Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-01-12
STATE pRISON.


The total cost of maintaining the prison for tllt
past year has been S47,15l.S3 of which the prise
ers earnings have furnished Sl,ls9,So; receipts
from visitors were SlsS9tl making the net cost !
The state of supporting the institution Sl6+2SAs
The broad distinction between the confirmed erin,
iaal and the man who has committed his frs OF
EMS. and who by juilicouS training may fe re
stored 10 SelfSllStainlug and SeTreSpeetlnSr eth
Eenship leads to the belief that the Legislature
might, with much propriety, devise some method
by which the courts should determine whether tie
affense was the first not and that the sentences
should be such that the public would be protested
from the depTedations of the habitual criminal
The board of control, III their report have recon-
Llanded system of indeterminate sentences
While the matter should receive Your earnest con
Sideration am not prepared to say whether the
criminal who makes crime q profession should be
sentenced TO police supervision when his term OF
imprisonment has expired. or the sentence of inr
prisonment should be iudetermiuatc
INDUSTRIAL. SCHOOL.
The number of boys i'll attendance at the State
Industrial School at WaukeSlla on September 30th
last, was 229: average atten lance during the wear
81. There have been admitted during the wear
95 boys: discharged 100 Tie gathering together
of the wayward and incorrigibIe boys from every
community, compelling them to attend school
teaching them habits of industry and obedience 10
just authority, and endeavorug to impress then
minds with Just conceptions q The true dignity Of
manhood, is one of the most humane and pruhta
ble duties of the state. But the work requires a
most StudiouS and painStakiuG watchfulneSS tr
avoid the liability of making the inmate more
incorrigible narrow and contracted in his uSt.
fulneSS by too long reliance upon the institution
for advice and support. The boy is sentenced be
fore the age of fourteen and may be kept there
until he is eighteen. and have serious doubts as tc
whether the term of attendance is not too long
as to whether the institution should not be rather
more school and somewhat less n penal nStitu.
ton There is some force in the view that if boy
cannot be reformed in two or three years 50 that
he can properly conduct himself in the communi
ty. longer attendance in such an institution is not
only useless 10 him. but is fraught with danger to
his companions, and may, and probably does, eN-
ert very injurious influence upon the newer ant
inmates of the institution.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The whole number of patients who have recev-
ed treatment at the State Hospital for the Insane
Mt Mendoza during the past fiscal year was CSC
The number discharged recovered was 40; i'm
proved. 50; unmproyed, Sc The total cost of this
hospital for the year was S.Ea6iS3', being weekly
cost per capita of S39a. At the commencement OF
the past year the Northern Hospital for the Insane
had under treatment 5i2 patients; admitted dur
ing the year 22a5; total 49, OF these there were
discharged recovered, 81; improved %: unim
proved, 3D. The number present at the close of
the year 564: average for the year 52a. The
cost of maintaining this hospital was S9SIG0G2
which is equal TO a weekly cost per capita of S351
| am constrained, by the great Importance there
Of to again call your attention 10 the proper
of the insane The laws of the state now provide
u very mixed system for the care of the insane:
portion are cared for under state system; a por-
tioG under county, system, and portion under
combined state and county system. Whether all
these different systems i'll operation at the same
time throughout the state work advantage ouSy to
the unfortuuates and to the state. or which one of
the systems is the most humane and economical
are subjects to which YOU cannot give too much
care and study. | cannot believe that it IS con-
ducive TO the well being of society properly dis
charging the duty we owe to the insane, to
for them within the walls of county iails and
almShouSeS. The insane cared for that society
may be protected from dangerous lunaticS being
at large. and humanity dictates that secure the
welfare and comfort OF those who are thus unable
TO for themselves. II is not the full discharge
OF this duty, however, that we keep the insane
from doing HARM or even that we make them
happy; they have right to be cured when posi-
ole, for they are thereby returned to society and
take from the state a lifelong charge. That this
and attention, much desired. can best he
secured i'll state institutions and under state super
vision am firmly convinced. and | have thus
urgently brought the subject to Your attention for
the reason that, unless speedy action be taken
upon it, large local expenditures under the present
system will have been made thereby precluding
= change hereafter without serious l. IS
INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND pu,BI
The whole number of pupils enrolled at the in
sttution for the education of the deaf and dumb
at Delavan, during the past year, 24l: of
these there were present September 80 1882 1s2:
average attendance during the year, 1i6. The
total cost of supporting this institution for the
year S3i3ia9l which amount represents
weekly cost per capita of S31i.
At the institution for the education of the blind
at Janesvilie there have been enrolled during the
year total Of - pupils of whom there We're pres
ent on the last day of the fiscal year, 81 average
attendance for the year g. The total cost of sup
porting this Institution $G.12617, equal to q
weekly cost per capita of S5f1.
STATE BOARD OF SUPEIlNlSInN.
Full details of the expenditures work and needs
If the charitable, reformatory and penal institu
lions of the state are contained in the annual
port of the board Of supervision, which will be
submitted for your consideration. This board has
performed its difficult duties in laudable and sat
lsfactory manner. with considerable saving to the
state. The manner in which the states duty in
properly caring for and protecting the humbleSt
Jf the unfortunate in the charitable and benevo.
tent institutions is discharged cannot be too
tiOusly guarded and the power of legitimate and
tAl1fg rif.aft. "A
the board of charities and reform ut least re.
suit in no harm.
CHARITIES AND REFORMS
The State Board of Charities ard Reforms has
the power Of inspection of all public AMI private
charitable and correctional INST tutions in the
state, excepting the SIX state institute Their
ceport. which is now in the hands of tie printer,
shows the semi state institution the Milwaukee,
county insane asylum and The Milwaukee county
house of correction to be in excellent condition
that there are 6! county jails, with 1,93 prisoners
during the year, and 2j5 at the date of the report;
that the jailS are generally in good condition: but
they report that there are q few in such wFetched
condition and so insecure that they should be con
demued if are We're any power competent to do
50 OF the poor- houses, 30 in number. with 1853
inmates during the year, AMI 1.l79 at the date OF
the report, they say the condition is good and
that the class of dependent population is as well
cared for as is considered desirable The increase
Of private benevolent institutions, both in number
and resources, as reported speaks well for the be
nevolent disposition of the people of the state;
they should be carefully considered They ask
that their power cf visitation be extended 10 the
six state Institutions. and this recommendation
meets my approval.
THE NATIoSAL GUARD
fully meets the constitutional standard in beins
Ia the strictest sense well regulated and its Ell
orgies are being well directed 10 the attainment OF
a thorough knowledge of rife practice, guard ant
camp duty. The maximum fixed by the LeglSla-
ture in pursuance of its constitutional authority,
of s. companies. with membership of 3S53, has
been reduced in the interests of more compact or
yanization and economy, TO 81 companies, with 4
membership of 22i7.
Under the authority Of chapter 1G2 Laws 1882,
tents and camp equipage sufficient to comfortably
encarnp 400 men have been purchased and about
two-thirds of the force ordered into camps of III
structiou for six days, with results that amply
justify the expense
The results obtained in the administration OF
the force in proportion to the expense incurred IN
its behalf will favOrably bear the most critical
comparison with those obtained in any of the
states. For full details refer You TO the reports
of the Adjutant and Quartermaster Generals, and
| especially ask your attention 20 the practical
suggestions of the Adiutant General and particu
lariy with referance to the war records, WHICH
should be cared for and preserved at an early
date.
The valuable report Of the Insurance Commits
sioner shows that for the year ending December
3ist 1882 the fire insurance companies had:
Risks written JILL. ......-....-....-... Sld35ob6i2
Premiums received 1gg1 ~
Losses paid. .-..-- .--....--.-..---. sSo,IS5
Tne life insurance companies doing business in
the state reported for the year ending March ],
1882
Policies in force -.--..--..-......-... s32595s55
Premiums received .-.....-....: ol3l43
Losses paid. ..---.....----. Jo3.f43
The Commissioner recommends the passage Of
a Law prescribing a uniform policy contract !
have no doubt that such law properly guarded,
would simplify the liability Of the companies for
losses and avoid many misunderstanding upon
the part OF the people, which now grow INTO ez-
peIlsiye litigation, and is well worthy Of your con
sidefation-
RAILROADS
The rear just closed has been one Of more than
usual activity in railroad enterprise both in the
volume of business and in the building Of new
roads
on june 80 1881 the various companies doing
business IN the State Of Wisconsin reported 70 the
Railroad Commissioner total mileage of 314z.s3
miles: the mileage reported June 81 ibs2 was
34573 an increase during what may be termed
the railroad year Of S5s3 miles From June ~
lss2 20 the end Of the calendar year. December 81
Ise2 3J8gI miles Of rail were laid making total
mileage of 3sS3T4 miles Of raroad In the State o.
Wisconsin December 81. 1sS2 The number Of
niles built during the calendar year was 5Sl2S-
The prediction contained in my message 70 the
legislature year ago OF an Increased amount
Of railroad construction during the year isez has
gion OF unhroken forest Is now being transformed
ing to the state needed railroad 4aczies and vast