The Portland daily press., 1877-01-05

years III eHect Ine state Board OF Health of
| Massachusetts have made this system and its
| operations the subject of investigation, and In
| their annual report for 1876 they describe IL and
| give it their commentator, as "almost the
only system which has stood the test of expert
| ence in this country
| The trustees propose to provide at once for
| the thorough ventilation of those wards of
| the hospital which are deficient in This respect
The reports Tor the present year, and former
| years, of tho various officers connected with
| the hospital, make it evident that the capacity
| of the hospital barely suffices for the pfesent
number of patients, and suggests the propriety
| of seasonably providing accommodations for
| the increase of applications for admission
| which will attend the growth of the population
| of the State
The trustees make no request for an appro-
| priation, and, am informed by them that they
| expect to be able soon to maze reduction of
| the rate charged for the support of patients.
The public have always been peculiarly SEN
sitive with regard to the treatment OF patients
at such institutions, and therefore every care
should be taken to inspire the community with
confiden e in the management OF the hospital
The frequent Inspections by the visiting COM
mittee are valuable means to that end
Whenever any differences appear between the
observations or opinions of the trustees and
those of the committee, the attention of the
Legislature is called directly to the examina-
ton of the matters in question.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE ME-
CHANIC ARTS.
The leading object of this institution is 'sto
teach such branches of learning as are related
to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in such
manner as the Legislature of the state may pre-
SCRIBE in order to promote the liberal and prac-
tical education of the industrial classes in the
several pursuits and professions of life'
Whatever latitude of instruction the terms of
the foundation may seem to permit, it must be
evident to all who are acquainted with the sem
timent OF the state, that the prevailing opinion
is, that the college should first of all be faithful
to its leading object, and so arrange and limit
the course of instruction that its pupils upon
completing their course may be prepared to en-
ter at once upon the practice of some industrial
pursuit.
The want of facilities for practical instruc-
tion has caused the course of study in branches
relating to the mechanic arts especially, to be
necessarily of general and theoretical char
acter, The trustees, propose, in order to fulfil
more directly the object of the college, and to
meet the popular expectation, to establish
workshops of instruction in the various me.
chanical trades connected with the working of
wood and metals, by means of which students
may, by combining the training of hand and
eye in actual service at the forge, bench and
lathe, with the instruction of the school-roor,
become intelligent and skilled mechanics.
This system has long been in successful opera
tlon in Russia, and meets wich the enthusiastic
approval of the best educators who have exam.
ined it. 1t has already been adopted by one of
the foremost schL OILS 10 thus country.
1 most heartily approve the recommends
tion OF the trustees, aud L urge you to give it
the favorable consideration it merits.
The sum estimated to be required to adapt
the barn on the college premises and not now
in use, to this purpose and to equip the proposed
workshops with the necessary tools and ma
chinery,lis very moderate, when the probable
benefits of the expense are considered. 1 am
confident that such union of study and prac-
tice would attract many young men, and re-
suit in reinforcing manufacturing and mechsni-
cal industries with body of educated. sklllful,
and ambitious mechanics and artisans, who
would give decided impetus to the develop
ment OF the industrial resources aud capabili-
ties of the state. The state would thus realize
Substantial profit from the outlay it has al
ready made in assisting to establish and MAIN
tain the college, and the college, would by so
clear manifestation of its usefulness, COM
mand grateful and more general appreciation
and liberal and unquesti ing support
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
The reports of the State Prison aud Reform
School, will be laid before you. have no rec
concentrations to give in regard TO these insti-
tutlons. On the several visits l have made to
to them, in company with the Council have
been most..favorably impressed with the man
ner in which they are conduc ed.
The Orphan Asylum at Bath and the Indus
trial School at Hallowell well deserve the care
of the state.
THE INDIAN TRIBES.
river, belonging to the Penobscot tribe of In-
dams, have declined to pay the annual rent due
under the terms of the lease, and the agent of
the tribe has brought suit to compel payment.
The lessees alege that the shores are less val
liable thsl when the contract Of lease was en-
tered INTO by them. If application shall be
made to the Legislature for relief by the de-
linquent parties, trust you will consider the
honor of the state, in its character as guardian
of the Indians, and take care that whatever re-
lief from the obligations of the contract may
be granted it shall not be done at the expense
of the tribe.
The appropriation of last year for the poor of
the Passamsquoddy tribe was not sufficient to
provide Tor the pressing needs of the aged sick
and helpless of the tribe A small increase OF
the appropriation for the present year is nec-
essary to enable the agent to prevent want aud
suffering among them.
RAILROADS.
Twenty miles of railroad have been built the
past year; eight miles by the Piscataquis COM
pauy in extension of their line from Abbot to
Blanchard, and twelve miles from Fort Fair
field to Caribou in the town of Lyndon, by the
AroostoUk River company. The Railroad
Commissioners report that the roads in the
state have continued to improve in condition
and management as evinced by their remark
able exemption from accident
/ concur in the request of the Commissioners
for legislation requiring railroad companies to
adopt the system of accounts recommended by
a convention of the Railroad Commissioners of
New England, and already made obligatory by
at least one state. The system does not differ
materially from that now in use by the prn-
cipal companies in the state A uniform meth
cd of keeping them woald greatly facilitate
investigation into the complicated accounts of
these companies.
THE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES.
The report of the Commissioners of Fisheries
contains an interesting account of The measures
which have been taken the past year to -e-stock
uor rivers with salmon end interior waters with
land-locked salmon and black bass, and OF
the good results of the work performed by
them in former years. The Commissioners
forcibly present the disadvantages under which
they prosecute their enterprise, and appeal to
you to remove some of the obstacles that stand
in the way of the full success of their lsbors.
The justice aud good policy OF some of the leg
islation asked for by them, seems evident.
In regard to closing for a term of years to all
fishing, except with hook and line, the rivers to
be re-stocked, am not informed as to the ex-
ten of the hardships such an enactment would
cause to those engaged in fishing IN the waters
of those rivers near the mouths, but whatever
their temporary loss or Inconvenience. they
would be amply COMPENSATED in the future by
the increased value of their fisheries, and IL Is
certainly unjust to permit them to neutralize
the efforts being made to benefit the people
along the whole length of those rivers.
Many citizens of the State are deeply inter-
est-d in the stocking of our lakes and ponds with
game and food fishes, aud assist IN carrying
out the laws relating to the subject by dstribut-
ing copies of them and procuring the sppont-
ment of wardens to be paid by themselves.
In view of the public in crest IN this under
taking, and of the many advantages that will
result to the State from its thorough presecu-
| tiop, / recommend that sufficient sppropria-
| tion be made to enable the Commissioners to
continue their work effectively aud to project
| the interests committed to their care.
NEW SWEDEN.
| The Swedish settlement in Aroostook county
| was organized into plantation under the
| name of New Sweden, in April, and hfty-two
| of its Inhabitants have been naturalized. Good
| school houses have been built, and four schools
\ are now taught by competent teachers. Four
| teen substantial buildings, either framed or
| built by hewn timoer, have been erected the
| past season; abundant crops have been har-
| vested, and but four families have received
| assistance as paupers. The success of this en-
l terprise vindcates the wisdom of its conception
and attests the faithfulness of the services Of all
| entrusted with the management OF it.
ELECTION LAWS.
1 respectfully suggest an amendment to sec.
| 49, of chapter of the Revised Statutes, re-
| curing the Governor to issue certificate OF
election to every person who has been declared
elected Representative in Congress. A law
| of the United States requires the executive of
l 70 ha aIaotinn Of HnitaA