The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-01-11

II For a complete exhibition of ths
woods of the State.
st5. For an extensive exhibition o.
the cereals of the State.
"For complete display of many
varieties of fruits from twenty -foul
different counties. fg6
Il. For an exceedingly interesting
exhibition of the educational system
of the State, embracing all the de.
partments of education.
rs. For a large, elaborate, and ex-
ceedingly valuable geological map OF
Ohio, with many excellent features
deserving special oommendation."
The Board of State Charities, which
was re-esta blished by, the General
Assembly at its last session, is render.
ing important service. This Board
has no authority whatever, excepting
only that it is its duty to examine
thoroughly into the condition and
management of all public institutions,
penal or charitable, that are establish
ed by law and administered by officers
or agents of the State, or of any city
OF county thereof. 1t is also the duty
of this Board, annually, to report to
the General Assembly such facts and
suggestions as are deemed important
in relation to the interests committed
| to its care.
More than thirty thousand persons
poor and suffering, men, women and
children, come under the supervision
of this Board. 1t is believed that the
publicity thus given to the manage
ment of these institutions is adequate
to the correction of all abuses. The
members of the Board serve without
compensation, and its expenses are
small, having been for the past year,
including the salary OF the Secretary,
less than 50 600. l commend the re-
port and work of the Board to your
| favorable consideration.
AS member of the Board of State
Charities, have visited with my col
leagues, during the year, the following
State institutions, to-wit: The Sol
diers' and Sailors Orphans Home, at
Nenia the Hospitals for the Insane at
Cleveland. Dayton aud Athens, and
the Longview Asylum; the institu-
tions for the Education of the Blind,
Deaf and Dumb, and Imbecile, at Co
lumbus the Reform School for Boys,
at Lancaster; the Reform School for
Girls, at Delaware, and the Ohio Pen
itentiary. These institutions were
found to be in a satisfactory condition.
Experience has shown that the ap-
pointment of good men of different
political parties on each of the Boards
of Trustees of these institutions is
conducive to their best interests. They
are all entitled to the confidence of the
people of the State, and to the contin.
ued liberality of the General Assem-
bly,. 4ta.t 4sfs asH
The work upon the Columbus Hos
pital for the Insane has progressed
satisfactorily during the past season.
In the opinion OF the Trustees, if the
necessary appropriations be made
promptly, large part of the edifice
will be ready for occupancy by the 1st
of April next.
The Ohio Fenitentiary is altogether
inadequate to the necessities Of the
State, there being at this time impris-
oned therein about fifteen hundred
prisoners, while the Penitentiary has
suitable accommodations for not more
than one thousand. intermediate
prisons, or work-houses, should be
provided without delay for the con-
finement of the younger class of pris-
oners, and those especially who are
punished for first offense, and whose
reformation may be reasonably hoped
for. AS work-houses, they should al
so be adapted to the imprisonment of
able bodies vagrants, who live habitu-
ally by beggary, and are becoming q
dangerous element, not only in the
cities, but also in the agricultural dis
tricts of the State. The Courts should
have authority to protect the public
from this class Of offenders by sending
them to a place where they can and
will be compelled to earn their living.
1t will be seen by the report of the
Secretary of the Board of State Char
tiles that several of the jails of the
State have been condemned BY Grand
juries as unfit for use. The State is
bound to take reasonable care of the
health of prisoners, and especially of
persons detained on mere sus picion of
crime. | recommend provision of
law that whenever Jail has been or
shall be condemned by a Grand Jury
it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of
the county to take all prisoners as
shall come into his custody for con-
finement i'll Jail TO such neighboring
jails as he shall deem suitable and safe
and shall have sufficient accommoda-
tiOns for the purpose, and that a fair |
and reasonable expense of the support
of such prisoners shall be paid by the
county SO sending to the county so re-
c .iving the same.
The field work .of the geological
survey is now entirely done, aud half
the final repOrt-two volumes, each in
two parts-in which the results are to |
be permanently recorded, have been
already published. while the first part
of the third volume is now going
through the press. and the second part
is in proce IS of preparation.
The two remaining volumes-0ne on
economic geology, and the other on
zoology aud botany-are nearly COM
pleted, and the whole series will be