The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-29
RETIRING MESSAGE
OF
Gov. Samuel E. Pingree.


Gentlemen Of the General assembly:
The last two years have been most au
spicious in the history of our State
Without the burden of any public debt tt
meet their obligations for the current
support of the government in the man.
ner prescribed by law without distress
or substantial inconvenience. VA.
Indeed. believe no commonwealth
can be named whose citizens feel light.
lier the touch of taxation than ours.
The products of the soil have been
abundant to an unwonted degree, and the
fields and pastures which had been dam
aged for years by recurring drouths
have been restored by the frequent rains
of the last two seasons.
The great industry of agriculture, up
on which the prosperity of the State so
pre-eminently rests, presents promise OF
fairer returns to the husbandman than
for some years before your last assem-
bling.
The quarries of marble and slate and
granite yield more abundantly than be-
fore to the wealth of the State, while
skilled and uskilled labor alike COM
mand fair remuneration.
Although in many of the States of the
Union tumult, disorder and riot have at
times prevailed, paralyzing great bust
ness industries for season, and Destroy
ing property and life, no such calamities
have invaded our borders, or disturbed
the peace and happiness of our people.
Amid such general prosperity and
cause of thankfulness to God for his IA
voring care over our State, am pleas
ed to follow the cOmmendable example
of our last Executives. and submit to
you brief message upon the conditions
and needs of her varied interests and in
situations, and a history of my perform
ance of the Executive trusts.
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS.
The list and dates of these appoint
ments, both statutory and non-statutory,
will be found in the appendix.
STATE BENEFICIARIEs.
Until the act (No. 49, of the last ses-
the unfortunate wards of the State could
be instructed at the public expense with
in the State.
By that act the designation of bcne-
ficiaries for home struction was au-
thorized for the blind upon the same
terms as provided b. existing law for
their education at the Perkins Institution
for the Blind at Boston, Mass.
Under this law but one application and
designation has been made.
Every application for State aid for
these unfortunate youth has received at
tention, and in every case, the required
bond being given and conditions of adj
mission complied with, the designation
has been made.
IL has been the humane policy of the
State to have ample provisions for the
education of it's deaf mutes, blind, and
feeble minded, for some siXty-five years
past.
There is, and, believe generally has
been, large margin of unused appro-
priation in each class, while doubt not
every proper applicant has been admit
ted to the benefits of the law to the full
est reasonable limit.
have visited the Clarke Institution
for Deaf Mutes at Northampton, and the
Perkins Institution for the Blind at South
Boston, Mass, during my official term
have met our beneficiaries and their
teachers there. and learned of their pro-
gress in instructions; and it is cause of
qualification and pride that our State SO
fully admits and provides for the claims
of every one of its children to share in
the common blessings Of education, de-
spite the loss or impairment of certain
senses.
The statistical and financial report un-
der this head is as follows, viz:
American Asylum tor the Deaf and Dumb.
Hartford, Conn.
Year erding September, 1885. No of
pupils, Ii; expense. ................. $2,3Oo 40
Year ending September, 1885; Num-
Der of pupils IA; expense. 2,475 IA
Total. ..........................s 4,7ss 50
Clarke Institution for Deaf Mutes, North
ampton, Mass.
Year ending September, 1885; mum.
Der of pupils, 4; expense. 1907 80
Year ending September, 1886; num-
Der of pupils, 5; expense..... S43 20
Total. ..........................$ l,65l Is
Perkins Institution for the Blind, Boston,
Year ending October, 1885; number
Of pupils Z; expense. ............... $2,lOs IS
Year ending October, 1886; number
of pupils, Z; expense................ 2,lW 40
Total. s4,sls Is
Massachusetts, School for the Fee
ble-minded, Boston, Mass.
Year ending October, 1885; number
OF pupils, i; expense. ............... $500 90
Year ending October, 1886; number
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $50 Il
Blind instructed within this State,
pursuant to Act No. 30, laws OF 1884.
Miss Seba Briggs, Rutland, lss4.6..... 1900 90
Grand total expense of all beneficial
r1es, lSS46. Z,O5S ~
EDUCATION.
From the careful statistical work pre- |
sented in the report of the Superinten- |