The Worthington advance., 1879-01-16

treasurer, Afford = clear view Of the condition o,
STATE funds under their several classiacatons the
total results whereof arc condensed into the state
ment following:
Balance s1n In treasury Dec.1,
Toial receipts during fiscal '@'A %
se't''' t''''''.....'....... 1,477,637 81
Total disbursements for
"e esear'.............. 1856, 400 81
Leaving balance In treas
tlry Dec. l, l878. 4 4s4e9 q
Ilo treasurer states that in consequence of pronp
tax comoctlons he was enabled to redeem in August
:ast Sou,oU OF tho temporary seed grain loan whicl
had neen negotiated in March preceding, leaving bu
Sao'oo a. interest bearing warrants outstanding q
tho close Of tho year.
EDUCATION.
The superintendent Of public instruction has rem
aefeo excellent service to the cause OF general edu
cation by giving such shape to his last report a
MAKES It substantially educational history Of thu
stare 1t is resume in which will be found concise
statements OF the Congressional land grauts tho va
r0us formative and amendatory acts OF State lcp;s
Iahon, ana tho practical trials and triumphs out OF
wslch mas been evolved present educational sys
tenn 1nterminged with the recital of facts are per
.,Iee % observations touching the canscs and effects
OF the successive changes, evincng discern,ncnt al
once OF present needs and of the scope and uecassi.
tles o1 Inc widening future. 1t iB with the re.nen
bIanee OF the early difficulties and dangers with
WHICH our educational interests repeatedly be.
Ba that their present firm footing and assured future
afs cause Of special qualification. Tho good effects
OF the law apportoning current funds upon enroll
1nelt rather than upon numerical basis, continues
to N shown III various ways.
Teaeters institutes amounting to thirty-one weeks
have becu he'd il eighteen different counties, with
an aggregate attendance of 1858 teachers Of our
public schools. 1t is noticeable that some tweut,
county s'Eerntendents spoke in their reports of The
beneeal results Of these institutes and commend tha
plan OF employing the principals and instructors of the
normal schools to teach in tlem in connection with
other experienced institute instructors. The super
ntendelts report contains full account Of this i'm
Iortaut work. which will bo read with interest by the
! friends of progress in public school teaching.
Unde: the Eo-called Merrill text book law al
nentea last winter about onethird of tho districts
November last. The demand for them increases IA
districts come to replace wornout books in prior use
Inc intreductlon OF the new books is thus gradual
ana !. Is estimated that in about fortyfour district
III one hundred they have beon more OF less intro
duced They give general satisfaction, and there ia
reason to believe they will come into general ust
cs ~n the time by law Their averag'
The act for the encouragement of higher eluca
ton enacted by the last Legislature, is favorably no
uced oy the superintendent who gives oogent rea
sons for It's support well as for needed amendments
which arc commended to your attention. Charles
Bryant, Esq, was appointed. to complete the 'higl
schoo board and was also selected as its secretary
performance Of which he is fitted by long experience
and rare devotion to educational interests, In the
snperintsndent's report tables given showing thai
pupils have undergone examination in sixteen
schools applying for the benefits of the act and thai
applications from twenty additional schools await ex
animation. Tho operation of the law bids fair tc
Justify tho most sanguina hopes of its friends in
filling the gap which has prevented the connecting
grades and efficient unity long desired in our edl-
cationsl system.
The effects Of the improved courses of studies anG
! OF the more thorough work in our normal schools
continue to be in the more practical results
achieved. The report of the State normal board rep
resents that an increasing proportion of the grsdu
ates OF these schools is being annually sought for tc
I'LL positions inthe highest grades of teaching and
it is claimed that while of sister States OK
hibit moro economical efficient management o.
these schools, in 10 State are they advanced
earnestly request your attention to the represent
atoms Of the board, respecting the necessity TO
certain repa's in tile school building at Winona
Nothing has been expended upon this building
pairs since its erection ten ago. and if this
gect cndargers tho whole structure, is reported
III consequence of the decayed and leaky conditio,
of the roof, would to be but the dictate o1
wise precaution to take that prompt action which vii
avoid the large expenditures soon to be demanded tt
rescue valuable property from needless destruction
Your attention is asked also to tho wants of tn
schools at Mankato and st. Cloud set forth by tn
board.
deem it unnecessary at present to add anything
to the statements heretofore made relative TO tn
condition Of the State university. The stable foot
charging sphere of its usefulness give promise tina
with the broad groundwork afforded by our richly en-
dowed common schools, the educational facilities o
our young State will keep pace with the proud marc
OF her material Development.
STATE PRISON.
me report of the State prison inspectors shows a,
<,creased average number in confinement drrp,
the year.
The current expenses were $46,238.74 and thu
earnings 81? 1896, being net cost for maintenance
OF S22, 4s236 or S1oo.aS per convict, which is dc
crease from the cost of the preceding year. and ex
hibits continuance of the economical manaecmen
which has heretofore characterized the institution.
The improvements for Which appropriation was
made by the last legislature have been completed
and there are now accommodations for 2o6 convcts
ali excess Of seyentyeiyht tho number i'll actual
confinement at the close Of the year. The current
expenses for the next two years arc estimated al
S105, ,tU0 in addition to which sum exceeding $45.
900 is requested for various purposes specified
While no reasonable expenditure requisite to the
best management OF tho existing prison should b
withheld feel renewed convection that steps look
ing to the erection of another prison should not bt
longer delayed and therefore earnestly renew IN,
recommendation of last year upon this subject Th
reasons then urged for this action remain in unim
paired force. For dse attention to all consideration
involved in matter Of such importance, much tim,
ls required for preliminary work i'll testing the rela
two merits Of prison improy ements 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 ses
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 quite reached
Another consideration worthy of mention is the op
portunity which another prison will afford for tn
greater separation Of the hardened criminal
from new offenders. which has been followed b,
taautary results IN other States. The advantages o
near the granite quarries at Sauk Rapids, in clos
proximity to abundant timber supplies, are obvious
The situation is at once central safe and convenient
+hn
vct labor i'll the heavy work of preparing and movn:
building materials without bringing it into that com
petition with honest labor which is justly felt to be
grievance. The employment of convict labor great
" reduced the cost of tho Illinois State prison
chester, and the Iowa prison at Anamosa and i
has moreover been found that certain classes of
v1cts can be advan'ageo1sy employed in rar.ng veg
etables aud other products where the site affords
land ind opportunity for the purpose.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The condition OF the several eleemosynary and
other institutions supported by the State thorough
ly set forth by their respective annual reports which
anord ample classified statistics and statements o
their transactions, wants and prospects
The State reform school makes is twei',', assnra
REPORT from which 1t appears tnas it has rccr, CT B.
boys since its commencement III l.6H, "f wu:ll /:
ties for teaching the useful arts is attended with ~u!
tarY results, large portion Of the discharged in
mates being not only reformed in conduct but forti
fed against temptation by mechanical instruction
ment. 80 far as known at least 95 per cent. of Ill
who 80 out OF the institution saved from crnina
lives The corrective and durable influences, and ht
admirable financial management Of the institution
enttle 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.
ne sixteenth annual report Of the institution fol
the deaf, dumb and blind shows that the total attend
ance during the year was l29, of whom 1U8 were il
hs department for deaf mtes and 81 in that for the
blind. The new pupils admitted in both departments
during the year numbered eighteen. The genera
health has been excellent, aud no death occurred
au'1ng the year. The report shows that the schoo
ls divided into six intellectual and five indusria
casses and the beneficial results of varied
practical instruction. afford additional proof that tc
unite thinking brain with skiful hand is the
way to elevate labor There is continued evidence
that class Of unfo tunates who peculiarly touch the
s5mpathles OF the humane, receive competent anG
!altnlui care under the present management of the
institution.
Tho rapidly increasing necessities for the prope,
care Of the insane will again claim your prompt at
tenion. Tho twelfth annual report of the hospita
shows that 6G0 patients under treatment ct thu
close of tho year, being increase of 81. OF thu
whole number Of inmates 100 remain in the tenporar,
buildings, leaving i'll the permanent hospital 5G'
patients, which is GO more than it can comfortably
accommodate. Notwithstanding, therefore, the ad
ditional room afforded by the second hospital a
Rochester, there will be little unused acit!
than will suffice for the expected increase of single