Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-01-12

experience, aud from the further fact that we
have now only small number of conyicts UNI
der the contract system, think We cannot do
better than to continue that system for the
present. In a few years the other prison will
be completed, and we shall then have more
Knowledge upon the subject aud shall risk less
In experimentation, Ii our contracts are tn be
rc-letw we should secure more favorable terms
than we have at present.
rENlrENTIARY AT ANAMosA
General progress has been made in the con-
struction OF the prison ut Anamosa, the work
being prosecuted under the careful personal
attention Of the Warden, The building for the
criminal insane Is ready for the roof and in
closed by n stone wall. Sufficient funds should
be provided for the completion OF this depart
mcnt as II is sadly needed. At present, the
criminal insane are confined In the Hospitals
for Insane, and adequate accommodations are
not provided. Their removal to new quarters
will make room for u number of additional
patients at the Hospitals. Upon the compile
ton OF this department additional legislation
viii be required before II is occupied. Work
has also been commenced on the building for
female prisoners. Appropriation should be
made made for continuing the work of con-
structlon aud keeping the convicts employed.
At the beginning of the period the conylcts
numbered 255, and at its close 3l3, average
296. The expenditures were SLIT ,ll7.li. The
discipline has been good and the general man.
agcment excellent. While the Prisoners Aid
Association Is animated by the most generous
and humane motives, In my Judgment the
funds used by that Association would accom-
plish much more good If placed In the hands
of the Warcns, and used by them In such
manner AS they see proper to secure employ
ment for discharged convicts.
CoNyICTs DECREASING,
The whole number of convicts In the two
Pcnitcntiarics at the beginning of the period
wns GAY. "A its close ,Iunp 10 ISM t.,l. mn In
crease of q. The numccr at the beginning aud
close of the previous period was respectively
co. and tji, an Increase OF 10, During the
period ending June 80 1881, ~ convicts were
pardoncd out of the Pcpitcutaries, and for
that ending June 80, 1887, ~, January |, lSSS,
the whole number Of convicts was 6is. These
figures indicate n gratifying decrease In the
number of our Pcnitcntiary Convicts, q result
largely due, doubt not, Ia the enforcement of
the prohibitory law. The complete enforce
ment of that law in all parts of the State will
PROFESSIONALLY still further diminish the Grim
inal class.
PARDoNs, SUSPENSIONS, COMPUTATIONS AND
REMissioNs.
During the two years closing December 81,
1887, | have granted conditional par,lons
which may be revoked at any time, oW con-
viCts in the Pcnitcntlarics. The suspensions
were "a, communications ., rcmissons IL. The
suspensions of sentence, which were also con-
ditonal, include temporary suspensions in
several cases toawait the prosecution of appli-
cations for pardon, and in at least two eases
pardons were afterwards granted, SO that the
same case appears under the head OF pardons
and also suspensions. There were also five
cases of transfer tn the Hospital for the Insane
which are included In the suspensions. In
most of the suspensions the action was only to
release from Jail in cases Of violation OF the
prohhitory liquor law, and did not release from
the payment of the fine imposed. A full ac-
count Of these parlons etc, with the reasons
for granting them, will he presented to the
General Assembly In another communication.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
The Trcstccs of the Industrial School In
their report speak words Of gratitude and
congratulation because the institution com
mcnCcd IN an humble way twenty years ago,
has AT last gained good footing among
the permanent institutions Of the State, and
is doing a noble work in its efforts to 'rcscuc
the pcrishing." Since its beginning 1850
children and youth have been under Its In
struction aud care many Of whom are now use
full and respectable citizens In this and other
States. On the thirticth of June, 1887 there
were in the Boys Department at Eldora $50,
| and in the Girls Department ut Mitchclyille
liz. The expenditures for the period were $50
ig9.li There is need, In the Boys Depart
mcut especially, Of greater facilities for en-
plOymcnt. An idle brain Is the devils work
shop. Perhaps some Of our public print
ing might be done at this school with profit
to II and to the State. This institution Is one
Of much importance. good results are being
secured, and ] commend the reports of the
Trustees and Superintendent to your at
tention, and trust you will give the
school the support and encouragement 1t
so justly deserves.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction
Is able to report most satisfactory and pros
NJ oil ri Ia
entire State. The number Of SCHOOL, houses
their aggregate value, the number OF teachers
| and the school population have steadily in-
| creased. There are now 12,44 school houses,
valued at sll 1860, Az. The number Of schools
Is l4,S29, and the number Of teachers "a go.
The permanent school-fund Is gradually In
CrcaSing and now amounts to -, Isl, SaBW;
and there are 53g27.SS acres of school lands
still unsOld. The average monthly wages
paid male teachers is $jS.42, and females
| SO. 10. The disbursements for 1856 were,
school-housc fund. S952, 5iO03; contingent
| fund, 81 ,36i 1889; teachers fund, xio0s,-
sS3G: total, S63g}, 172.42. In the same year
the whole number Of children between the
| ages of five and twenty-One was 6jS, l5B, and
there were enrolled in the public schools 49,
| TSS, with an average attendance OF Isl ,T".
| The Superintendent reports that the law OF
| the Twenty-frst General Assembly requiring
instruction In the public schools In relation
to the effects Of stimulants and narcotics on
the human system, has been generally obeyel.
| There has been unwilingness on the part of
some parents u purchase the necessary text
| books but with some amendments, which he
| points, the Superintendent believes the law
would be well and generally observed. There
| has been an incrcasIngmumber OF teachers In
| attendance upon normal institutes.
The last General Assembly, by concurrent
resolution. requested the Superintendent Of
! Inns IN NH In
NAL report an exhaustive treatment OF the
subject of Compulsory Education, and the
| Superintendent dcvOtcS some forty pages OF
this report to that subject, giving its general
| history, the opinions Of eminent educators,
| and some comparisons Of the United States
| with other countries with reference 10 school
! attendance not very lattcrng 10 our national
| pride. / commend the subject Of compulsory
education To your thoughtful attention and iu
,ic;oi,s action. The people have a just pride IN
| ti!r;r IGic schools and in the report OF the
| iasI national census, which showed that oui
state then had the lowest percentage OF
| iliitcracy Of any State IN the Union. But We
may wei fear, when we look at the small aver
| age attendance in Our public schools In com
| pa:iSOn with orr school population that
| We shall not maintain our previous advanc-
ed posi- ion uulCss some decisive steps are taken
| to bring into the schools OF the State all, or at
least a much larger percentage, OF those who
| uI@ht Ia partake of their advantages Com
| mlSOry cluCItpn Is not an untricd experiment
| II is In successful operation In many OF the
most enlightened and cultivated States anc
| Nations Of the world, and II may well be
considered whether the time has not fully
come when II ought 10 be- adopted IN Iowa. In
NY judgement il has and rtcOmcnd the pas
sage Of a suitable law in rcfcrancc thereto.
| School BOOKS.
| Ia reference to this subject would say, Keci
! the State from engaging in commercial enter
| prlscs like the publishing of school books, etc
| Leave TO the people OF school distrlcs great
freedom to determine such questions, and
20 govern their own affairs.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The services of several new professors, who
| nave distinguished themselves In their particu
| lar lines of study, have been secured for thu
| University within the last year, which will Civ,
| the students OF this institution better advan
tages than have ever before been provided fo
| Them. II Is the determination Of the Board o
Regents to place the university in the first raDl
of the educational institutions of the country
| The people of the State demand higi
standard of educational facilities I,
meet the wants of the future, and nothing
| should be left undone that viii help 10 secure
| should be employed but those Of the highes
attachments. Ii will need increased income Il
provide such, but the funds should be furnished
as fast as plans can be matured to properly us,
them. We cannot aflordlto have second-elas
| University
1t Is highly favored community hat secures