diffus on of intelligence among
the people with respect to practical sanitary
principles and precautions against epidemic
and other diseases
SWAMP LANDS.
have devoted some efforts during the