The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-01-15

of the center building at Rochester, at an
estimated cost Of $72 900. The part OF the
structure referred to is the old inebriate
asylum, which has proven lily adapted to its
present use. While the force of the presen-
tation the trustees make in this matter must
perhaps be admitted and the deslrability Of
replacing the old asylum with more sub
stantial and convenient structure conceded
yet the evident inability of the finances Of
the state to meet the expenditure at this
time, offers substantial reason adverse to
its present undertaking.
The expenditures for account OF the insane
the past two years have been as follows:
Ha nlpis h 6ssGaa
Bldg and furnishing
land. ............... ss4,51o % ss2,s2e 1e
Current expenses.
1888 Is months)... 9O,294 35 42.771 30
Current exp'n's, 1884 132.O46 40 62.699 81
Total. .$so6. s51 n $1ss,ss7 4s
The estimated current expenses for the
next two years are:
First Second
Hospital Hospital.
1885,. O2O 90 $97, $40 90
lS96-7...!..:........ 15O2SO 90 1O6.O9O oO
Repairs, etc. 1850 90 5000 %
The average weekly cost per capita has
been So "a at St Peter, and SD A at Roch-
ester for the past year
|
BLIND, AND SCHOOL FOR IDIOTS AND MBE-
GILES.
The third biennial report of the directors
and superintendents of the instsute for the
deaf and dumb and the blind, and school for
idiots and imbeciles, exhibits in detail the
affairs of these institutions. The same abll-
ity and success continue to characterize the
management of these schools, that have
given them the high standing they occupy
among institutions of their class throughout
the country. Minnesota occupies an ad-
| vanced position in her work in behalf OF the
agency of these schools. ] have no doubt
| they will secure such recognition at your
| hands as may be required for their future
| best interests and usefulness, There has
| been moderate increase in the pupils OF
each department, the proportion being
Two hundred and fifty-three pupils were in
| attendance the past year, divided as fol-
| lows: Deaf and dumb, 15l; blind,
~; and feeble minded, so. A sub
| stantial structure has been added
to the blind institute at o cost Of $780,
| SIS. 81, which provides all needed accom-
! modations for years to come The building
for imbeciles has also been enlarged to
nearly double it's capacity, at cost OF
| about $24, 900. The superintendent OF this
| will accommodate fifty children, tho "ad-
| mittance applications" are already eighty
| five, and that further accommodations are
imperatively demanded. The beard are Of
| the opinion that two custodial buildings
should be added to the present structure, at
an estimated cost of $4,000 J, am per-
suaded that the work Of this school c6uld be-
organized upon basis that would produce
better results as regards one class OF Its
pupils, if a separate building could be pro-
vided for them, and [ therefore recommend
an appropriation of $25, 900 for that pur-
Inc ri N fho
| treasury and the wants of other institu-
| tions and interests, for which the state must
provide, would permit, would be inclined
| to indorse the full recommendations Of the
board. You cannot, however, respond to all
requests for appropriations without increas-
ing the tax levy, and, in my view, MOTH
| ing but an overshadowing emergency would
| warrant you in doing that at this time. In
May, 1883, the shops attached to the deaf
| and dumb institute were burned, and the
| board asks for an appropriation Of SIC, 900
| I'd replace them The Industrial training,
| which is an essential part of the education
| provided by this school, requires proper
shops for the purpose, and l therefore
| recommend that the burned building be re-
placed Though no reference to the matter
| is made in the report of the directors, l
recommend that authority be granted them
to expend sum sufficient to make more &C.
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 $74, 800 for 1856,
and ST., 800 for 1887. The expenditures
| the past two years were as follows:
| Dumb. Blind Imbecile
| 1883. ..............21,0681 Is 1874 10 69lI "
| 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 9Th of January last portion
| of the shops in which the convicts were en-
ployed was burned, and on the 25th 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 &c
much confusion. ALI provision for the Sc
curity and the employment of the conv1cts
| was destroyed or rendered useless FOR Tine
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 meI
had it been made, but for the GOODNESS anc
| 0XCo0Q1Qg ROOu HdudScIucuo VI VoiNOA
Reed and his aids, speedily reinforced by 6
detachment of the state militia. portloI
of the convicts were at once removed to the
jails of Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington, Da
kota and WinOna counties, and such provls
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, Du
was otherwise not much injured, there being
but little combustible material In it's con
smuction. A temporary roof was soon II
place. and within a week the male convict
were returned to their cells, and the work o
reconstruction commenced. One OF Tn
shops DESTROYED by the first fire was the prop
| ertv of the state; the others had been bull
by the contractors for the convict labor. l
was determined by the board Of inspectors
after consultation with the attorney genera
and myself, to rebuild the shop that had be
longed to the state, and also to restore tn
nrison building upon an improved plan as Il
, it's interior arrangement and construction
This has been done. and the structure ar
, completed and now in use. Respecting tn
new prison the inspectors say, the buildtn
! as it now stands is vase lmprovement o
ture. all covered with heavy iron roof, wit
iron rafters and we regard it as almost absc
Iutely fire-proof" For further details r
| speeding the condition ana progress OF anan
! following the fires, and also the work of r.
: building. refer you to the report of the II
= tors and warden Of the prison.
sp WHAT IT COST
new prison building, II
Guiding the iron room shop was CO,
s asc3sd For a. S2s ooo and was S.; e
pended in restoring the engine ana
making total Of gig s 200 o. he e. A.
WITH vfa lt che On buildings was S. The il
spectors had placed $21 o4s 81 in n,5aass.
3 and 70 that amount has met the loss SUI
tanned by the fires As existing appropri'
lions did not contemplate such an extrao
involyed in the restoration of the prison WI
somewhat embarrassing, but was to son
t extent relieved by an offer on the s part ao OF
: saltwater to advance $4,000 to aid In q
4 work The offer was accepted conditional