Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-12-02


Rev. H. H. Hart OF Worthington as secretary.
Quarterly meetings have been held and fire.
quent visits of inspection made by the full
board or its committees and secretary TO the
several public institutions and most OF the
county lallS, poorhOuses and reformatories
of the state The character and extent of
the work accomplished by this board is indi-
Gated in its report which is before you |
believe | hazard nothing in saying that the
results thus far accomplished fully Justify
the Judgment of those who early advocated
the organization of the board. 1t is already
recognized as an authoritative agency
through which the people in different coun-
ties are becoming informed as TO important
details regarding the condition and manage
ment of their county affairs, the manner and
cost of the care and maintenance of their
county poor and other dependents,
and, by the correction of errors
and abuses of administration, to
which attention is thus directed, they will be
enabled to save large sums in the adoption
of more discriminating and economical
methods of expenditure, while bringing more
humanizing influences to pervade the man
agemenG OF county institutions In the eX-
erciSe of it's advisory functions it has rem
dered material aid to the several boards in
charge of the state institutions with whom
the most cordial cooperative relations have
been maintained The board have attended
the national conferences of charities and
corrections annually held, and through the
secretary or individual members, spent much
time in the inspection and study OF the sys-
TENS and methods controlling the charitable
sind reformatery institutions of other states.
They have sought in every way to qualify
themselves thoroughly for the duties i'm
posed upon them, in which they have taken
great interest, and given their time freely to
their DISCHARGE The character of the gentle
men constituting the board is a guarantee OF
its future usefulness, and will command for
its work the confidence and cooperation of
the people of the state. Secretary Hart has
manifested much aptitude for the delicate
and 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 q 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 lum-
Der camps and unorganlzed counties, could
not have been controlled by local authority.
In every instance, by prompt and perempt
DRY action they have isolated and subdued
the disease Several aggravated outbreaks
OF diphtheria which threatened the decima-
ton of entire communities have, by a rigid
system of quarantine and disnfection, been
checked and brought under control. A few
cases OF infectious diseases of domestic ami
mails have received the attention of the
board and valuable counsel and assistance
have been rendered in the treat
ment of the diseased animals, and the
protection of herds exposed to the in
fiction All sanitary authorities agree as to
the probability of the appearance of cholera
in this country the present year. Our state
board of health should be clothed with au-
thority and given command OF resources
u.
in the event of its appearance among us.
This will contemplate Legislation looking to
thorough sanitary inspection and an i'm
proved sanitary organization throughout the
state The duties of local health officers,
measures to be adopted for the disposal of
filth, protection of the water supply and the
control of offensive trades are all questions
involved in the general subject, and should
be mes by clear and explicit enactmentS I
with sufficient penalties for the violation OF |
their provisions. To make this work effective |
a special appropriation will be required, to |
be used under proper restrictions and llmita- |
lions as suggested by the board in their re-
port The rapid increase OF the stock inter- |
est OF the state suggests some legislation for |
the protection OF our numerous and valuable |
herds from the infectious diseases that have |
wrought havoc the past year in other states. |
The board of health is the proper agency |
through which to operate in this matter. |
Authority should be given them to employ |
competent veterinary surgeons when neceS-
sary, and to take the other steps required to
prevent or suppress such diseases. The
vital statistics of the state as BOW collected
are imperfect and unsatisfactory. believe
they could be made more complete and use
full If collected under a system devised and
controlled by the state board OF health. I'm
portanJ Investigations relative to the charac-
ter of illuminating oils brought into the state
have been made the past year by the secre-
tary Of the board, which are fully detailed in
his report, accompanied with practical rec
for the protection of the pub
lie against the importation of inferior goods
The increased labOrS imposed upon the board
by the growth of the state and the enlarged
scope of its duties. calls for a moderate in
crease in the annual appropriation for it's
use. The recommendations in this regard
and upon those matters relating to sanitary
questions in which our entire people are in
terested, have my approval
MILITIA.
The legislature of 1888 enacted a militia
code which provided for the organization of
two regiments of infantry and one battery
Of artillery, to constitute the national guard
1f the state. 1t required seven companies
Of infantry in addition to the then existing
organization to complete the quota author
zed by the act. Within the year following
jhls was made up, giving an aggregate en-
1stment OF l ,263 officers and men, and the
sutire force has been provided with the most
IIII'iOfCN III Llo anu III use ny |
he general government Annual encamD-
nentS have been held as contemplated BY
he code, the details of which are furnished
n the report of the adjutant general [ am
pleased to be able to report that the guard
s in a satisfactory state of discipline and
efficiency. The value to the state of mod
rate military establishment was demon
trated on the occasion of the fires at the ,
prison last January. Detachments from ,
he First regiment rendered invaluable aid in 9
preserving order and preventing any attempt !
II the cOnvicts to escape during the !
progress of and subsequent to the fires The s
presence of a considerable force of armed
nen doubtless had q salutary moral effect
ipon the inmates OF the prison; certainly no ]
UGH efficient force could have been organ
Jed from among our citizens as the militia !
to guard the convictS while the
fairs of the prison were in confusion For
early week of very severe weather they
discharged the most exacting
uties that soldiers are called upon to per-
orm. The subsistence and per diem OF the 6
1en for this service, and also the cost of 1
heir transportation, amounting in the ag-
regate to So, 457. 46, was paid from the I
ational guard fund AS no such extraordi- t
airy expenses are properly chargeable to I
hat fund, it should be reimbursed by
pecial appropriation, as recommended by
ne adjutant general. On the 9th of July G
asst was requested by the mayor of Mime q
polls and the sheriff of Hennepin county c
D furnish troops to aid the civil authorities 6
a preventing threatened attack by mob l