The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-04


received in 1877, but fourteen were senteni 1
tor such crimes. -Four more persons were 1
the confinement of the jails at the close than
the beginning of the year. have not had !
opportunity TO refer to the statistics which i
Attorney Generals report undoubtedly co
tafns, but am confident that an examinati a
OF them will disclose the fact that the numbar
OF persons in iails would have diminished large
" during the year, but for the increased num-
Der OF commitments for violation of the laws in
regard to the sale Of Intoxicating liquors, con-
sequent upon the heightened stringency of
those laws effected by the amendatory act of
last year.
The officers of the prison find themselves
again obliged to ask the State 70 supply the
financial deficiencies of the Institution. The
appropriation OF fifteen thousand dollars for
the extension was found insufficient although
the materials for the builiing were purchased
at very low rates and the work carried on in
the most prudent manner. The deficiency on
this account, and the cost of ordinary reps;is Of
the prison buildings, amount to four thousand
and four hundred dollars. The deficiency on
the general account is nine thousand eight hun
ured ana ten dollars. The income from the
sale OF manufactured articles and from other
sources has failed by that amount TO meet the
expenses OF the institution. A part of the de-
hcenc7 ls due to the decrease in value of the
articles on hand at the close of the year. In
some respects the business of the year was very
successful The sales of carriages amounted
to forty-seven Thousand and seven hundred dol
lars, an increase Of twelve thousand eight hum
dred and thirty-ive dollars over the sales OF the
previous year. The sales OF harnesses amounted
to eleven thousand dollars, six thousand of
which were for sales without the state. The
officers of the prison have taken no additional
measures to effect sales, and have had no ex-
ceptonal advantages therefor over former
years. 1t may consequently be fairly inferred
from their saccess-and the inference Is a high
~ acceptable one-that a general revival of
business has begun to manifest itself. When
the conditions affecting business everywhere,
the peculiar disadvantages which prison nee
essarlly la6ors under in conducting manufac-
turing business, and the benefit to the State
which does not appear in the balance sheet are
all taken into consideration, the exhibit made
Dy the prison is satisfactory one. The manu-
Iacture o. harnesses proves to be 80 profitable
and Is SO valuable trade to be taught prison.
ers that it is proposed to extend it. In order to
DO SO, the building in which it is conducted
VIII have to be enlarged, and IL is estimated
that the sum Of two thousand dollars will be
required for that purpose. l commend the
proposition to your favorable notice.
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
This is well conducted institution and ac-
compllshes the purpose to which il is devoted
as well as could reasonably be expected. II
there IS any degree of failure to reform vicious
boys, 1t is due to the system and not to the
school. The boys are so classified as to protect
the well disposed boys as far as possible from
Ia
spirit is shown in the treatment of all OF them,
The school has one hundred and forty-seVen
boys in charge. An appropriation Of fifteen
thousand dollars was made for it last year;
thirteen thousand dollars for ordinary current
expenses, and two thousand dollars for paint
ing the exterior Of the building. 1t is advisable
that there should be a small amount appro-
priated By you to fit large unoccupied room
IN the lower story for workshop to take the
place OF the badly lighted room now in use.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The Maine General Hospital was assisted at
Its foundation by the bounty of the State and
annually since has been the recipient of a con-
tribution towards its support from the public
treasury. 1t is noble charity, and the State
will do well IN continuing to uphold it.
The Military and Naval Orphan Asylum at
Bath, and the Industrial School for Girls az
Hallowell, are both meritorious institutions.
the State.
The State has paid for the year Just elapsed
$S,2l7.23 towards the support of forty-two
pupils at the American Asylum, Hartford; of
thirteen pupils at the Perkins Institute for the
Blind, at South Boston, $3,625.00; of two
pupils at the Clark Institute, Northampton.
S425 200, and S481.75 for the tuition of ten
pupils at the School for Deaf Mutes recently
established at Portland.
MAINE STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND
THE MECHANIC ARTS.
The sum of fifteen thousand two hundred
and eighteen dollars was appropriated 'for the
purpose of paying existing debts, for instruc-
ton, building farmhouse, and contingent ex-
penses" OF this institution. "the same to be in
tull Tor any and all expenditures by the State,
on account of said college, for the current year."
There can be, therefore, no deficiency this year
which the State can bs properly called upon to
ment
The college has one hundred and eighteen
students, hfty-eight Of whom were admitted to
the gaV6TQI elQaaaa N the of tIa t.
is doing as good service to the State as the facil-
itles at command enable it to do.
repeat to you the recommendation made by
me to the tifty-sx Legislature. for the estab-
l1shment OF work shops at the college, on what
is known as "the Russian plau." regard that
system as affording the best, if not the only
means for giving to instruction in the mechan-
lc arts that practical character which was in
view at the foundation of the college. The
system has been well tested in this country, and
receives the hcartiest commendations from all
who have seen it in operation and know what
can be accomplished by it. | trust that an OF
portunity may be offered you sometime in the
course of the session to become fully ac-
quainted with the methods and details OF the
system.
THE FISHERIES.
Among the most important subjects that will
engage your attention, is that Of the protection
OF hsh and game The legislature of last year
authorized by resolve the appointment of q
commission, to consist of five persons, ito cod
ify, amend or add to the laws relating to 9ams
to fisheries, the protection and propagation Of
fish, and to determine what legislation is nec-
essary to give effect to chapter 40 section 25, of
the Revised Statutes, in relation TO opening
hshways through dams and other distractions,
to the end that all portions of the state so far
as practicable, may be benefited by the culture
and propagation of fish, and report the same
to the next legislature" The result of the la
bors of the commission appointed under the
resolve, will be presented to you.
The belief that the prosperity of the state
does not lie in the concentration of the energies
of its people on special pursuits and industries,
but in the multiplication of channels for their
employment and in the utilization of every ad-
vantage, has beeR gaining ground of late years
ana Is very general and earnest. As an out
growth. in part, of this sentiment a strong de-
sire prevails throughout the statelfor the ade-
quate protection by law of our food fishes and
game, and the encouragement Of their increase.
The code OF laws prepared and submitted to
you by commission representing knowledge
of the law, and thorough acquaintance with
the subjects referred to it, affords basis of ac-
tion that will greatly assist your labors. Every
influence and condition seems to favor the en-
actment of a judieious and comprehensive law
that will effectualy guard and foster an i'm
portant public interest.
The duty to profit by every occasion to develop
and strengthen any available resource of the
State is at all times incumbent upon those who
AAohO 6uU CACCulc laWSs duu D6COuleS 6p6Cldlly
urgent when the facilities aud industries on
which its people have relied, prove insufficient
to their needs. IL has been justly reckoned
first among the positive functions of govern
ment to make the means Of subsistence moro
easy and more sure to each individual. The
American system of protection to home indus
tries is notable instance of the recognition Of
this obligation. Our State has not always been
properly heedful of its duty in this respect.
Among its shortcomings 1t has unwisely toler-
ated the practical annihilation of its river fish
cries and, by consequence, the serious injury of
the deep sea fisheries Of the coast; for, we are
informed by the best authority, the number Of
food fishes which inhabit the waters of our
shores is proportionate to the quantity of SUBJ
sistence afforded them by the migratory fishes
on their way to and from the mouths of our
rivers. The distinctions in the rivers there
fore serve to deprive the dwelers on the sea-
board OF the bounty which nature would be-
stow on them, as well as to intercept her gifts
to the inhabitants of the interior
A few years ago the State undertook to recti-
fy the mistake which had been committed of
leaving the fisheries uncared for. The annual
report Of the Commissioners of Fisheries which
will be presented to you, is numbered the
eleventh. As the Immediate and tangible re-
suit of their labors and expenditures during the
indicated period the Commissioners refer to the
unusual productiveness the past season of the
hsheries OF those rivers which had been re-
bU nd ad nit ffahl