The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-11


forming work of great usefulness Com
plant is made that children are improperly
committed at the instance of parents who de-
sire to be relieved of their care and educrtion,
and there seems to be occasion for more
stringent legislation on this subject.
The number of inmates of the State Prison
on the Goth of September 1875, was 266, and
the average for the year 26l, being an increase
over any former year. Information recently
received is to the effect that the number of
prisoners has now increased to 800, which in
wolves the necessity Of providing additional
cells. To make the labor of the convicts more
profitable, it is desirable to secure skilled
foremen, and an increase in the rate OF COM
pensatlon seems to be necessary to this end.
1t is 81 omitted to your consideration whether
section of chapter 288 of the laws Of 1876,
should not be repealed. The section confers
extraordinary powers upon the board Of di-
rectors, in that it authorizes them to diminish
the period of confinement as q reward for
good conduct. It is questionable whether this
is not in conflict with the provision of the
constitution which vests the pardoning power
exclusively in the governor. Again, prisoner
released in accordance with this provision, is
not thereby restored to citizenship. 1t would
appear to be wiser course to provide that
when convict has earned mitigation Of his
sentence 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 insti-
tutions have submitted elaborate AMI inter-
esting reports to which you are referred. The
institution for the education of the blind was
maintained during the year at cost of S22, :
ITO, exclusive of $47, $40 expended on the new
building. The whole number Of persons re-
ceving instruction was SO. The amount dis
bursed by tie institute for the deaf and dumb
WAS $42, 629 Ia, and the whole number Of pupils
received during the year was 1911 The Wis
consin hospital for the insane, near Madison,
has afforded treatment during the year for 557
persons. The number OF patients on the 3Jth
of September, 1876, was 355. The cost of
their maintenance for the year was 1897, 27O.27,
including payments for repairs and minor i'm,
provements to the hospital. The whole num-
Der of patients under treatment during the
year at the northern hospital for the insane
was 604; the number remaining on the 30th of
September, 1875, was SOB; and the sum ex.
pended for the support Of the institution was
1897, S57.26.
THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM.
As to matters come cted with the charitable
and penal institutions of the state, the recon-
mendations embodied 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 perform
ing the duty of fixing the appropriations for
the several since it is made the duty
of the board to revise the estimates submitted
by the trustees and officers.
THE STATE PRISON AND THE INCURABLE INSANE.
A joint resolution approved March 10, 1876
established commission to consider the feas-
Utility and expediency of removing the State
Prison, and to recommend a site for hospital
for the incursble insane. The commissioners
proceeded with the discharge Of this duty, and
their conclusions are embodied in g. report
which will be submitted to you.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The work of the Geological Survey has
been prosecuted during the year in six differ
ent fields, viz: The iron bearing series in
Oconto county, the iron bearing series in Ash
land county, the copper-bearing series in Polk,
Burnett, Douglas and Bayfield, counties, the
palezoic region Of the Upper Mississippi river
and the arc9ean district on the head waters of
the Wisconsin river. Some important areas
are not yet examined, and more complete in
designations are desirable 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
w AASSOD0pIF
the results available to the people.
FISH PROPAGATION,
The Legislature OF 1876 partly reorganjzed
the Board of Fish Commissioners, and ap-
pTopriated $40, 900 to them to be expended for
designated purposes. In accordance with the
act the commissioners purchased very suita-
BILE site for a Matching house, near Madison
and provided the necessary buildings and ap-
pliances. There and at Milwaukee large mum.
bers of fish, of different varieties, have been
Matched, 10 be introduced into Lake Michigan
and the interior waters of the state. am
satisfied that the propagation of ish is a
proper object for aid from the state, aid l
recommend that a sufficient sum be arpro-
priaged to continue tbs work of the COM
miesionaTs.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
The law passed by the Legislature OF 1876
for tho aviation oS Sto 70 R0ard of HaoItb no q