The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-12

/ plUents
1t will also be your duty TO provide for its main
| tenance, management, and government: me
present law only applies to the asylum al haa-
MICHIGAN ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
The completion of the new department las en-
abed this institution to extend its kindly care TO
every new applicant. The number OF inmn,es
sept. 80, 1874, was 48l; Sept. 80 1870. oio. Inc
total number in the past two years was l,oi6, an
Increase AT As per cent over the preceding Diem
NAL period. The weekly expense LOT eson pa
tient for the two years ending Sept 80, 1910, was
S4s7, decrease OF As cents from the two previous
| years.
| alton 10 be expended in 1878 OF tsO,0oO
| The report OF the Superntendents OF the Poor
gives l, COG as the total number OF insane In the
State in 1875. The number In 1870 IL !, 100, AS
this estimate includes those In private asylum IN
| Wayne county and few that are more properly
| imbeciles il is the opinion of DIR. Van Deusen that
the real number is between 1000 and J, 700,
| The completion of the Insane Asylum ut Pontiac
| will enable us TO provide suitable care in State
| asylums for every one OF these ana trust its
opening may be celebrated by the immediate trans
fer from our county -houses and jails Of all their
| insane occupants to their sheltering care.
earnestly urge legislation to this end and to pro-
vide further that so long az the two asyums have
room, no insane person-not criminal-shall
| hereafter be placed In any poor-house or county
asylum, Jail, or prison. Every consideration OF
| humanity and OF real economy demand this, and
| 1 feel assured that no argument need be made
statistics shown to insure the passage OF such
law.
sane shows that the state has indeed adopted them
az its wards. The expense Of the counties for the
of the INDECENT insane Is very heavy burden,
though borne as rule cheerfully and willingly
Would il not be well to provide that after an indi
GENT insane patent has been cared Tor AT the ex-
pense of the county for three years, he shall
thereafter become a State charge? am Of the
opinion that such provision of law would be wise
and proper, and productive OF great good to people
and patient.
STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
This Wiseet of State charities presents Its
budget of work and wants in the biennial report OF
its managers.
mostly from the poor-houses of the State. The
average age of its inmates is nine years. Homes
have been found for lit of these children and 255
remaining Sept. 80, 1876, being all that can be
cared for me current expenses tor the year were
S27 612.5l, an average Of $12666 for each child.
When it is remembered that this institution Is not
permanent home, but only doorway to home for
the houseless, homeless, poorhouse children OF the
State, and that while under its care they must be
clothed, fed, and educated it will be seen that the
expenditure per capita is very slight. From its
first opening up to the present time II has been
most economically conducted. The board estimate
the current expenses at $4,000 per annum, and
they ask for this and other purposes the sum of
100000 for the ensuing two years. or this sum
IS 600 is for deficit account on the erection OF the
new cottages and the construction OF a new sewer
The necessity of these expenditures was submitted to
me, and they seemed Of such absolute Importance
to the health of the school, that cordially approved
| of them, though creating an Indebtedness.
the purpose of paying the expenses OF an agent III
| finding homes for the children. As q similar APP
preparation is asked for elsewhere: recommend
that this item be stricken out and that the balance
asked for viz, $4,000, be granted. 1t must be
borne In mind that these children, for whom this
appropriation is asked, II lot under the shetering
OF this institution, would be in the poorhouses
of the State, so that the money expended from the
| state treasury is much saved to the counties.
The State Public School Is in no sense a penal IN
stitution or a hospital. 1t is only designed for
| neglected and dependent children of sound mind
and body and free from criminal taint-yet some
others will unavodabiy find their way into it.
Though fully deserving its care and benefit, they
should not be kept in the school, owing to their in
| huence upon the rest. The board should be gwen
power under careful restrictions, to return to the
counties idiotic and permanently diseased chill
| dren.
| THE REFORM SCHOOL.
desire to call your especial attention to the
norris of This Institution Tor 1875 and 1876 After
| many days, 1t il now Reform School; the bars
and iron doors have disappeared, the high fence
that walled it in is kinding wood. And the results
are: no corporal punishment, no escapes since its
opening less destruction Of State property, gen.
era tone of comfort and cheerfulness III all its sur
roundings, and brighter better look in the faces
| of the boys The general outfit of the school is
| greatly improved The table and furnishing, the
clothing, etc, better than heretofore, and all
tend toward lifting this institution out Of the prison
mire and on the higher plane Of a school The ex-
pense for the two years ending Sept. 30, 1876, have
been SOL 77346 besides the amount received for the
labor OF the boys and other sources OF this amount
ST. 688 As has been expended under special appro-
priations, made in 1873 and 1875. and $4,000 for
| current expenses.
mum for the years 1877 and 1878 for current ex-
penses, 81, 500 for each year for repairs and i'm
| provements, and $500 each year for the library. 1
! am of the opinion that, with the increasing pro-
| ductive capacity Of the farm, and in view of the
| fact that the buildings and grounds are now in
complete repair, the amount asked for repairs
is not needed and that SOC 900 per annum is amply
sufficient for current expenses, including repairs
and improvements of every nature. The amount
asked for the library is none too large.
The average plumber in the school for 1875 was
241 ; Tor 1876 $50; average age OF boys when re-
| ceved, 1917 years.
The receipts from the labor of the boys have de-
creased very largely, and the outlook for remuner-
| alive employment IN the future is very discourag-
| ing TIE only mechanical labor now being done Ia
chair bottoming and this at very low prices IL il
of advantage to the boys when they go out, as II
IL business not carried on outside OF penal instt
buttons, and would not support them il 1t were.
The board, Superintendent and myself have gwen
earnest thought and much time to the subject OF
employment that would teach the boys some USE
full trade, and at the same time add to our reve-
nues, but without success. In the present de.
pressed condition Of our manufacturing Industries
there TO be nothing better than the work the
boys are now doing. The farm work Is successful
in pecuniary point Of view. and highly beneficial
IN every other way, and, with the additions thai
have been made to the fruit trees and vines, the
board hope soon to realize an increased revenue
from this source.
Tho Board OF Control again ask that the law
authorizing commitments TO the school may be
amended so that boys of years, instead OF 10 may
be received from their parents without commit.
ment. They ask that the limit of detention may be
changed from 81 years TO Is, and earnestly hope
this may be done. II a school does not mt boy &c
70 out at IL, 1t will IL he is not fit to 60 then
he is not At to stay and demoralize 200 or 30l
younger boys. If at 10 boy, after years OF in.
structon and care, of restraint and discipline, still
has bis face turned the wrong way, 1t would seem
as IL the State charity must cease and let juatict
take its place. The history OF the Reform Schoo
shows that there a few such boys, and II shows
further that they have been Of great damage to their
comrades Of more tender years. bespeak for thi,
subject your earnest confederation.
Although the State Public School has taken from
the poor-houseB large number OF children, the
ports of the superintendent Of the Poor, shows
constant increase Of children In these institutions
In 1872 the number WAS 6S3 In 1873. ST. IN 1874
500; in 1875, .3s. In THIS computation arei included
babes dotic, feeble-minded, blind, and mutes
| but even then the number shocks us. We cannot
must not permit it. That child reared in a poor
house is to be pauper or prisoner In the future
. is almost certain. Ir
We shall never cease building prisons. so lon,
as poor houses permitted to feed them with in
mates. We ought to prohibit by laws, the placing
of child, mentally and physically healthy, undo
years Of age, in any poorhouse. Other State
: have already done So and we should lose tim
in following their example.
DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND
The biennial report of the Trustees of this schoo
give very full details of its operations. The mum
1875, 204 in 1874. 1911 1873, 164.
r1..o fAx md aI..I