Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-01-16


the growth of population throughout the
country, has become subject OF grave con-
Germ. Statistics show that the increase OF
paupersm and crime in the United States
has been 100 per cent greater than its
increase in population within the last quarter
OF century Measures that may prove
effective to check this growing evil have
long been the subject Of earnest inquisition
among philanthropists and legislators. Con-
siderations OF economy and public security,
Us we'll as those of humanity and morality,
suggest the adoption of whatever means
may promise to lessen these great evils that
prey upon society. AS it is q Jaw of nature
that every species shall produce it's kind, so
In every community it is observed
that the ranks Of the pauper and criminal
neglected and abused progeny. The envi-
rOnment of idleness ignorance and vice in
which the children of such parents are reared
must, in the natural order OF things, give
direction and character to their future course
OF life. AS q matter Of economy, mere
question Of public expense. is it not the wiser
policy to rescue if possible, these youths
from their apparently inevitable fate, rather
than to provide expensive almshOuses and
reformatories to be maintained ut great cos5
for their care while young, and prisons for
their restraint when they come to mans
estate? An intelligent and effective method
to deal with this question would be- the estab-
lishment of state public school, in which
the young children of dependent parents OF
criminals, and the orphaned waits Of SOCIETY
may be gathered and reared under influences
and surroundings that viii develop the
better elements Of their natures, and make
OF them good citizens to contribute to
the benefits rather than the bur-
deus Of society. This is by no
means an experiment Such institutions
have existed for years past in some of the
States, and their work shows most crafty
ing results Detailed Information can DO
furnished by our state board Of charities and
corrections, regarding the organization. the
work and the results accompi shcG III schools
OF this character Us established elsewhere.
[ commend The subject To Your rhoughtful
consideration. II there should be hehita-
ton to act upon it BY reason Of the expense
OF establishing another public institution,
repeat, that, in my Judgment, it is recon-
mended by considerat ons OF public econo-
my, though the proposition also appeals II
you upon the Vastly BROADER basis Of llu.
mainly and the general public good The
cost Of maintaining aud educating these
children in such On institution unit! chtv
arrive at an age when they could be ap-
prenticed or indenture1 to their advantage,
would be less shan the present average cost
| Of their mAintena, &c i'll the poor houses or
through the usual methods of distribution
OF l,Onr aid, in many OF t:l: counties OF tho
state. Arequirelncn. such as now applies
to q; class OF the inmates OF the reform
by eacn county of the ch'drrn they rasrcc3-
lively send to the inst!tutlon could nropcriT
be made feature OF It's "rganlzatcn
BOARD Oh CORRECTIONS AND CHARITIES.
Chapter l.!7 Of the General l;Hs, 1883
provides for The appointment by the COY
ernor OF SIX persons, not more than TIL G., OF
whom shall be from the same political party,
who shall const.Eu-o, with The governor.
state board Of corrections and charities The
RI If l>n: fI,AfiD ned no
are TO invest gate the whole system Of pub
lie charities and correctional institutions Of
the ssate, examine into the condition aud
management thereof, especially OF prisons,
laits, intlrmlries public hospitals AMI
asylums," and to examine and "criricisc ali
plans for new jails and int. ilariea: before
| their adoption by county authorities. The
board is also empowered, upon the order
OF the governor, to investigate the 1nan-
agement OF any penal. rcformatory
or charitable lDsbtution of the state.
Though the act creating the board provides
for the employment OF secretary at all
annual salary OF 1000, and the necessary
personal expenses of the members in the
| discharge OF their duties vet, by an evident
oversight the Legislature neglected to make
an appropriation from which to pay IT, H.
| Believing the work Of the board as con-
! re1np}ated By the act would prove OF great
! public benefit, was reluctant to have the
experiment. fail for lack Of means to meet
the expense. / therefore appealed to the
| boards OF management OF the hospitals Tor
| the insane and the state prison, for such
| sums Us they could conveniently spare from
! their appropriations tor current expenses,
| to aid in maintaining the beard My request
was responded to in manner that COM
! mands ucknowledg cement OF the public
| spirit Of the gentlemen appealed to- I re-
| ceived FL 900 from the trustees Of The in
! sane, and ST 1914. GG from the inspectors OF
the state prison. These sums, reinforced by
| a moderate draft upon the e1ecu-
tive contingent fund, have nearly
sutficied to defray tile expenses of the
board to the present Time The board was
organized in April, 1888, by the appoint
ment OF Hon. c. H. Berry Of Winoua, Hon. H.
r. Wct:; Of Preston, Rev. n. NEG Dana Of
| St. Paul, i. c. Bell, ESQ.,, Of Minneapolis
Hon. William NJ Campbell Of LiUchtieLd, and
Judge keuben Reynolds OF Crookston, as
members, and tho subsequent selection Of
Rev H. II. Hart of Worthington as secretary
! Quarterly meetings have been held and fire.
| quent visits OF inspection made by the full
board or it's committees and secretary TO the
! several public institutions and most OF the
| county ialls DOurhouses and retoI1natOries
| Of the state. The character and extent Of
| the work accomplished by this board is indi-
! Gated in it's report which is before you. |
| believe hazard nothing in saying that the
! results thus tar accomplished fully Justify
| the Judgment of those who ealiv advocated
|
! recognized as ~ authoritative agency
| through which tn. people in different corn-
ties are becoming informed as to important
details regarding the co Hilti"n or'' manage.
1nent Of their county affairs, bhc manner and
cost Of tire care aud maintenance OF their
! comfy Door ana other ueneEdentS,
and, by the correction OF errors
| and abuses Of administration, to
which attention IS thus directed, they will be
enabled to rave large sums in III: adoption
| Of more discriminating and economlca!
| methods of expenditure, while bringing IT. ore
| humanjzng Influences 10 pervadc The man
| age1nent OF county institutions. In the OK
| elcise OF its advisory functions it has rem
dered material aid to the several boards in
charge of the state institutions, VITA whom
| the most CORDIAL cooperative relations have
been maintained. The board have attended
! the national conferences Of charitles and
| corrections annually held, and through the
! secretary or Individual members, spent much
| time in the inspection and study OF TIE s,s-
| TENS and methods controlling the charitable
and reformatory institutions Of other states.
They have sought in every way TO qualify
| themselves thoroughly for die duties i'm
posed upon them in which they have taken
great interest, and given theil time freely to
! their discharge. The character of the gentle
men constituting the board is guarantee or
its future usefulness, and will command tor
it's work the confidence and cooperation OF
the people Of the state Secretary Hart has
manifested much aptitude for the delicate
aud intricate duties of his POSITION, and in
their prosecution has shown great industry
and much enthusiasm.
PUBLIC HEALTH
The state board of health is proving most
efficient agency in promoting the public
health In the treatment of epidemic dis
eases and the supervision and direction OF
general sanitary work throughout the state
the board has rendered Invaluable service
within the past two years They have had
to deal with seventeen distinct outbreaks
Of small pox, some of which, being in un,