The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-01-10


those for whom it was originally intended. in
the two years fell from 297 to 1S9. and this fall
ing OF will continue until, had not the instttu-
tion been opened for others than soldiers or
phans, it must soon have been finally closed.
This exteneion OF the advantages Of the home
having been ordained by the Legislature, it
began to receive the state'snew wards in July,
1876, and. st the close Of the term, there were
fofty-one OF them in attendance. A Dire last
July destroyed the building used "a Laundry,
and one house occupied for scho0l purposes.
new and better building took the place Of
the laundry.
building1 both Of which are desira'e. and
ought to be secured ~ soon As the cnpa:: n Of
the treasury win permit.
COLLEGE FOB THE BLIND.
A complete change Of instructors has taken
place At the College for the Blind, and, the
trustees think, with good effect. The good
done By this institution 10 20 great, in almost
6eh-dependent, that do not think can too
strongly commend It to your care. The trustees
ask for IN additional annual allowance Of
%, 600 to pay aalariea and to meet other or
binary expenses Of the institution, including
maps, printing and books for pupils. The
present appropriation Of q, 900 l. ous-third
less than that granted to the Institution for the
ter is not too large, that for the former ID too
small.
MsTrtuTIoN FOB THE DEAF AND DUMB.
The building occupied by the institution for
the support and education Of the deaf and
dumb was destroyed BY ire ON the 25th day Of
February last. This calamity was, fortunately,
almost miraculously unattended with injury TO
life on person but otherwise it was one Of the
most serious character. Temporary shelter
had to be obtained for the pupils, and half Of
them were sent to their homes and, the school
being incapscitated for doing its work, this de-
serving class OF unfortunates ia, to great ex-
tent, deprived Of the opportunity for education
the State has heretofore so literally Afforded
them. The erection Of the west wing, author
lied by the last General Assembly, enables the
institution 70 care for limited humber Of
those for whom it was intended. But this is
insufficient for the uses of the school, and
respectfully recommend that steps be taken for
the erection Of . commodious building at an
early dag. The fire was not the only disaster
to visit the institution during the year. A tor
nado. on the 9Th Of August last, unroofed the
new west wing, and Partially demolished it's
walls. The work was still in the hands Of the
pecuniary loss thereby; but the trustees ask
the General Assembly, in behalf Of the State,
to assume the loss, and assign therefor what I
deem weighty reasons.
Steps have been taken to provide for instruc-
ton In articulation. This has been practiced,
with apparently great success, both in Europe
and America for some years, and it is well. it
should be given y trial in Iowa.
The appropriation made for the west wing
was not sufficient to put therein heating appa-
ratus. As this wing, owing to the fire, had to
be occupied sooner than was contemplated, the
Haxtun Steam Heater Company, Of Kewaunee,
ILL.,, volunteered to put in the necessary appar
ratus, the company agreeing to wait for pay
until the General Assembly could make an APP
appearances satisfactorily, Of cost OF 80. 100
recommend that an appropriation be made to
meet this expenditure.
FEEBLE-M1NDEp CHILDREN.
The last General Assembly made long needed
provision for the "care, support training and
instruction" Of feeble-minded children. A
board was selected by the General Assembly.
one Of whose members, however, DIR. James
NJ. Robertson, declined the position, and nv
predecessor appointed DR.. William s. Robert
son to the vacancy. The board found the
preparation Of the building for the use of the
institution very formidable undertaking. be-
cause Of the dilapidation it had fallen into
after the removal Of the orphans. But the
difficulties do not seem to have prevented the
school from being promptly opened for the re-
ception Of pupils. With the liberal aid Of the
press this fact was widely announced !;
but there were only five pupils at
the organization. This number, however,
was increased to eighty-seven. The
years experiment has been, am persuaded.
eminently satisfactory, and has demonstrated
that this institution was not opened day too
soon. have heard, from other sources than
the authorities OF the school, Of surprising re-
H. stSIi r
pleased at the prospects opening before this
Electromagnetic class of our States unfortu-
mates, by reason OF this asylum. I feel that
cannot too strongly commend it to your care
/ especiany would urge that the per capita al
lowed for support be increased from go to $16
month. The present appropriation ia less
than that provided for the blind and the deaf
and dumb, and only the same as that for the
inmates OF the Orphans Homes and the Reform
School; and assuredly none need more care
than the pupils at Glenwood, ranging, as they
do, from children OF a low order Of mentality
to those OF utter helplessness.
40 m THE REFORM SCHOOL.
! The protracted investigation into the affairs
OF the Reform School had in 1875, with its at
tendant excitement and irritation, left an effect
on the school, from which it can hardly yet be
said to have fully recovered. second change
has recently been made in the superintendency.
The $4,000 for the new building authorized
by the last General Assembly fell $15, 900 short
OF putting up the house, and an additional ap-
is asked of that amount. A debt
of %, OC0 is also to be removed. The lease of
the buildings occupied by the girls depart
ment OF the school will expire the present
year, and cannot be renewed for longer term
than one year. A building for the use OF this
department can therefore be no longer delayed.
I recommend that steps be taken for its cree
ton, and, believing it not advisable to locate it
near the school for boys, suggest that a new
site be selected at or near the seat of govern
ment. lu
One hundred and forty-one boys and fifty
three girls were at the school Oct. 81, five more
boys and twenty-three more girls than at the
close Of the previous term. 5.r
Z The last General Assembly fixed 16 years as
the age over which no one could be sent to the
Reform School. The prior law made Is the
maximum. Nevertheless, during the two wears,
eleven persons, II years OF age and upward,
were sent to the boys department of the Re-
form School, one of them being a and one
even % years old. To send criminals of this
age to the Reform School is not calculated to
b. of any benefit to those for whom the insti-
tuition is intended. do not know whether
anything further can be done by legislation to
put stop to this practice, but it s 30 pern;cous
in its tendency that / think it proper to advert
to it thus formally. E
i-Eft THE PENrTENTTARIES. r
The condition of the penitentiary at Fort
Madison will demand your careful attention,
The enlargement in the number Of cells, pro-
vided for by the last General ASSEMBLY, has
been effected, but the increased accommodar
lion thus obtained Is already exhausted in
Iced, the new cells were hardly completed be-
lore they were filled SO that there Is again
demand for greater accommodations at thie
prison. To this end, the Warden recommends
hat the roof Of the cell-room be raised, and
mother tier of cells built know Of no better
way to make the needed enlargement. 1t is
ess expensive than the extension of the
grounds would be, involving ~ this would the
erection Of new wall for such extension. The
'hop-room is also becoming meager for the
number employed therein. This penitentiary
yives every evidence Of having been planned
originally for q State Of comparatively small