The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-01-26

many 10 De serious evils, and fall with peculiar
eyerty upon that class of citizens least able to bear
hem. Coming directly from the people. and rem
esenting as you do all sections of the state. I
louot not you will be able, by comparison of
1ews, to perfect measures which will ranova all
ust grounds of complaint.
The proper education of the children and youth
u ou state is among the most important duties of
oclety. The state has undertaken tbis dntv onlv
II part and shou d therefore cheerfuIlv recoonizsI
he efficient assistance rendered in this work by the
many private schools, and the excellent academies
colleges and universities which receiye no Direct
assistance from the state
STATE Prison
The number of convicts confined in the
state Prison, September 80, 1877, was 29O
The average number in confinement during
ne year was also 29O The number in confinement
ne nrst day OF January instant exceeded 800 The
reports of the warden and directors are full and
explicit upon all points of interest connected with
Ihe nanae ement OF that institution. contract
has been made for the leasing of the labor of the
prisoners from which desirable results are conf
IDENTIFY anticipated
For the first time i'll the history of that institu-
ton no appropriations are requr sted I urge that
the recommendation embodied in the d ,recaors
report may receive your favorable consideration
particularly those referring to the representation
OF Wisconsin in the International Prison Congress
at Stockholm, in August next and the furnishing
OF transportation to discharged prisone S. I also
all Your attention to the request of the wardt for
rellef In the matter OF TIE occasioned by the
failure OF the Corn Exchange Bank at WaupuD, and
the unexpected decision of the United states Cir
cult Court in relation thereto. Some legislation
more accurately defining the Warden's liabilities
and his relation to the publ property and funds in
his possession, is imperatively demanded
| commend to your earnest constellation the
remarks OF the warden, relative to the inequality
of sentences, and refer you to the report OF the
State Board of Charities and Reforms for tire
years 1875, 1876 and 1877, where the same subject
il further discus ed. The limits to which I must
conhne myself in this communication forbid any
review OF these discussions. Many very convinc
ing reasons ere urged for the total abolition OF
term sentences the most experienced prison Off.
Gals are becoming the advocates of this theory
and | believe its early adoption il Wisconsin
would conduce to the public welfare.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
The Industrial School for Boys, at Waukesha
continues to meet all reasonable anticpations
The whole number there during the year was Al
and the number remaining September 80, 1877
SEA. The average number for the year v as BAL
The expenditures for the year amount to SI6 3H3I
including 500 "a for permanent improvements
An appropriation OF $4,000 is required for the cur
rent year.
NEvoLENr INSTITUTIONS
The expenditures at the Institution for the Edu
cation Of the Bind have been $3.50. 90, exciusiv
OF the amount expended for building purposes
which was s64.35356. The number CT pupils il
attendance during the year 81, of whom u
were present September 80, 1877.
AT the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, tn,
expenditures for current expenses have beer
sSl, Is, the whole number of pupils in attend
ance during the year $780, of whom 141 wer,
present at the close of the fiscal year TIL,
average attendance was 155.
The report of the trustees of the Wisconsin
hospital for the Insane, near Madison, shows tina
there has been expended S94, %, 64 in mainten
ance of 49S patients, and that it closed the yea
with 332 persons under treatment. The averag,
number under treatment Nas $40
The report of the trustees of the Northern Hos
pltal for the Insane shows that 704 patients hav
been cared for at a cost of Sl22, 5. II, and tn
number under treatment at the close of the yea
was 537
The reports of these several benevolent inst
tutions will be laid before you at an early day
The suggestions and recommendations containe,
IN them ars evidently the result of much dc
Liberation, and doubt not will receive the con
sldelation their importance demands.
CHRONIC INSANE.
1t is unquestiona 1le that the condition of til
CHROME insane in jails and poor houses is, in yer
many instances, repr0ach and disgrace to on
ciTlz ition. 1t remaius for you to determine hat
II anything, shall be done for their better care an
maintenance. Certainly the present hospital buld
ings should be utilized to their utmost capacit,
All questions of local or personal pride or jealous
should be Ignored, and only the interests of III
unfortunate people for whose benefit these build
ings were constructed should determine and dlrec
your action. II it shall appear that the presen
buildings cannot be made to accommodate all VIII
need care, trust YOU will not hesitate to max
suitable provision for the erection of such plain
substantial and comfortable buildings as may b
required for that purpose.
STATE BOARD OF. CHARITIES AND REFORM.
The gentlemen com uprising the state board c
charities and reform have devoted very consid
cradle ume-some of them for series of years
to careful study of the various perplexing ques
tons connected with the subjects intrusted t
their supervision and in the consideration of tn
matter of providing for the chronic insane a
well as all other subjects connected with the ad
miniStration of the several penal and charitab
institutions, you viii doubtless derive very ma
terial assistance from their forthcoming instruct
i've report
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
1t cannot have escaped your notice, as citizen
of Wisconsin, that the members of the stat.
board of health have been active during til,
past year in the discharge of their appropriate
duties, thereby proving themselves public bene
factors. | am advised that the report of thi
board among other things, will Recommend
legislation, looking to more complete returns o
vital statistics aud to the publication of large
edition of its annual reports. Concurrng in these
recommendations, solicit for them your ia vor
able consideration.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The geological sur yey of the state has been pros
ecuted with very satisfactory results during tn,
year. The second Volnms of the iinal reports has
been published and IT fleets great credit upon all
engaged i'll its production, from the explorer il
the field to the engrayers and prin ers from whose
hands the book and accompanying atlas of maps
have been received.
In August last, Professor Moses Strong, assistant
geologst was accidentally drowned in the Wiscon
sin river while in the prosecution of his official du
ties. His death OF alone sad aiictIon to his
family AID immediate friends, but great loss &c
the state. It would be in accordance with the pre-
cedents in similar cases, and proper public recog
nti on of his services for the legislature to provide
for the paymt Mt of his salary to his family from
the time of his death to the end of the year for
which he had been ap pointed.
Fish CULTURE.
The fourth annual report of the commissioners
of fisheries atoupds in interesting information
relative this branch of useful industry witt
very moderate expenditures, the commission !,
iaf;o
of fish, and we may reasonably anticipate ample re-
turns in due time. The commissioners ask for au
appropria of S5000 to enable them to csrry on
their work to Seember 80, 1879.
JUDICIAL CIRCUITS.
The report of the commissioners appointed to
investigate as to the relative amount of labor re-
quired of the several circuit judges and to ascer-
tain what changes, if any, are desirable in the for
nation OF The several judicial circuits will he
made directly to the Legislature. It cannot be ex-
pected. therefore that should review or criticise
the work of this commission. l assume that its
members have performed their labor with consci-
entious thoroughness. esteem the reports of all
similac commissions as great aids to judicious
legislation, and do not doubt that this report will
receive proper consideration.
REVISION OF statutes.
The completed labors of the learned gentlemen
appointed to revise our statutes will be presented
to you at an early day. The eminent ability of
these gentlemen, and the zeal and thoroughness
with which they have devoted themselves to the
work. render it quite certain that the revision if
it comes from their hands, will be nearly per-
feet as it is possible for such work to be- I
therefore trust that all propositions te modify and
change it will be carefully scruti n1zed and
adopted only after the most mature consideration
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
l. is with great pleasure that comply with a re-
qnest of the State Historical Society," and lay be-
ore you sum@ary of its operations for the past
year The additions to its library number 1878
volumes, and $3.50 pamphlets and documents
making the total present number of volumes, IS
357; of pamphlets and documents. 49,l07. OF this
number, 1904 are bound newspaper files. The re-
,eipts into the general fund were 5,044 25, and
the expenditures 1887 81. The additions to the
binding fund S795.10, making the total of
hat fund S6,E95.5I, besides Gu acres of land in
Texas, the gift of the late Hon. John Catlin.
INSURANCE SUPERVISION.
The secretary of state calls attention to the ex