The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-02

service if divided among the counties Of
the State, and, even if much larger, no
better use could be made of it. 1 recon-
mend that the authority asked for be
granted, under such regulations as the
General Assembly may prescribe.
The following table, which is contained
in the report of the Superintendent of
Education, gives the number of educa-
tional institutions now in operation in
this Stale:
Colleges, mrie and fcmale.......... ........ -
Industrial training schools. ........ 3
Private academies or high schools....... 81
Public academies or high schools."...... 49
Elementary evening schools.............. 3
Private elementary schools. 2OS
Public schools. I93
LUNATIc ASYLUM.
The unfortunate and helpless condi-
tion of the inmates of this institution ap
peals tC the best sympathies of our ma.
ture, and I am sure you will give the
reports ofthe boardof regents and superin
tendent of the institution that careful
examination and attention which the i'm
portance of the matter demands.
The board consists of gentlemen of
much ability and experience in such
matters, who are performing this work
of love without compensation, and
whose recommendations I commend to
your favorable consideration.
The general management under their
direction, assisted by the skillful super
intendent, Dr.. Griffin, and the efficient
steward and treasurer, Mr.. 81. P. Green,
has been successful and economical.
Whole number of patients treated 541.
There now remain 420, of whom 2O3 are
males and 217 females; 20S are white
and 1872 colo7ed 391 are State patients
and 20 pay patients. The increase for
the wear has been 45. OF those present
26 may be &C .sidered durable, 81 doubt
.ful, and 307 incurable. You will per-
ceiye from the reports Of the superinten.
dent that much needed improvements
have been made, not only in new build
ings but in general repairs; and that
| provision has been made against acci-
dents from fire, by which jet of water
can be thrown at any point Of the interi-
or of both departments in less than two
minutes from the alarm.
The board Of regents have been fortu-
nate in purchasing the Parker Farm of
of about fifty acres lying close by, with
funds saved from the annual appropria'
ton to the institution. The farm may
be made not only a means of wholesome
exercise and relaxation 10 those patients
able to do some work, but fruitful
source of supplies to the inmates.
The Asylum has been so crowded that
many applicants have been turned away
for want of room, and the counties are
not prepared to care for them. The
question of building additional room is for
your consideration, and invite your at
tention to what the superintendent says
on the subject.
The estimate for maintenance last
year was based on the lowest rate adopt.
ed in similar institutions; but by pru-
dent economy and good management a
considerable SUM has been saved for the
benefit of the institution. I recommend
that the amount asked for maintenance
for next year be allowed.
The Rev. Edwin A. Bolles has been
faithfully ministering to the spiritual
wants of the inmates.
INSTITUTE OF THE DEAF. DUMB AND
BLIND.
1t appears that the appropriations to
this Institution have been wisely and
economically disbursed.
Admitted during the year, Sc pupils;
one graduated aud two discharged, being
incapable of receiving education. Nine
teen counties of :he State have pupils in
the school.
I think that any one who could visit
this institution and see the progress
which these poor unfortunates are max.
| ing in education, would be satisfied, if q
taxpayer, that the small amount of his
contribution, abe at the 1,350th of his tax,
could not be better employed.
The method of imparting articulation
and lip reading to deaf mutes, by the
system of "Bell's Visible Speech" has
been introduced, and some children in
the Institution, who were born deaf, have
| in little more than three weeks learned
to utter distinctly most of the consonants,
and q portion ofthe vowel sounds.
THE PENITENTIARY.
The reports of the board of directors
and the superintendent of the Peniten.
tiary will give you all the necessary
information as to this institution. There
were on the roll of the prison, at the
end of the fiscal year, 500 convicts in all,
decrease of thir,y-fve from last report.
The health of the inmates of the prison
has been very good, the death rate being
less that 2 per cent.
Important improvements have been
made in Buildings as we'll as walls, and
the general management of the Peniten'
tiary, under the very efficient superinten-
dent, Col. T. J. Lipscomb, seems to be
we'll conducted Some additional appro.
priation should Ire made to make the
buildings secure from fire.
The management of the Penitentiary
farms has been attended with success,
the estimated clear profit being between
$4,000 and $40 ,00G.
I think some provision should be made
for the recapture Of escaped conyicts by
providing reward for the captors.
Where criminals are to be punished
Tor short terms, say LOT lour OF SIX
months, it would be better if they could
be worked on the Dads, or for some other
public interest in their own county. The
expense of transportation, in many
cases, costs about as much as the labor
of the convict is worth.
As one of the prime objects of pun
ishment is reform, I recommend that
some provision be made Cor the service
of chaplain to minister to the wants Of
the convicts.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The able report Of this department,
made by the commissioner, Col. A. P.
Butler, deserves at your hands careful
consideration. 1t is the first report of
its operations since the act creating the
department, and includes, besides, a
| statnmpnt of its receiuts and exnendi-