The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-01-13
be made by erlargine the board Of Investment, and
requiring the assent Of all it's members to its final

be made by enlareine the board Of Investment, and
requiring the assent Of all it's members to its final
action.
Having personally visited our three normal
schools, can speak advisedlv of the improved
methods and practical efficiency which their gradu-
ates mpart to the Rop9ar afforded by
the State increases the demand these schools for
competent teachers, aud in view of the aid fur
nished By them IN conducting teachers institutes
standing appropriations for these schools be suf-
GENTLY increased to cover additional expenses. A
terrific hurricane in June last unroofed and damaged
the building and demolished the towers of the
normal school at Mankato, and producing
an emergency that threatened the entire ruin Of the
editice To avert this disaster prompt action
required, and accordingly upon my advice a new
roof and all necessary repairs were made, the costs
Of which await your needed appropriation
The law in relation to higher education has
proved great benefit to communities destitute of
facilities for more than rudlmentary instruction.
Over four hundred pupils have attended the schools
aided by the State, free OF tuition charges, while
through the schools thus aided, and the districts en-
joy;ng the benefits Of the higher grades, the uni
form and improved of study has been carried
largely to the common schools, thus lending greater
adhesion to the successive steps OF our educational
system. Some of the amendatory acts have not
produced the results desired. and the law needs to
be revised for greater efficiency. These schools
struction, and as they need the special aid Of the
State recommend an appropriation for their con-
tinued support
The first biennial report of the board of regents
will acquant you with the condition and prospects
of the State university. have heretofore alluded
to the growing stability and widening scope of this
institution 1t has been the aim OF its oficres and
faculty to render it in just and practical sense
the crown and fulfllment OF our educational sys-
tenn. Looking to that end, its emergence from
helpless embarrassment to condition Of advancing
usefulness is source of qualification to all friends
Of education. Where so much is involved it is the
dictate of obvious policy to keep the institution in
condition most conducive to practical results It
is believed that to enable it to keep pace with SIM
liar institutions in our sister States enlargement
of its facilities and appliances is now necessary,
and the regents ACCORDINGLY request means sufficient
to erect buildings for instruction in mechanical arts
for an observatory, museum. library and hall for
military drill, which request l cordially indorse.
The proceedings for condemnation in the en-
largement of the campus have been concluded,
meet the awards made. Our State university is
managed by board of citizens who serve without
compensation and their sincere desire to subserve
its highest interests cannot be doubted. bespeak
at your hands continuance of that fostering care
to which the institution owes large measure of its
success.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The able and comprehensive report Of the inspec-
tors and warden of the State prison. which will be
laid before you at an early day, shows the admira
BILE administration of that institution. The
average number Of convicts during the year
1879 was about oo9, and for 1880 fraction less
ment at the close of 1880 was 254. leaving SO
available cells unoccupied. The current expenses
for the two years 500, 04l %, and the convict
State per convict $97.25 for 1879 and $9s AZ for
1884, Ine inspectors pay nigh compliment to
the skill and fidelity of the warden. and express
their conviction that he is undergrad for his valua
bic services. 1t will be seen by reference the
port that a deficiency of S13,47s.9O was created
for repairing yard walls anu for the enlargement of
prison grounds
The report Of the commissioners appointed by
the legislature of 1878 to settle all matters Of diff
ference Of the State with Seymour, Sabin &; Co.
provides that the State shall purchase Of that firm,
on or before March LIST, 1880, the engines, boilers.
pumps and attachments thereto, and in use in the
prison shops, and on or before April lat, 1881, all
the fixed and movable machinery, including betting
and shafting, etc, belonging to them. and in use
in said prison shops and yard at an appraisal to
be fixed by a commission to be appointed by the
State and Seymour, Sabin & Co. In accordance
with the provisions of the report commission,
ssting Of O. A. Pray on the part Of the State, j.
w. johnson on tho part of Seymour, Sabin Il Co.,
and c. r. Bushnell, all manufacturers OF machinery
and of wide business experience were appointed to
make the appraisal. The commission. after & thor
ough examination of the machinery, reported that
they had fixed the value Of the same at
year the sum of $17, 100 from the earnings of
vict labor. The appraisal of the remaining ma
chinery belonging to the said firm will be made on
own all the fixed and movable machinery pertaining
to the prison for manufacturing purposes.
The contract with Messrs Seymour, Sabin & Co.,
for convict labor, will expire on April l. 1891 The
inspectors have advertised for proposals for convict
labor for a term of ten years from that date. 1t
will be seen that in addition to the regular current
expenses for the next two years and the deficiencies
for wall and yard room before stated IN extra APP
preparation Is desired to provide 100 additions.
cells besides those for female convcts. and also for
yard wall, and an enlargement of chapel and hos
pital accommodations and nd other improvements
press their confidence that with this appropropra-
ton and such other sums as will be sufficient to
furnish cell room for 500 convicts, the utmost
prison capacity in the present locality will have
been reached, and that the prison will then be made
nearly quite self-supportng, needing no further
expenditures for enlargement Of grounds, shops or
cell accommodations.
action should be taken without delay looking to the
erection Of another prison; and now, after a per-
soral examination of existing prison accommoda-
tons and their SURROUNDINGS, am satisfied that it
would be wise for the State to secure new site
embracing sufficient land for gardening, pas
turing and other purposes. and to commence the
erection OF new prison. In view of the near ter
mination Of the contract with Seymour, Sabin &
Co.. it would be we'll to consider the expediency of
using convent labor in the erection of new prison,
and to that end 1t is requisite that new site be
'xact shall otherwise dispose of the labor of con-
victs: Several States have erected new prisons
chiefly by means of this labor, at greatly reduced
cost. Another and equally urgent reason for
prompt action in this matter is the opportunity
that will be afforded for better classification Of
prison inmates so az more effectually to avoid the
grievous wrong of associating youthful cuprits ex
plating their first ofense with lifelong and hard
ened criminals
Az pertaining to this general subject I renew my
Iormer recommendation regarding the discretionary
punishment of capital crime. While convictions
without doubt readily secured in the absence of
an inevitable death penalty, since the dread Of that
result deters the prompt action OF juries, am per-
suaded that the ultimate ends of justice are more
easily defeated by mere Imprisonment, in view of
the chances which cling TO life and the growing in
that expectation. There has certainly been of late
startling increase OF crimes of high grade-no
less than ten deliberate murders having been COM
United in this State within many months I'm
less increased leniency is balanced by increased GER
tinty of ample punishment the result is clearly del
eterious to all the ends aimed at by protective law.
am here mpelled to express my severe condem-
nation nf &c u