Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-01-22

dents, and the enthusiastic Ce-oplration
Of the professional teachers who have
graduated from onr normal schools and
state university, and the excellent col
leges and other institutions of learning
not in any way aided by the state. 1t
is, therefore, serious misapprehension
to assume, as [ fear many do, that the
only justification and reason for ex.
pending the large sums of money nee
essary to equip and main lin our nor
NAL schools and university, are to be
found in the direct and primary results
Of their labors in furnishing the oppor
tunity and means of education to the
pupils in attendance. These results,
though in and of themselves by no
means unlmportant, are among the
least of the benefits conferred by these
institutions. Their full fruition is 70:
seen without including the public
schools, proper, and the good therein
accomplished.
The ordinary income of the Univer.
sity is derived from the interest upon
the University and Agricultural college
funds, amounting last year to $40. 344!' :
%, and the proceeds of the one-tenth
of mill tax provided for in section
800 of the revis sed statutes, which was
$41, ,31030. These sums appear to be
adequate for all the present necessitie
Of the institution, and If the presen
ratio Of assessment is 10 continue, thei
is perpaps no necessity for any chang
in the law; but if it should be increase d,
as it ought to be to represent more
nearly the actual value of taxable
property, there would seem to be man.
ifest propriety in changing the form OF
the appropriation from an indefinite
to fixed sum,-such sum, be it NOR
or less, as the legitimate needs of the
University may require.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
The whole number of boys in atten-
dance at the industrial school for boys,
at Waukesha, during the last fcal ear,
was 435,sand the average attendance
425. The number admitted was 125,
IS against Isl last year, and the mum
Der discharged 113 The current ex,
penses were $40 S66.72, or at the rate OF
$1OO.66 per inmate, IS against $114 81
last year. The amount paid for sal
aries and wages was $13 ,S10.3G, and fol-
subsistence $11 COZ Al. The sum Of
$13, 10000 has been paid towards the
erection of new buildings.
The managers ask for an appropria.
ton of $50, ,000 in addition to surplus
and the sums to be received from coun.
ties, to meet the expenses of the current
year..
OF the amounts heretofore appropri-
ated for building purposes, there will
remain, when the present buildings are
completed and paid for, the sum OF
s.. 201.74, which the managers propose
to expend in building hospital and ice
house. They claim that this sum rep
resenls in part the value of the labor OF
lhe boys IN the erection of the buildings
the past summer, and that it may there
fore be legitimate'y expended in pro-
vlding other needed structures.
The epidemic which prevailed in that
institution last summer attracted wide
attention and elected much discussion.
1t is easy to be wise after the fact. The
health of the boys, and all connected
with the school, had been for years ex-
ceptionally good, under circumstances
and conditions. to all appearance, pre-
cisely similar to those existing when the
disease broke out, and the managers are
not censurable because they did not
discover the indiscoverable. The total
number of cases Of typho-malarial fe-
yer, in population of SEQ, was so, six
OF them terminating fatally. The
promptnoss, vigor and skill with which
the disease was handled after its break
ing out, is creditable to the managers
and the attending physician.
The managers of the Industrial
School for Girls in Milwaukee are not
required 10 report to the state, but do,
in fact, favor me with a copy of their
report when published. Not having re-
ceived their report for the past year, I
am unable to give you the details of
their work. | have, however, visited
their institution, been much gratified
and encouraged III witnessing the success
of the labors of the philantlropic ladies
who have its management in charge.
am persuaded that the advantages of
this school are not sufficiently known
or appreciated throughout the state.
Magistrates and others who are clothed
With authority and with responsibilities
in such matters, should see to it that
girls who ought to be in that school are
sent there, as they see to it that boys
are sent to the school in Waukesha.
Woman's influence and example, for
evil, as well as for good, are far more
potent than mans, and hence 1t is
vitally important that girls whose sur
roundings or habits are leading them
into the paths of shame, and sin, ard
crime, should be rescued-rescued not
alone for themselves but for the public
good.
The building and the site oct upied
by the industrial School for Girls, are
the property of the state. There is
some necessary grading to be done upon
and around the grounds, and something
also should be done in the way of ornss
mentation, by planting trees, construct.
ing walks and otherwise. The man.
ayers have no funds with which to do
this work or means of securing them,
except by voluntary benefaetions, ant
all that can be secured in this way are
needed to meet current expenses.
therefore recommend an appropriation
TO the managers to enable them to
make these necessary Improvements.
DEPENDENT CHILDREN
cannot forbear in this connection
calling attention to the unsatisfactory
provision made by the state for the care
of dependent children who are simply
poor and without homes. The author
tiles are by law wisely prohibited from
sending them to the poor-house
and with equal reason ought to be pro.
hibited from sending them to the indus.