The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-12

struction OF the present statute governing
the responsibilities for the maintenance OF
patients. This embarrassment should be re-
moved by modifyin the present statute.
The admirable condition Of this asylum
attests the fidelity and capacity Of the man.
agement, and entities their recommendation
TO confidence. For a more particular state
ment, refer to the report OF the Board Of
Trustees
There are now sixty eight insane criminals
confined I'm the two prisons Under existing
laws, insane convicts discharged from penal
institutions, and persons arrested on crimi-
nal charges and adjudged insane, must be
admitted TO the asylums irrespective of the
nature of their mental disorder or prospects
of recovering, often to the exclusion of more
hopeful cases of those who are not criminals.
These are disturbing element in the asy-
lums and detract from their curative work.
In neighboring States and in some of the
European countries this class are cared for
in separate buildings erected for that pur-
pose
respectfully call your attention to the
discussion of this subject by the Boards Of
Trustees of both asylums
INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.
This institution is in good condition. 1t
has normal capacity for 250 pupils, and
now has 26O receiving literary instruction,
learning the art OF communicating with
others, and being taught mechanical pur-
suits that will enable them to be self-sup-
porting when they graduate The appro-
priation for current expenses for the years
1881 and 1882 was $50, 900, and for improve
ments So, 80 Similar appropriations will
be asked for 1888 and 1884 amounting to
$685. The Board of Trustees recommend
the enlargement of the institution to keep
pace with the increase in the number OF
pupils incident to the increase of population
OF the State. For the plan of enlargement
and a detailed statement of its cost, together
with the financial exhibit reference is made
to the summary of the report OF the Super
intendent hereto appended
MICHIGAN school,. FOR THE BLIND
Prior to 1880 the blind pupils in charge of
the State were cared for at the Institution
for the Deaf, the Dumb and the Blind ut
Flint In 1879 the Legislature authorized
the appointment or commission TO locate
and establish separate school for the blind.
This commission was duly appointed, and
after much labor it was unable TO agree upon
"a permanent site for the school, but leased
some buildings and grounds III the city OF
Lansing temporarily. The pupils were re-
moved from Flint to the leased buildings in
1880.
The failure to agree upon permanent site
was reported to the Legislature at its session
in 1881, and by joint resolution the school
was permanently located and authority
given To the Board of State Auditors 10 pur-
chase the property held under lease as
stated above, and known as the odd Eel
lows Institute.
Since the purchase of this property liberal
improvements have been made; among
them q new boiler-housc and workshop,
steam heating, artesian well, sewer, and
grading streets and grounds; additions have
also been made TO the library and apparatus
and the furniture. The COST OF the i'm
provements is about $4,000 The pur-
chase price of the property was $4,000.
The estimated current expenses for 1855
are S23, 600; 1884, S26, 900.
During the two years ending June -,
1852, there have been in oil seventy-six pu-
pills in this school-fifty-ive the first year
and sixty-three the second. In addition to
literary instruction, the boys are taught to
make brooms, and are required to work part
of each day for five days in the week, and
the girls are instructed in sewing and other
useful enploymentS. Self-support after
leaving the school is the object sought to be
attained by the management.
The Commissioners in their report, in sup
port OF the proposed enlargement OF the
school buildings, quote statistics 10 snow
that less than one-half of the pupils emit
tied To admission can now be cared for
The two wings for which appropriations are
asked would afford accommodations for l4o
additional pupils.
For details, reference is made TO the re-
port of the superintendent and TO the
appendix The wants of this institution are
commended To your careful consideration
STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL
This institution was opened in May, 1874
II has a farm of seventy-two acres con-
nected with it, divided into orchard,
meadow, pastJrage, and grounds for Gull
tivation. The buildings consist OF one
central, nine cottages, one engine and boiler
house, and one hospital They are all con-
structed of brick, are warmed by steam, and
lighted by gas made on the premises. The
latter improvement was added within the
past two years The latest improvements in
steam heating, cooking, laundry, bathing
and ventilating apparatus have been In
troduced.
The total amount hitherto expended for
building, land and improvements is about
5000, 600 At present il has normal capacity
for 800 children An appropriation will be
asked of $500 for the purchase of four acres
of land. The state now owns land on the
three sides of the piece desired An APP
preparation was once made for the purchase
of additional land, but the price demanded
then was double that now asked recon-
mend that the appropriation be made.
The appropriations for the years 1881 and
1SS2 were:
For gas works and general repairs...... 1890
lOtal. Observation-Disclosures. .SoD,oVV
Appropriations will be asked for the years
1885, and ISL
For hospital and repairs. 13,iO0
AOUdi. .eoo,f"V
The appropriations for current expenses,
and for a hospital, are doubtless reasonable.
For particulars, reference Is made to the
Board of Control.
BOARD OF CORRECTIONS AND CHARITIES
This board has been engaged for u term OF
years in gathering information regarding
the conduct OF prisons, poor-houses and
charitable institutions, and recommending
improved methods for the care of their un-
fortunate inmates At the session OF 1881 it
was made the further duty of the board to
visit the various institutions of the State,
to examine their estimates for future wants,
and also to examine the plans of any build
ings for school purposes, livingrooms, work
rooms, or sleeping rooms for inmates, or any
system of sewerage, ventilation or heating
which shall be authorized by the Legislat-
ure TO be constructed, and to report its opin-
ion thereon
These arduous duties have been faithfully
performed with credit TO the board and with
profit to the State For details reference is
made TO the report of the board
STATE LIBRAEY
During the years lSS and 1882 there have
been added To the library ,GS2 volumes, Mt a
cost of s5,0190S The growth of the library
during the last two years has exceeded that
of any previous two years The additions