Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-16

9inent observation. touching the causes and effects
OF the successive changes, eVincing dscefnment Ut
once OF present needs and Of tho Scoops and scess=
OF t ~ Widening future It is with the
p.1nce o1 tne early difficulties and dangers with
which our educational interests were repeafedlv he
got that their present firm footing aud assured future
are cause OF special qualification, The good effects
o. tae laW appordoning current funds upon enroll
meht rstner IMAM upon numerical basis, continues
to be shown in various ways, 81 T7'
Ieacners Institutes amounting to thirty-one weeks
nave Deen held In eighteen different counties, With
an aggregate attendancesof 1,263 teachers Of our
pubic schools. Il noticeable that some twenty
county super1ntendents spoke In their report 81 The
Deneneial results Of hese institutes and commend the
PiAn employing the principals and Of the
normal schools to teach in them, in connectdon With
otnet experienced institute Instructors. The super
intsnaenss report contains full account Of this Inn
friends Of progress in public school teaching. 49, :,
Under the so;called Merrill text book law - Al
amended last winter about third Of the districts
oVe1nber last The demand for them increases ~
dscts come TO replace wornout books In prior use,
nS u ct the new books is thus gradual
In one hundred they have been more or less intro
duced. They give general satisfaction and there is
reason Sa y. to believe they will come general
cost per district has thus far been S27.6l.
4: Ine act Tor the encouragement of higher educa-
ton enacted by the last legislature is favorably
lcea oy me superintendent who gives cogent rea-
sons ZOE us support as well needed amendments,
wnlen are commended to your attention. Charles s.
Bryant, Esq was, appointed to complete the thiRh
senool board and was also selected it's secretary
He entered zeaousy upon his duties. for the faithful
performance Of which he is tted by long experience
ana rare devotion to educational interests In the
superntendents report tables given showing that
SCHOOLS applying for the benefits Of the act and that
applications from twenty additional schools await e.
ANIMATION. The operation Of the law bids fair to
JUSTIFY the most sanguine hopes Of its friends in
filling the gap which has prevented the connectinQ
tationa1 system.
OF the more thorough work in our normal schools
continue to be seen in the more practical results
acheved: The report of the statenormal board rep
lesents mat an increasing proportion Of the gradu-
ates OF these schools is being annually sought for
~ positions in the highest grades of teaching; and
1t is claimed that while of our sister States ex-
hibit more economical or efficient management Of
these schools, In no State they more advanced
earnestly request your attention to thefepresent-
atoms Of the board, respecting the necessity fol
certain repairs in the school building at Winona.
Nothing has been expended upon this building for re-
pairs since it's erection ten years ago, and if this ne
gect endargers the whole structure as Is reported
IN consequence of the decayed and leaky condition
OF the roof it would seem to be but the dictate of
wise precauton to take that prompt action which will
avoid the large expenditures to be demanded to
rescue valuable property from needless destruction.
Your attention Is asked also to the wants of the
board. 80. 49,
II deem 1t unnecessary at present to add ANYTHING
to the statements heretofore made relative to fhe
condition Of the State university The stable foot
ing The institution has attained and the annually
charging sphere of its usefulness give promise that
with the broad groundwork afforded by our richly en-
doWed common schools, the educational facilities of
our young State will keep pace with the proud march,
OF her material develo ment
STATE PRISON.
The report of the State prison inspectors shows An
increased average number in confinement during
the year.
The current expenses were $4e,23S.74 and the
earnings 1913 being net cost for maintenance
of $22, 1926 or $10O36 per convict which is de-
crease from the cost of the preceding year. and OK.
which has heretofore characterized the institution
The improvements for which an appropriation was
made by the last legislature have been completed
and there are now accommodations for 296 convicts
an excess of seventyeght the number in actua
confinement at the close of the year. The curren
expenses for the next two years are estimated q
$l05, 900; in addition to which exceeding $45-
600 is requested for various purposes specified
While no reasonable expenditure REQUESTS to the
best management of the existing prison should be
withheld feel removed conviction that steps look
ing to the erection of another prison should not be
longer delayed, and therefore earnestly renew my
recommendation of last year upon this subject. The
reasons then urged for this action remain in unim
paired force. For due attention to all considerations
involved in matter Of such Importance, much time
Is required for preliminary work in testing the rela
tive merits Of prison improvements in the selection
OF site, adoption of plans and other preparations
while the process of construction is necessarily &
work of time. If it be not commenced at this SEES
sion two years must elapse before any action can
taken, which cannot but believe will prove an un
wise delay as the full capacity of the present prison
will probably then have been nearly or quite reached
Another consideration worthy of mention is the op
portunity which another prison will afford for til.
greater separation of the more hardened criminals
from new offenders. which has been followed bJ
salutary results in other States. The advantages 81
the site before recommended for the new structure
near the granite quarries at Sank Rapids in close
proximity to abundant timber supplies, are obvious
The situation is at CENTRAL safe and convenient
ahording an opportunity for the employment of con
vct labor in the heavy work of preparing and MOVING
building Materials without bringing it into that com
petition with honest labor which is justly felt to be
grievance. The employment of convic' labor great
y reduced the cost of the Illinois State prison a.
Chester, and the Iowa prison at Anamosa; and i
has moreover been found that certain classes of
victs can be advantageousy employed in raising veg
etables and other products where the site affords
land and opportunity for the purpose.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The condition OF the several eleemosynary and
other institutions supported by the State is thorough
~ set forth by their respective annual reports which
afford ample classified statistics and statements oi
their TRANSACTIONS wants and prospects.
The State reform school makes is twelfth anuua
report from which appears tnat has received 1884
boys since it's commencement in 1858, Of which Ia
were inmates the past year. The increase of facil
ties for teaching the useful arts is attended with sau
tary results, large portion of the discharged in.
mates being not only reformed in conduct but fort
fed against temptation by mechanical instruction
which speedily enables them to find honest employ
ment. SO far as known at least IS per cent. of al
who 60 out of the institution are saved from crinina
lives. The corrective and durable influences, and thu
admirable financial management of the institution
entte it to the cordial support of the State, and
renew my former recommendations that it be placed
upon footing similar to that of the other institutions
owned and controlled by the State.
The sixteenth annual report Of the institution 70,
the deaf, dumb and blind shows that the total attend
ance during the year l29, of whom 1Os were. IL
the department. for deaf mutes and 81 in that for thu
blind. The pupils admitted in both Department.
during the year numbered eighteen. The genera
health has been excellent, and no death occurred
during The year. The report shows that the schoo
is divided into six intellectual and five industrial
classes, and the beneficial results of varied and