The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-01-13

tbs new addition to the Rochester asylum the num-
Der OF houseless sufferers far reduced that by
utilizing the space in the central building for their
use, the emergency has been met for the time
without further suffering or other serious
consequences that were apprehended. But of
manent provisions for these helpless people must be
promptly made. All questions PERTAINING to i'm
proved methods or conveniences in their treatment
must be postponed uotil immediate protection is
amply afforded them and accordingly invoke your
earnest attention to the requirements and recon-
mendations Of the trustees 1t will be by their
report that $50 patients were treated during the
year in St. Peter asylum alone, with daily average
of about GA, and that the total under treatment
number Of l,027: The rebuilding of the burned
part of the edi6ce is the first necessity, TO
this end the outer main walls are SO little in
jured that they be made readily available. The
wisdom of so rebuilding as to render the restored
wing substantially treproof can hardly be doubted,
provided it can be accomplished, as is represented
with little additional cost Of money and time. As
soon as the immediate wants of those already in
chargeshal be provided for, invite you to inquire
INTO the Of ADOPTING what Is tx known owl as
sane: This is being tried with satisfactory results
in other States. Up TO certain number patients as
sembled in large buildings with all the modern
conveniences for comfort, can doubtless be cared
for better and more cheaply than by other modes.
The many requisites to their proper care involve
the part of their are-takers who just
ly command adequate compensation, but there
always large class Of chronic and
allowed to occupy the room and costly appliances
thus provided, to the exclusion of those who
can be cured. more thorough classification
seems to be demanded to attain the last results.
and it would seem that the incurable patients, who
usually mild and tracable, light be taught Ia
Dor upon farms, and there be made equally comfort
able by cheaper class Of keepers and less expen-
sive contrivances In this connection, and in JUS
tice to the trustees, who serve the State without
compensation, it should be distinctly stated that no
h1oYna yyha hn fhaYn f.,
seeming neglect to insure the buildings burned.
They have repeatedly reported in favor OF insurng
the necessity OF making an appropriation for that
| purpose, without effect. The question of policy
respecting the insurance Of the public buildings be-
times before been considered, is brought
up anew by this calamity. and it would be
well to settle it finally, and thus definitely fix
reason why the State should not insure its prop
erty, in the same manner as cautious business
| men. The recent loss a, the St. Peter YUM will
amount to larger sum than would be required to
| keep up reasonable amount of insurance all
public buildings for the next fifty years. Without
| hesitation recommend that such appropriation be
made biennally will be sufficient to the in
| surance all public buildings Before leaving
this subject deem it an act Of simple justice to
| make public acknowledgment Of the courage and
! zeal displayed by the officers of the hospital and
citizens of ST. Peter in their efforts to the
unfortunate inmates and save the property of the
! institution from destruction
Your attention is directed to the ample report of
the directors and officers of the institution for the
deaf. dumb and the blind, which hows that during
the two years 40 pupils have been connected with
the deaf mute department and s. with the blind de-
partment, making total Of l75 inmates cared for
by the institution since the date of the last annual
| report. The care and judgment heretofore
csed in the conduct of this institution continue to
mark its management.
the deaf and dumb and the blind asylum were au-
thorized to provide accommodations for
the reception pna sS of such sh feeble
| cal commission should select from the pa
tients at the two hospitals for the insane. Such
". II Leonard and G. H. Boardmar,, after having
made the required examinations, selected twenty
two patients from the insane asylums at St. Peter
and Rochester, proper subjects for trsn under
the law The trustees having provided accommo'
dations in the way of buildings, this number was
transferred to the custody of the trustees, and on
the oath of July last the school for their training
superintendent, Prot. II. H. knight 1t is
estimated that there are as many in plumber
of feebleminded and diotc children in State as
of insane persons. After having witnessed the
Improvement which these unfortunate
| school has been in operation, am clearly of the
opinion that it is almost crime 20 send these chill
aren to the asylum for the lnsane where there is
hope whatever for the least Improvement in their
condition. and where they must certainly remain for
life expense to the State. It has been clearly
demonstrated in other States that large portion of
can, b. training and instruction, becon, self-sup-
sorting. The trustees recommend that this school
be permanently established for the training and
struction of feebe-mnded and idiotic children,
which recommendation most cordially endorse.
The expenses for the year 1879 were. S., 226 3
The expenses for the year 1880 WERE. 6,374 81
Unexpended balance In treasury......' l.399 os
Amount appropriated for the years ~
The thirteenth report Of the Officers Of the State
! reform school affords continued evidence Of tho
wise management of thai excellent institution. 1;
| shows that 462 inmates have been admitted since
| its opening in 1868, of whom 1856 were held in
charge during the rast two years. and that LA re-
| given for change Of the law regulating commit
ments and for giving the institution essentially
State rather than county support, as well as for
change of name all of which ;:ieet my hearty
currence can see no good reason for singing out
this one among the other State institutions as an
object of local recognition only. The unqucstioned
good it has already accomplished, not less than its
widening future usefulness demands that it By
placed upon the broad basis of State support with
equal footing with the other cherished objects Of
public care.
BY the third annual report of the public exam
iner it will be seen that that officer has completed
his investigation of the financial affairs OF all the
State institutions countless banks and savings asso
Citations in the State Some idea OF the labor per
formed in this work is afforded by the fact that IN
many instances mere than one examination was re-
quired while in others several weeks have boon con-
sumed in single investigation the whole involv-
ing separate examinations to the number of 25s:
The completion of this work permits for the first
time, condensed and more or less ample view to
be taken of the entire financial situation Of public
! affairs The summary Of lnoned institutions shows
the existence of seventeen banks organized under
our State laws in 1880, with an aggregate paid up
capital of 2,O47, 300: to.al loans and discounts,
$4.496,592 and deposits, So, ls6, 1876; while their
resources and liabilities amounted each
to 1885,, GS6.49. This shows a
| marked increase of banking facili-
| ties and furnishing condition Of business while
the generally excellent management of these insti-
tutions is complimentary to the skill and integrity
of their officers, since the State laws to which
they are amenabe are almost destitute of restrict