Thomas County cat., 1891-01-08

has been frugal. efficient and 1udicious
Their condition, both as regards the care OF
the inmates and the financial affairs per-
tanning to their maintenance, is set forth in
the very comprehensive report OF the board
| two years. a careful study OF this report,
| together with such visitations as 1t is your
| duty TO exercise during the session. is abso-
| Iutely essential to an accurate understand
Ing OF the present conditions and future
needs OF these great charities.
| The constitution recognizes the obliga-
lions or society IN requiring the mainte-
| nance of institutions for the care and com.
fort of the defective and dependent classes,
and the people have never complained OF
| the burden imposed. Believing, however,
that charity is not stinted by prudence,
| they demand that these institutions shall be
| economically and carefully administered.
| The reaSonablenesS of this is apparent
| when 1t is remembered that they require for
| their support, even with the most judicious
| management, so large a percent of all the
| money raised by taxation ahd appropriated
| for carrying on the state government.
| 1t is noteworthy and characteristic OF the
wise financial policy OF the board of truS.
| tees, that of the S13l ESQ. IL appropriated
| two years ago for the support OF these
| charities, an unexpended balance OF $780,
| AS. IS has been returned to the state treas
ury. The average number cared for annu-
4 ally in the eight Institutions during the two
years was .959, at a net total cost OF S612,
| 0S5. 81; the per capita cost being $3.50. The
1 average caTeU Our
| ing the preceding two years was sos. at
| at q cost per capita OF Sl9S. As; marked In
| crease in one direction and gratifying de-
crease in the other.
Including officers and employees, there
| are nearly $500 Inhabitants in our eight
eleemosynary institutions. Though each
is under the immediate charge OF
a superintendent selected with spe-
| cial reference TO the duties to be per
formed. the general supervision involves
serious responsibility, requiring much time
1 a lab. 10. % ,rt. -
| trustees.
The Insane Asylum. The order. discipline
and general good condition OF these asy-
lums is reported as excellent. The average
number cared for during the biennial period
| at Topeka was .2S, and al OSawatomie 504-
q total of ,221; somewhat in excess OF the
maximum capacity, stated to be ,2og. Dur
Ing the two years, as stated by Superintend-
ent Eastman, l95 applications for admission
have been either rejected for want OF room,
accepted upon removal of other patients,
or suspended Hundreds of insane are be.
ing kept III the county 1ails and poor houses
for lack OF room in the aSylums. Though
the demands were then urgent, the last
legislature made no provision for addi
tional buildings for the insane. The needs
in this direction have grown with time. and
| there should be no further delay in the dis
| charge OF our manifest DUTY to these unfort-
unate people.
The board recommends additional cot
tages at Osawatomie, and an executive
building at Topeka. The additional cot
tages at OsawatoIuie would give more i'm
mediate relief, at less cost. than the exec
utve building suggested for the officers at
Topeka; but, In any event l heartily in
dorSe the recommendations OF the board
that a third asylum for the insane be pro-
vided for, to be located farther west, where
water, drainage and all the conditions
necessary may be found.
Dear and Dumb Institute.-This school is
prosperous, under tine superintendence OF
Mr.. Walker, whose very interesting report
must be read to properly understand the
important work being done. The average
number of pupils during the two years re-
ported was 2l3, representing seventy coun-
ties OF the state. The central building, for
which the legislature of lsS1 appropriated
s5l 900. has been completed, and 500 appro-
priated by the last legislature has been Ju-
diciously investedin well selected library.
While the school seems to be full. the board
makes no demand for extension of build
ings at present. The management of Pro-
fessor Walker and his subordinates receives,
and evidently merits, the unqualified COM
mendation OF the board.
The Reform SchUol.-ThiS is one of the
most interesting of our benevolent institu.
tions. The average number OF boys present
during the two years was lo9. Under the
efficient direction OF DR.. Buck the school
continues TO thrive and perform the wise
mission for which 1t was created. The ST.
800 appropriated two years ago for Il hos
pital building has been judiciouSly eX-
pended for that purpose. More cottages
are asked for, and shops for the purpose of
inaugurating system of industrial train
ing. This is doubtless desirable, and will
come in time. But we should first take care
of our insane whose claims upon our charity
are stronger than those of the wayward
boys.
Idiotlc and Imbec!le Institution. Two
years ago Dr. G. k.Wiles succeeded III. NJ.
Greene, resigned, as superintendent OF
this institution. The choice seems to
work of caring for these peculiarly
helpless people is being kindly and intel
ligently performed. The asylum is crowded
to Its utmost capacity, there being l03 in
mates, and applications for 63 more on file.
Attention is called to the fact that the insti-
tuition was designed for the care and devel-
Opment, so far as possible, OF juvenile i'm
beetles. The law did not contemplate the
asylum for adult idiots, for apparent reas-
ons. But there are some OF the present in
mates who have been there since the found
alton OF the asylum. and are about reach
ing the age OF majority, with no authority
vested in the board under the law to dis
made a once for disposing OF such cases,
unless it shall be the declared policy of the
state to thus care for ell OF its idiotic and
imbecile people, regardless OF age. In that
avent the room must be considerably eX-
tended.
Industrial School for Girls-The last legis-
lature provided for the organization of an
Industrial shool for girls in need OF cor
rective influences and training, to be To-
Gated at Beloit, and for the erection OF
building on a site to he selected by the
board, of not less than forty acres to be
donated by the city.
The board promptly organized a state
SCnOOl AT WHICH suppldHteu anu
practically absorbed the little school of
that kind that had been maintained there
by the benevolent efforts OF the Woman's
Christian Temperance union. To the un-
selfish work of these women, therefore. is
due. in large measure, the beneficent legis-
lation for the creation OF this institution.
In June, 1883, the board, after careful
consideration selected a site OF eighty
acres, a half mile north of the city, and
having secured title to all but ten acres,
provided for the erection of a building.
The city, unable to perfect the title to ten
OF the eighty acres, has turned into the
state treasury the amount of money II was
to pay therefor. Good faith characterized
the whole transaction, and the sight has
been wisely selected.
\ handsome and commOiiouS building,
costing SIG .9S9 has been completed and is
now occupied by the school. 1t is OF native
stone, sixty by one hundred feet in size,
two stories, with basement, and attic
dormitory, designed to accommodate 100
children. boiler house, steam heating
apparatus and cisterns for present water
supply have been added.
There were, at the date OF the last re-
port, thirty five children In school, and ap-
plications for sixty more on file. The |
school is now in charge of Miss Martha L. |
Spencer. superintendent, lady OF expert |
ence and ability as well as enthusiasm for |
the work. Being in its infancy as an insti- |
tuition, 1t VIII require special attention at |
your hands; and the recommendation OF |
hoped, have prompt and careful considera- |
tion.
school for the Blind-This school, for the |
haa tn oh of