Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-02-19
CORRECTIONS AND CHARITl ES.
From Lansing Republican.

From Lansing Republican.
The fifth biennial report of the Mich
igan state board of corrections and chari-
ties for 1880 has just been issued in a
pamphlet of 112 pages. In its prepara-
tiOn it bears the impress of that pains
taking, well-infOrmed gentleman, Con-
gresham Henry W. Lord, who was sec
rotary of this board for nearly four years.
The president of the bOaad &c. /. Walker
of Detroit, and the other members are
E. H. Van Deusen of Kalamazoo, MOreau
s. Crosby and Rev. George d. Gillespie of
Grand Rapids.
This board has no executive power, but
its important function relates to inspec-
ton. The inmates of corrective in
stitutiOn, when its doors closes upon
them, are in great measure secluded
from the public, and otter are liable, in
the exercise of absolute power possessed
over them by officials. to become subjects
of neglect or abuse. Visitation and over
sight tend to prevent such results and
aid to secure just and proper treatment.
According to the most complete re-
turns available, the number of persons
receiving aid or wholly supported by the
state and counties for the year ending
Sept. 80, 1879, was as follows: In county
houses 1906, permanent paupers outside
1850, temporarily relieved outside of
poor houses "a, 701, state public school at
COldwater, 419, asylum for insane at
Kalamazoo 716, asylum at Pontiac 492,
ID. d. e Bat Flint $50, Harper hospital
at Detroit %. Detroit house of correction
1874, house of correction at IOnia 329,
state prison at Jackson 1,074, reform
school 423, county jails 1875. These
make grand total of 57,776. These
figures have been duplicated in some in
stances by the removal of prisoners from
jails to other prisons, etc., so that the
whole number of persons maintained in
whole or in part by the state was not far
from 5000.
The total cost maintenance, assuming
that the state prison and Detroit house
of correction are self-sustaining, was
$685., 658.35. This was exclusive of ex-
penditures for grounds, buildings, re-
pairs, and interest on the cost of PROD
erty in use. The amount for paupers,
exclusive of value of labor in poor
houses, was $208, 597, outside relief $780,
010, superintendent and directors of
poor $28,326, supervisors and justices of
the peace 81 1858, paid by counties for
support of insane in state asylums $1O3,-
802, by same for support Of deaf and
blind 1913, by same for support of DOOR
at other places $6,698; making a total
!. for the whole county house administra-
ton of $647, 1906.
The whole cost of maintaining the
county jails was $117,437, reform school
at Lansing $31 ,655, deaf and blind at
Flint $4,000, public school at Cold
vvofnP &0f 0QS rafo ~
1892, Harper's hospital at Detroit $1,978,
for patients in insane asylums $66,355
The above amounts make up the grand
total for maintenance, as already men
toned. of $958,658.
The total number of persons i'm the
county jails during 1879 was 1885,
against 1924 in 1879; 1921 in 1877 and
1884 in 1876. The whole number of
males in Jail during 1879 was 1922, and
females 6l5. The total number charged
with high crimes in 1879 was Lib
against 1,7O2 in 1878; 1871 in 1877 and
1852 in 1876. OF the total number of in
mates in the county jails 1881 were born
In the United States, 494 in British
America, 2S7 in England, $50 in Irelend,
lo4 In Scotland, 2O2 in Germany, 108 in
Holland, 40 in Norway and Sweden, 81
III IduCt, mlSCcldutOuS ~, unknown
1913. The number who could not read
was 430, and who could not write 499.
Ignorance of honest remuneratiye labor
is much EmOre general and more de-
mOralizing. While 80 per cent have
been taught to read and write, not more
than II to 10 per cent have ever been
well instructed in any industrial avOca-
ton. The total cost of maintaining the
jails was $91,996; and travelling and
other expenses incurred in arresting and
taking prisoners to the jails $25,441.
The detailed statements in regard to
the various country jails and poor-hOuses
of the state show satisfactory cOndi-
tion of things in many counties, while
in other localities there is much chance
for improvement.
In table showing the assigned causes
of pauperism of the inmates of poor.
houses we find on account of intemper-
ance Isl, prostitution 13, tramps POI, old
age 2S8, 0rphanage 81, desertion by par.
ents IL, insanity 224, paralysis 29, fits 48
children 112, children of inmates SO,
born in pO0r-houses 10, homeless 80, de-
sertion 81, idi0cy 166, incompetency 49,
weakness of mind ", blindnes "a, sick