River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-20

ments, and S27 ,555. IS for miscellaneous
purposes. The University has attained
conspicuous and we'll merited rank
among the higher institutions of learn
ing In the United States. 1t is in fact
as wells as IN name a State university,
and 1t aims 10 meet all legitimate pub
lie demands Its corps Of instructors
and its courses of study, as exemplified
in the character and success of its grad
yates, are not in any respect inferior to
the best, however much Its methods
and purposes may differ from those
adopted in institutions founded cen
fury or more ago. am glad to know
that its merits and advantages are be.
coming better appreciated throughout
the State, and that, in consequence,
very few counties are unrepresented in
its catalogue Of students.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
The fiscal year of the Industrial School
for Girls, III Milwaukee, closes October
31st. The managers forwarded me
their report for the past year, request
ing that it might be published by the
State. Much to my regret, the Commits
/ sioners OF Public Printing could find no
authority in the law for complying with
this otherwise most reasonable re-
| quest. The buildings and grounds oc-
! cupied by this institution are the prop
/ erty of the state, and it is doing most
noble work in most excellent way;
work which, but for the self-sacriicing
/ philanthrophy of the ladies connected
! with its management, the state would
! be obliged to undertake, at a cost of
several thousands of dollars annually,
and it would seem that for this reason,
and because Of the public interest in
the methods and results of this work,
the state ought to make provision for
the publication of their annual reports.
The number of children received in
to this school the past year was 80; the
number discharged 49, the whole num-
Der in attendance during the year 147;
and the number present at the close of
the year 109-S6 of them being girls
and % boys, the latter too young to be
sent TO the school at Waukesha. Twen-
1 ty-three of the sixty-twO counties in the
state have representatives in the school.
| The current expenses for the past year
were s., 30032, of which there was paid
for salaries and wages 81, 94601, and
for subsistence 81, 1899 Since its
organization, in April, 1875, 241 chill
| dren have been received into the
school, and 10 have been discharged
| or placed in families. OF this last
number, 80 did not do well, and have
! been returned, leaving probably not
| less than 125 now living who are doing
WELL either at their original homes, or
| in other families where new homes
| have been found for them. This is a
| most instructive and satisfactory rec
ord, not only in that it shows great
amount of positive good accomplished,
| in the reformation of these girls, and
greater amount Of positive evil avert
| ed. but also because il shows further,
that the managers agree in theory and
/ conform in practice to the opinion
expressed in my last annual message,
that institution life at best is but a
poor substitute for home"
The appropriations made by the leg
islature last winter have been faithful
| ~ applied to the objects specified in
/ the act making them, but were not suf-
/ tcient 10 accomplish all that was desir-
ed. The managers viii apply TO you
for small additional appropriations to
| complete additions and improvements,
already commenced, and their applca-
! ton, ] doubt not, viii receive, as it
viii merit, your favorable considera-
/ ton.
| The whole number of boys in at
1 tendance at the school in Waukesha
/ during the yeaI was $40, the average
/ for the year being 427. The number
| received during the year was 118,-108
| by commitment and ten by return Of
| former inmates The number released,
died and escaped was 119, of whom 104
/ were discharged on ticket of leave, 81
/ to their homes and seven to new places
| on trial. The whole number received
at this school since It's opening, in
/ July, 1860 Is 1,S0l. The industrial in
/ terests connected with this institution
are reported to be in a fiourishing con-
/ dltion, and their healthful and refOr-
I matOry influences upon the boys can
not be ever-estimated All the boys
/ work some portion Of each day, but
none of them to exceed five hours
| and Ii is not to be expected that their
/ labor can be made to yield large pc
| cuniary returns. The shops, however
more than support themselves, but the
1 reports do not show their net earnings.
The expenses for the past year were
81 ,65078, including $3,331.77 for re-
/ pairs and Improvements. The pay
ments for salaries and wages were So
/ 223.O0, and for subsistence, exclusive
/ Of products Of farm, $14, 6S9.9l. The
/ current expenses for the present year
are estimated at $54 10000, which will
require appropriation Of 81, 7O6 q,
/ the balance being charged To, and col
! lected from, counties. The managers
ask for specific appropriations. for ad-
/ dltlons, repairs and Improvements, ag-
| gregating SO 05000 They also recon-
mend modification Of section 1870 of
/ the statutes concerning commitments
and forwarding a copy Of the testimony
| upon which the conviction is based.
IL the present system Of caring for
| all the classes Of boys who are now
sent to this school is to be continued,
most, If not all, Of the appropriations
asked for by the managers ought to
be made; but if the recommendations |
am about to submit, in regard to dis
( tinct school for
DEPENDENT CHILDREN,
shall receive favorable consideration.
the greater part of the improvements
and additions estimated for may be
omitted.
The experience Of Wisconsin con-
firms the teachings Of experience in all
ages, TO the effect that the most econo-
mical way to diminish and prevent
crime is to rescue the children from
paths which lead to idleness, vice and
criminal habits. The momentary ben
etits which have been conferred upon
the people of Wisconsin by the
Industrial School for Boys, are literally
incalculable. They are in some
measures negatively indicated by the
comparatively limited number of in
mates in our state prison. | think it
within truth to say that but for the good
effected by this industrial school in the
past, our criminal population would be
twice as large as it now is, and the ex-
penses for courts, sheriffs and jails
propOrtionately increased. Under the
present circumstances it cost the several
counties in the state, for the year 1879. /
over $3.50, 10000 to arrest, detain, CON
Wet and punish criminals. Here, then,
Is a direct and obvious saving of per-
haps a quarter of a million dollars an