Morris tribune., 1885-12-02
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best interests and usefulness. There has
been moderate increase in the pupils OF
each department, the proportion being
largest in the school for the feeble minded
Two hundred and tifty-three pupils were in
attendance the past year, divided a. fol
lows: Deaf and dumb, 15l; blind,
AZ; and feeble minded, 60. sub,
sCantial structure has been added
to the blind institute at a COST OF P36,
1881, which provides all needed accom-
mOdations for years to come. The building
for imbecles has also been enlarged to
nearly double it's capacity, at cost OF
about $24, 900. The superintendent OF this
school reports that while the new building
will accommodate fifty children, the "ad-
mitGance applications" are already eighty
five, and that further accommodations are
imperatively demanded The board are of
the opinion that two custodial buildings
should be added to the present structure, at
an estimated cost Of $4,000. / am per
suaded that the work of this school could be
organized upon basis that would produce
better results as regards one class OF It's
pupils, if separate building could be pro
vided for them. and | therefore recommend
an appropriation of $25, 900 for that pur-
pose If due regard to the condition of the
treasury and the wants Of other lnst1tu-
tons and interests, for which, the state must
provide, would permit would be inclined
to indorSe the full recommendations OF the
DOaTu lou cannOU, however, IeSpoHu w dill
requests for appropriations without 1ncreas-
ing the tax levy, and, in my view, moth
ing but an overshadoWlng emergency would
warrant you in doing that at this time. In
May, 1883, the shops attached to the dear
and dumb institute were burned, and the
board asks for an appropriation of $1,000
to replace them The industrial training
which is an essential part of the education
provided by this school, requires proper
shops for the purpose, and | therefore
recommend that the burned building be re
placed Though no reference - the matter
is made in the report of the directors, L
recommend that authority be granted them
to expend sum sufficient to make more Sc
cure the deaf and dumb building from fire
The dividing stone walls that separate the
structure into divisions should be extended
through the roof, and iron doors placed in
all openings communicating through them
A precaution of this character saved the St
Peter hospital from total destruction at the
time of the fire in 1880.
The estimate for current expenses for al
the schools will require S74, 800 for 1856.
and ST., 800 for 1887. The expenditures
the past two years were as follows:
Dumb. Blind Imbecile
1888. ...............21,068 16 1914 Is 6,9l7 80
1854. 30 l3l &c 1851 SO 12,4Sl ~
STATE PRISON.
The report of the inspectors and warden
of the state prison fully informs you of the
catastrophe that nearly destroyed that insti-
tuition last winter and the measures that
were adopted for it's reconstruction. During
the night OF the Sth of January last portion
of the shops in which the convictS were en-
ployed was burned, and on the 10Th OF The
same month another fire reduced to ruins
the building of the prison proper, with nearly
all it's contents, The affairs of the prison
were, in consequence, necessarily reduced to
much confusion. All provision for the Sc
curity and the employment Of the convicts
was destroyed or rendered useless for the
time. The only barrier between the convicts
and their liberty was the prison wall and the
prison guard These must have soon yielded
to determined effort of $50 desperate men
had it been made, but for the GOODNESS and
exceeding good management of Warden
Reed and his aids, speedily reinforced by a
detachment OF the state militia. A portion
of the convictS were at once removed to the
jails of Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington Da-
kota and Winona counties, and such prOvis-
ion made for the remainder within the prison
walls as was practicable Though the weather
was severe very little discomfort was sui
fered by the convicts, not as much, indeed,
as was endured by the militia in guarding
them. That portion of the prison building
containing the cells had lost its roof, bus
was otherwise not much I'M ured, there being
but little combustible material in its con-
sGruction. A temporary roof was soon in
place, and within a week the male convicts
were returned to their cells, and the work of
commenced. One of the
shops destroyed by the first fire was the prop
ertv of the state; the others had been built
by the contractors for the convict labor. 1t
was determined by the board of inspectors
after consultation with the attorney general
and myself, to rebuild the shop that had be-
longed to the state. and also to restore the
hniHinU in1nr0Vp6 nl3n c
it's interior arrangement and construction
This has been done. and the structure are
completed and now in use Respecting the
new prison the inspectors say, sthe building
as it now stands is vast improvement on
the old one, a good solid, substantial struc-
ture, all covered with heavy iron roof, with
iron rafUers, and we regard it as almost abso-
utely fire-proof." For further details re-
Spectlng the condition and progress of affairs
the fires, and also the work of re-
building, refer you to the report of the in
spectors and warden of the prison.
WHAT IT COST.
The cost Of the new prison building, in
lbout $4S, 5000. The new shop was con-
racted for at $23 600, and 50, 700 was cx-
pended in restoring the engine and boiler
room, making a total of SS73, 700 as the cost
Of replacing the structures destroyed by fire.
The loss on furniture and supplies destroyed
With Une DullQ1ngS was Sp4, 40. o. Inc IN
,pectors had placed S21, 043 81 insurance
lpon the property. which has been collected,
md to that amount has met the loss sus
aimed by the fires. AS existing appropra-
ions did not contemplate such an eXtraor-
linary emergency, the financial problem
involved in the restoration Of the prison was
omewhat embarrassing. but was to some
Xtent relieved by an offer on the part of
ew public-spirited ciGizens of the city of
saltwater to advance $25, 900 to aid in the
york The offer was accepted cOnditiOnally, |
nd was held in reserve as resource if re-
uired | did not, however, use any part of
t. The standing appropriations, together |
ave been sufficient to meet the cost of re |
uilding within about $4,000, which |
mount is now due the contractors, and for |
Thich an appropriation will be required. |
he inspectors were not authorized under |
ne statute to absolutely appropriate the |
rison earnings for the new buildings, but i'll |
heir report they say:
We conferred with the governor and with his |
dvice and consent the money received from in
lrance companies was used in rebuilding, and |
so the earnings of the convicts since the fires
ave been allowed to stand offset to an |
lual amount each month against the bills of |
lie contractors. This action taken to ena-
lie us to meet the extraordinary emergency
fused by the burning of the prison buildings,
nd the absolute necessity of their prompt re-
We trust the legislature will ap-
rove the action thus taken, and that such leg
lation may be had as may deemed necessary
confirm what has been done in this regard.
In addition to the restored buildings there
as Just been completed a new cell building
30 cells ADJOINING the old one