Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-16

iaries to the hospitals for trea.msns ~ 1 have
'elt that the latter ware my ntted to csre 70
hts class Of cases. They are violent when &C
n not lev csses their inssnity is simulated;
and the provision Tor guarding the ordinary
Inmates OF the hospital docs mot contemplate
any serious effort q escape; but this class Of
patients requires Is much watching IS II they
:. s SsHnn Z, an K <. sssp s IN
der the control Of the authorities Of the insti-
tuition, I consider the best disposition that
can be made Of these persons. 9d 80 ~
The report Of the board OF trustees for the
insane at Independence, shows that, since their
last biennial report, two more wards In the
fourth and nth stories OF the main center
occupied, and that another section Of the south
wing Y now inclosed consisting Of four wards,
and VIII be ready for occupancy about the hrst
OF May next, which win increase the total ca
pacity to nearly four hundned. The report Of
that the appropriation made 81 the Sixteenth
General Assembly for furnishing and nnishing
the main central building has been expended
for that purpose. The e93, 600 appropriated
for building the south wing has not been all
4sea :. win be shown By shs trsssarsrs report
balance undrawnwill complete that portion OF I
the south wing commenced. The 5000 ap-
propriated for the erection Of gas-works and
furnishing gas fixtures remains undrawn, a.
the commissioners did not decide untn late in
the TAN 1877, what kinds Of works to erect.
The commissioners ask for &c, 200 for fur
nishing the four new wards, opening an avenue
to the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern
Railroad, constructing reservoir for supply
2. water main sewer ETC. al q .hich II
with which to complete the south wing, Is con-
templated In the original plan OF the hospital;
considering the crowded condition Of our hos
pitfalls, think 1t would be wisdom on the part
Of the General Assembly to make the appro-
priation - soon as the condition Of the treasu-
~ viii permit. would here recommend that
the General Assembly Ak the amount this ad-
dition win cost and meet the same by annual
appropriations until the work IL done.
The visiting committee continues is quiet
but effective supervision, and during the past
year has had occasion to do important service
In clearing one Of the hospitals from some very
unjust but widely believed charges Of th
grayest character, involving II true the gros-
sest turpitude on the part Of those connected
committees labors, In rectifying improprieties,
allAying unfounded suspicious, and infusing
deserved confidence In the management of our
hospitals, induces me to recommend that It's
jurisdiction be extended to al the benevolent
and reformatory institutions, or that board
be created for that purpose.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The State Historical Society continues its eff
but the feeble assistance 1t receives from the
State hardly keeps 1t alive; and II takes NO lit
tie sen-sacff6ce on the part Of one or two de-
voted perons to accomplish even that much.
The valuable sccumulaticns Of the society de-
serve better protection from ere; while the
constant care Of them demands greater liberal
ity. Some Of the neighboring states are doing
vastly more to peFpetuate their history than e
lows. The pioneers are rapidly passing away,
and With them win perish much Ct interest, q
gathered and put Into shape for preservation.
As soon as the condition Of the State's finances
win permit, just State pride ought 70 induce
liberal appropriation In aid Of the society's
work. ta Y1H ls 53Srs
THE FISH COMMISSION.
The marked success which has attended the
efforts Of pisciculture In other states, and the
work done tn Iowa, encouraged the hope that
all favorable encouragement will be given the
work OF filling our streams with food fishes.
The report Of the commissioner shows much
progress made during the biennial period in
this direction. It must not be forgotten that
the discontlnuAnce Of the commission at the
present time win render nugatory nearly every
thing heretofore done. 3Ta#
~ 'a THE NEW STATE HOUSE. aa
The report of the board Of Capitol commits
sioners comprises brife history Of the work
upon the state house from the fret and also q
detailed statement Of the expenditures for the
entire building, to the present time. The last
miesioners to construct the capitol's columns
and the cornices of stone instead Of iron, Al
modified by the present commissioners in order
to bring the expenses within the limit fixed by
law. The former board had left on the origin.
al plan the great dome In the center, and -four
small ones on the pavilions, with the same OBJ
ject in view. The work on the edi6ce has
now reached such a stage that II the building
is to have dome, the legislature's win should
is s4si ,iSO.94 The work can ali 20 on together
or, II the building shall be determined on, but
deferred for the present, the commissioner
think the turrets should be put up as the worl
progresses. Some increased cost over the es
er strength and security to the building. Ad
ditional columns have been put In, granite
substituted for limestone In some Of the col
umns, and thoroughly fire-proof roof deter
mined on, and the south wing partially covered
with IT, @A
Your attention is respectfully directed t.
the reports Of the board Of commissioners, thu
architects the overseers and that of the su
perintendent OF finance. am persuaded thai
the path OF true economy lies In the direction
Oh the most mos vigorous prosecution Of the worl
earliest day the states financial condition vii
permit.
Following the example Of my predecessors
present summary Of amounts asked by thu
boards, Sc, of different State institutions To-
penses.
STATE UNIVERSITY. 39e 1g.
Amount for deacien-
cies In expense. ......e 100000
One new building ...... 100000
Libraries............... 10000