Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-18
PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

ing on the 30th of September was 318
The Institution has been ably and
economically managed, and is per-
forming work of great usefulness.
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 strln-
gent legislation on this subject
The number of inmates of the State
Prison on the 30th of September,
1876, was 266, aud the average fol-
the year 26l' being an increase over
any former year. Information re-
Gently received is to the effect that
the number of prisoners has now in
creased to 300, which involves the
necessity of providing additional
cells To make the labor of the con-
victs more profitable, it is desirable to
secure skilled foremen, and an in
crease in the rates of compensation
seems to be necessary to this end.
1t is submitted to your considera-
ton whether section 5 of chapter 288
osthe Laws of 1876, should not be re-
pealed. The section confers extraor-
binary powers upon the Board of
Directors, in that it authorizes them
to diminish the period of confinement
as reward of good conduct. 1t is
questionable whether this is not in
conflict with the provision of the Con-
sttution which vests the pardoning
power exclusively in the Governor.
Again, prisoner released in accor-
dance with this provision is not there
by restored to citizenship. 1t would
appear to be wiser course to provide
that when a convict has earned a
mitigation of his sentence by correct
behavior, diligence in labor, or other
wise, the Directors should recommend
his pardon to the Governor.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The trustees of several charitable
institutions have submitted elaborate
and interesting reports, to which you
are referred. The Institution for the
Education of the Blind was maintain.
ed during the year at cost of s22,
ITO. exclusive of $47,610 expended on
the new building. The whole num-
Der OF persons receiving instruction
was Sc. The amount disbursed oy
the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb
was S42,629.14. and the whole mum
Der of pupils received during the
wear wes 1911. The Wisconsin Hos
pital for tho Insane, near Madison,
has afforded treatment during the
wear for 557 persons, The number
Of patients on the 80 of September,
1876. was 355 The cost of their
maintenance for the year was S97,-
27027, including payments for re-
pairs and minor mproyements to
the Hospital. The whole number of
patients under treatment during the
wear OF the Northern Hospital for
che Insane was 604; the number re-
naming on the 80 of September, 1876
was SOB; and the sum expended for
tho support Of the Institution was
$97 1926
L n
REFORM
AS to matters connected with the
charitable and penal institutions of
the State, the recommendations en-
bodied in the report OF the State
Board Of Charities and Reform are
worthy of your careful attention.
This is especially true as means of
assisting you in performing the duty
Of fixing the appropriations for tho
several institutions, since it is made
tho duty of the Board to revise the
estimates submitted by the trustees
and officers.
THE STATE PRISON AND THE TNCURA.
BILE INSANE
A int resolution, approved March
10, 1876, established a Commission
to consider the feasibility and expe>
diency of removing the State Prison,
and to recommend site for o hospl-
tai for the incurable insane. The
.Commlssic ners proceeded with the
discharge of this duty, and their
conclusions are embodied in a report
which will be submitted to you.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The work on the Geological Sur
vey has been prosecuted during the
year in six different 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
archoan district on the head waters
of the Wisconsin river. Some i'm
portant areas are not yet examined,
and more complete Investigations
are desirable upon the several metal
b bearing series. The act providing
for the survey made an appropria
ton of $4,000 per year for five years,
which term will expire in June next.
| recommend that an additional ap-
preparation 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 re-
organized the Board of Fish Conn
missioners, and appropriated $40, 1000
to them to be expended for desig'
mated purposes. In accordance with
the act the Commissioners purchased
very suitable site for a hatching
house. near Madison, and provided
the necessary buildings and appli-
anoes. There are at Milwaukee
large numbers of fish, of different
varieties, have been batched, to be
introduced into Lake Michigan and
the interior waters of the State. |
am satisfied that the propagation OF
fish is a proper object for aid from
the State, aud | recommend that q
sufficient sum be appropriated to
continue the work of the Commits
sione.s.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The law passed by the Legislature
of 1876. for the creation OF State
kaan perria1 n