Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-04
0BLIvlON'S ECHO.
IContinued from First Pags.]
to which you are referred for addi-
tional information.
SECRETARY OF STATE.

w NtAASh ISe
tional information.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
The report Of the secretary of state
embodies important details concerning
the business of that department, and
contains recommendations which are
the results Of long experimence in
connection with state affairs. An
elaborate plan for letting state print
ing contracts, covering all kinds Ct
work of this character, is submitted
by the secretary and is worthy Of con.
sideration.
It is recommended by the secretary
that the present limitation upon the
number of notaries public for each
county be removed. In view of the
fact that the quota is ample for some
counties and not sufficient for others,
the law should be amended 80 as to
allow a larger number to be appointed
in each county, or the limitation
should be wholly removed. The basis
upon which the quota Is Fixed under
the existing law is variablv and un-
satisfactory. The vote In some of the
counties was lighter at the late cleo
thin than at the election of 1880, and
the quota of notaries is decreased,
although the population is undoubted-
ly greater than 1t was at that time.
The secretary recommends the re-
peal of the act Of 1869, providing for
an annual state census, as the law Is
imperative in some counties, the re.
turns therefore being of little value.
Instead of an annual census it il
recommended that a state census bs
taken taken in the year 1885, and
every ten years thereafter, thus alter
mating with the United States census.
STATE LIBRARY.
The report of the state librarian
shows 81, 4S7 volumes now on the
shelves of the library. 1t has been
recently arranged In more commo-
dious quarters on the ground floor of
the east wing, and comprises q large
number of very valuable and i'm
portant works. I heartily endorse the
recommendations of the librarian rel
alive to the building up of its Ne.
braska department of history, and
trust that the citizsns of the state
will add thereto by voluntary contri-
buttons of reliable data covering i'm.
portant events in the history of the
state.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The management of the charitable,
reformatory and penal institutions of
the state during the past TWO years,
has been without exception eminently
satisfactory.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The biennial report of the superin.
tendens of the hospital for the Insane
will inform you in regard to the man.
agement and wants of that institu-
tion. On the 30th of November,
1880, there were 1913 patients. During
the two years following, 238 we're re-
ceived, 165 discharged, 1 escaped and
A died, leaving 273 in the hospital,
November 80, 1882. The superin-
tendent has been able to receive all
insane persons whom he has been ask.
ed to admit. The hospital farm has
been very productive during the past
year and the crops produced have ma
terially decreased the average cost of
maintaining the inmates.
invite special attention to the rec
concentrations of the superintendent
In relation to building an engine
house and providing an amply supply
Of waterr These recommendation
are copaidered very important, as 9
disastrous confiagratfon is liable t.
originate In the boiler room, which il
now In the center of the basement Of
the main building.
The e wings of the hospital pro
vided for by the legislature at It's last
regular session are rapidly approach
ing completion. 1t will be your duty
to make suitable provision for fur.
nishing and preparing them for occu'
patton.
The superintendent report shows
that there has been considerable diff
Guilty and much irregulsrity In making
collections from the several counties O.
amounts due the state for the supper
of their insane. Some of the mos
populous and wealthy counties, havin,
the largest number of inmates, pa,
the smallest amounts for that purpose
This evil should be promptly cor
rected.
The generous policy heretofore pur
sued by the state for the purpose o
ameliorating the condition of the in
sane has been highly creditable, and
trust that the same fostering care will
continue to be exercised In providinI
for the wants of this institution
Much important information concern
ing the business management of tn
hospital, including q detailed state
ment showing the crop yield of tn
farm connected Herewith, will b
found in the stewards report.
The average cost per capitaper wee
of maintaining the inmates of the asy
lum, including salaries and expense
of every kind, during the past tw
years, has been $3. 243.
INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUNE
At the regular session of 1881, tn
Legislature provided for the oonstrut
tion of an additional building In cor
nection with the institute for the des
and dumb. The building has bee
, erected and completed by oontrat
under the general supervision of tn
board of public lands and building
and is now partly occupied. 1t is
brick structure forty-two feet (42) b
sixty-six (66), with basement and thre
stories. An appropriation for th
purpose Of furnishing the new built
ing is needed. Other valuable in
provements have been made, and tt
institute Is generally In a very sati
factory condition. 1t Is recommends
by the principal that an addition
amount of land contiguous to the II