The record-union., 1891-01-11
ADULT BLIND.
How They Are Making Themselves
Useful at the Home.
Cost of Maintaining the institutions
Earnings of the Inmates-The
Revolving Fund-Etc.

Directors of the Industrial Home of Me-
cbanical Trades for the Adult Blind has
been issued. John p. Irish, President of
the board, has these remarks to make
concerning the condition of the institu-
ton and the work that has been done by
the inmates during the past year:
The actual running expenses of the
home for the year We're $50, ,264 g. The
gross earnings of the inmates for the year
were $3.50 % per capita. Their wages per
capita were $50 SO. The net cost per cap
ita, after deducting all credits, was
S266 90.
1T must be remembered, however,
that these averages do not represent the
earnings or the wages Of the active work
ing force eliminates. The more the asy-
lum feature of the homo gains upon it's
industrial feature, the hospital on the
workshop, the greater will be the dis
proportion between the cost of support
per capita and the earnings turned into
the treasury and the wages per capita.
The home has begun to show gain
OF the workshop on The hospital. AT the
time of its establishment the streets were
full of adult blind, sightless for many
years, nearly superannuated, and much
broken physically and mentally through
lack of occupation. Many such We're in
the public almshouses, or divided their
time between seni-beggary and those in
stltutions, all the time a charge upon the
publc.'
THE REVOLVING FUND.
President Irish, referring to the in
crease in this fund, has this TO say:
It was natural that in its beginning the
Home should catch a percentage of this class
Which could do but little service in the work
shop, but raised the general cost of support.
1t Is natural, also, that the foreclosure of time
Will reduce the percentage of this class, which
is wholly or partially non-contributive to the
industrial returns of the institution, and the
percentage OF those qualified for constant
service i'll the workshop will continue its
present increase. If it be possible for every
inmate to become steady contributive
worker, the cost OF support per capita will not
be increased, but the earnings and wages per
capita will gain largely. When everyone docs
work, there will be left between the cost of sup
port and the earnings of the Home only the
impossible margin between the productive
power of blind mechanics and those of full
1aculties This margin viii be narrowed by
skill and by the economy OF superintendency,
but can never be obliterated. Meantime how
ever, the revolving fund, to which the in
mates have this year contributed the large
sum OF S19,4T3 80, viii go on increasing
until it will constitute a permanent endow-
ment approximately equal to the support of
the institution.
SAVINGS OF THE INMATES.
The Directors call the attention of the
State to the remarkable fact that with all
the decrepit and non-working and appren-
tice classes in the Home. it is able. not
withstanding, to pay into the treasury
the sum OF $3.50 % per capita, by reason of
its most economical domestic administra-
ton and its fine commercial management.
This fact derives its chief significance
from the blindness of the efficient Super
intendent, Mr.. Joseph Sanders. The Di-
rectors were able, by securing his Servi-
ceS, to put the Home in line with the
most successful of similar institutions
elsewhere, which have realized their
highest expectations only when their dis
cipline and organization, being for the
blind, were administered by the blind.
The Directors are pleased to note that
many of the inmates, out of their wages,
have not only clothed themselves COM
tortably, but have put by savings bank
deposits, which, by few years accumu-
lation, will lift them above the necessity
of public benevolence. This is the pur-
pose for which the Home was created by
the State, and it is pleasant to know that
while the support of all the inmates,
active and non-active, costs less per capita
than If they were in the almshouse, at the
same time they are being equipped for
self-support and future independence of
public or private charity.
The new dormitory, as will be seen by
the financial report, was built for less
than the amount appropriated for that
purpose. The enlargement of the shop.
storage, dining, and other needed rooms
permitted by the intelligent liberality of
the State, has been effected. By construc-
ton of a cottage for the Superintendent.
the large central building has been de-
voted entirely to administrative purposes
and the separate use of the blind women,
whose industry, appreciation and assist
ance to the institution it is pleasure to
notice and commend.
HOSPITAL NEEDED.
The Directors find an increasing
pressure for admission of blind par
alyticS, epileptics, total cripples, and
others who, in addition to blindness. are
otherwise physically incapable or men
tally imbecile, and require constant at
tention in nursing and medication. OF
course, the reception and maintenance of
such is without the scope of this institu-
ton, and would so overload it as to
obscure and perhaps destroy its valued
and profitable industrial feature. The
pressure mentioned may grow to such
magnitude as to indicate the need of a
separate foundation as public or private
benevolence, in the nature of a hospital.
for those who add to blindness other
physical or mental defects which make it
impossible fol. them to care for themselves
at ALL
The board renews its expression of APP
proval OF the tried and experienced staff
of officers and employees of the Home
who have made its interests theirs, and
y