Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-01-17

NAHUM ALL Nuluublc oukkCSliOnS " yOut
consideration. 1t is for you to decide the
amount necessary for the support of the
public institutions, always resting assured
there will be no surplus left over, as adj
ditional funds can always be used to fur
Their the ends of their creation. The mum
Der of managers, laborers and attendants
are stated and the salaries paid to each,
and after an intelligent consideration of
the grave responsibilities involved you are
to fix the amounts necessary to carry out
the intent of the people in their creation.
TIE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE
gives the executive the most anxiety, as IL
doubtless will you. The inhuman prac-
tices which are often brought to light in
similar instit utions of other states, cause
grave alarm as to how far they prevail in
our own. The inmate can neither compre.
hend the crime seen nor reveal it ia words
if comprehended. and no credence could
attach to his complaint when made. Con-
slant familiarity bsgets Indifference to
scenes which awaken the casual VISITORS
sympathy, and nothing will avail here but
a conscientious regard for duty on the part
of attendants and managers, and sleepless
vigilance from those having supervision.
The ad administration desires to place this
institution in the first ranks of its kind.
Great improvements have been made and
others are in contemplation by the boards
of managers and investigation
1t Is noted with regret that the number
of patients still inc reases, averaging 2ii
since March s. The faulty construction
of the building and heating apparatus
makes the item of fuel an enormous
charge. The sewerage must be improved
as its condition is q constant menace to
the health and lives of the occupants. The
board earnestly recommends the transpor-
tation of inmates by hospital attendants
as a measure of economy.
Runnra nf evil mt aHoat nv their nm
fortunate inmates alw avs hover over these
institutions to some extent and are usually
found to he the fancies of disordered
minds. Specific charges were preferred
during the month of May against ths SUI
perintendent, DIR. Livingston, and Mt once
the executive ordered a most searching in
vestigation by the board of charity and
corrections and invited the woman's in
vestigating mmit to attend and par
ticipatc. 1t is gratifying to state that
after a full hearing and searching investi-
cation the charges were found to be abso-
lutely without any foundation in fact an |
both boards unanimously reported, COM
pletely generating the superintendent
from any suspicion Of wrony doing.
THE P~ENIrENTARY AT sIo-X FALLS.
This Is believed by the executive to be a
model insti ution for the age, both in fnan-
ciai management and in carrying out is
general purpose. The discipline is rigid
and effective, but kindness aud ~intelli-
gent christian management and the peni-
Tertiary and reformatory object prevail
throughout.
The number of prisoners December l.,
was SO, of whom % were men.
During the year three convicts we're
transported for treatment to the insane
hospital by order Of the executive under
section 172l, of the Territorial Compiled
laws. The parole of prisons as provided
by the last legislature has reduced the
number of inmates AMI is believed to be n
wise provision and is thus commended by
the board
"Our experience with the parole law,
thus far, teaches us that rightly admins
tered. its benefits are Invaluable. Con-
structively the paroled man is yet in
prison.: as a matter of fact, he goes out 10
a character. He knows he has
our kindest regards and sympa.
thies. He kn WIS we will protect him in
his rights. He knows that the practical
workings of he parole law in reference to
other prisoners is largely in his hands.
The prisoners of the penitentiary are en-
couraged to make real men of themselves
and to rise above the criminal condition. =
" y " = The consequent xpense OF the
penitentiary to the people of South Da-
kota, though of minor consideration com.
pared to personal and family disgrace,
must not lie hidden from public view
1t is greatly to be desired that labor be
p rovided for the prisoners both AS a re
Enumeration for the state and for the ben
eft of the prisoners. The warden and
boards of management and visitation re
commend that "a knitting plant be placed
in the buildings which are ample for such
purpose. Suffice mt machines can be put
in operation to EN- ploy the whole force at
a cost of s., 90 and you are recommended
to thoroughly investigate and pass upon
the enterprise. The report shows the pru
dent expenditure of the appropriation TO
ward fitting up the grounds and recon-
mends a further appropriation for ths
plant can lie utilized as a source of run
ming it is highly preferable.
THE BLIND.
The blind children of the state are be
ing supported in the Iowa State School foi
the Blind, at q cost of about $500 per year
including tuition, clothing and supplies
under provision of section 212 of compiled
laws. The total cost of this maintenance
of the blind for the past year was ,t5l.O3.
T Il PUBLIC HOo
Every citizen, every friend of education
every parent who has chile ren, certainly
feels the need of standing true and stead
fast for all that can be lone TO build uI
the school system and the educational in
stitutions of South Dakota. At least
eighty per cent. of all the child of this
commonwealth must be educated in the
common schools or In such schools as are
closely allied to them. Therefore, no pains
should be spared to make the common
school system the very best. In order &c
maintain the common school system we re
alize that it is necessary to maintain the
high school, the academy and the colleges
No one will question but that a system
like this should be based on broad and lib
eral grounds in the development of a new
and growing state. Our plans should be
laid carefully, systematically and with q
view to permanency. We are now pre-
pairing plans for the future that cannot be
easily undone
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS.
The bonded ind btedness of the state Is
Sl16, $40 at d per cent, Sl24, 900 at D pei
cent, S3l1, 100 at AZ per cent. and 1902, 30,
at 4 per cent. besides the issue which Il
reported to have been sold on the LIST in
slant, $780, COZ at 315 per cent, making q
total of $l,02l,20c, with an annual interes,
and sinking fund charge of about So, 600
which with the additional amount neces
sary to redeem outstanding settlement
warrants, So 100, will make the total in
debteiness of about 81, $50, 200, and this
amount should not he increased except fol
extraordinary expenses or public defense.
Hoo PUBLIC LANDS.
The report OF tHe honorable commits
sioner of school and public lands is pre-
sented for your information and contains
"a concise statement of the conduct of this
department. for the past year, and many
valuable ugg tions. The question in
volved in the appeal to the honorable sec
rotary of the interior as to whether the
state shall be confiped to the land district
in which the lands lost through PRIOR set
Element or other cause were situa cd IN
the selection of indemnity lands is an i'm
p~ortant one, and has been stated with
care and ability, and will dou result
in favor of thu
COMMISSIONER or IRRIGATION.
The report of this officer is presented
for your consideration and so fully dis
Gus ses tho interests involved that the exc
cutive feels relieved from the duty. Your
selves and your constituents have giver
much attention to this subject during the
past year and this legislature will fail In
its duty if il does not enact a law to foster
and encourage and make possible irriga
ton in districts where il is needed: The
past year has demonstrated by many prac
teal experiments, the availability of the
artaai.u baain updarlyipo ona-fhird of ths