Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-17
CHARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

The following interesting aud important facts
are submitted relative to the management of the
state institutions by the State Board of Super
vision:
During the biennial term ending September 30,
1888, SS5, ~ 81 was expended for the maintenance
of the seven institutions. OF this amount S523,-
8 Is was the regular legisla i've approprit III N
of 1887 The balance was received from counties
Cor the support of insane and inmates of the In
duStriH School for Boys
The total cost foi the support of the State Hos
pita for the Ins me for 1887 was S95, 2l3 49, and
for 1888 500 I'D SO, being weekly per capita cost
of 50 55 for former year and So "a for the lat
ter The average number of patients IN the hos
pItal for 1887 was sic, and for 1888, 479.
notwithstanding the extra cost of several i'm
remain surplus of $4,000 from the appropria.
ton of two years ago.
The average numorr of insane maintainedf at
the Northern Hospital during 1887 was ESQ and
for 1888. 634 The total cost of the maintenance
of the hospital during 1887 was sl12 076 o. and in
1883, $l25, 219 90. The weekly per capita cost in
1887 was 1892, and in 1888, So So The increase of
cost in 1888 of Si3 f43 20 that of the previous
year was made necessary by repairs AMI renew
ais in hospital buildings There is yet an unex-
pended balance of $4,000 remaining from the ap-
preparation of two years ago.
am gratifed to be able to state that the num-
Der of inmates in the State prison is not increas
ing Tie average number confined in 1887 was
AS; in 1888, AL. The total expense for the sup
y TT of the prison for the past two years was
$50, 1858 for 1887. and S51,073S7 for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1893. T tai for two
years, 5 20, 399 49, OF this amount. 500 1877 SO
received from the prison labor contr &c or. This
leaves the net cost IF the prison to the State for
two years, S91,211.44.
The Industrial School for Bows cost the State
for 1887, 50, 5S3 L. and for 1888 $40 l04 p. The
average population of the school i'll 1887 was 3}4,
and in 1888 359. The weekly per capita cost for
maintenance in the form year was S!62: in the
latter year. S163. None of the State Institutions
can have more direct airing on the future
preservation of individual Oh tracter and obedi
ence to the laws thin this school 1t is essen
a school hp "A Df from
of vagrancy and crime, an such should APP
peal forcibiy to wise liberality on the part of
the Legislature.
The School for the Deaf cost the State S35 Sis 80
for 1887, and S37, 600 % for 1888. There is lift
S6,S154l from the appropriation of $4,000 bF the
last Legislature. The number of sch1l lrs in
attendance in 1887 was 1873; in 1888, 20j. The per
capita cost was S3.4i and s. 81 per week for the
two years respectively.
The School for the Blind maintained 73
scholars in 1887 at cost Of $40 10 81, and "a
scholars in 1888 at a cost # $50, 565. Al. or at
weekly per capita cost of s. IA for the first year,
and S4.66 for the second year.
With commendatory wisdom the last two
legislatures made provision for the establishment t
and maintenance of the Stale Pub ic school at
Sparta. There has been expended for that
institution $4,000 for lands and buildings
$50 eO0 in 1885 and S65 900 in 1887. Five substan-
tial cottages and one large main building have
been erected. and surrounding these is a farm OF
165 acres, nearly ali under cult. walton. The cost
for current expenses in 1887 was SlI.2fS 49, and
Tor 1SoS, with large Increase of enid en-,
1886, and from that time to Sept. 80, 1888, 30l
chldrt n were received. Eighty .thr e have b, Ell
indentured, all being placed in excellent homes
10 are out on trial At the close of the present
year there were 1S4 remaining ia the school
When it is considered that these chi .dren have
been taken from degrading, and in many instances
depraved, surroundings, in certain cases found on
the streets abandoned by worthless parents, and
are now placed in an Institution where they are
surrounded with kindly and Christian influences.
and assisted in the hopeful work of making good
men and women of themselves, full justification
will be found for all that has been and may be
expended in so good a cause.
The folio wing appropriations are recommended
by the state board of supe vision for The main
tenance of the respective institutions named, for
the next two years: