The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-01-20


for the ensuing two years is Sl40, 600.
The board recommends the esta b.
lishment of an institution for the
care and training of feeble-minded
children.
PENITENTIARIEs.
In that part of the report referring
to the benitentiary, the board gives
very full Endorsement to the system
of paroling prisoners. During the
period covered by the report thirty
prisoners have been parolled, three
of whom have been returned to
prison.
Convict labor is now employed
entirely in the quarrying of stone,
but the product of the work is not
thrown upon the market to compete
with honest workingmen. 1t will be
used in the construction of such
buildings as the state may decide to
erect.
December l, 1890 there were 96
convicts in prison, and during the
subsequent nineteen months, SO were
admitted and 1O2 released, leaving 81
prisoners on June 80, 1892. The
expense per day per prisoner has
been little over 81, which the board
thinks may be cut down to 935 cents,
making the appropriation recon-
mended for the ensuing two years
s6S,l5 Of all the state prisoners
incarcerated during the nineteen
months, exactly one-half came from
the Black Hills.
REFORM SCHOOL.
With reference to the reform
school the board shows that the cost
of maintaining it during the fiscal
period was $2l ,224, and that the cost
per day per pupil was nearly 81 cents.
The number of children in the insti-
tuition June 80, 1892, was 68, of which
80 were boys and Is were girls. Cod
ington county contributed nearly one
fifth of the total number of inmates.
The board asks an appropriation of
S3l 900 for the ensuing two years.
SCHOOL FOR DEAF MuTEs.
The board pays very cordial tribute
to Prof. Simpson, superintendent of
the school for deaf mutes. His
report shows that the school had on
it's rolls during the last term Al
pupils, of whom % were males and Is
females. According to the last cen
sus there were 120 deaf persons in
South Dakota, between the ages of 6
and q, but only 56 of these, or less
than One-half have availed them
selves of the benefit of the school.
Prof. Simpson thinks this is an out
rage on civilization. He urger that
law be enacted compelling parents or
guardians of deaf-mute children to
send them to the school. Especial
attention is paid at the school to tho
industrial development of the pupils.
During the fiscal period the total
expenses of the school were S2l, ,4O8,
making the cost per day per pupil
nearly $1.25. For the ensuing two
years an appropriation of s27 800 is
asked for the school.
SOLDIERS HOME.
The board of commissioners Of the
soldiers home at Hot Springs reports
that from the time the home was
opened for the reception of members,
November 25, 1890, up to June 30,
1892, there was l55 persons admitted
to membership, of whom eighty were
still in the institution at the latter
date. The reason for the wide differ
ence between the number admitted
and the number now present is that
the healing waters supplied by the
Hot Springs restores many men to
comparatively good health, and they
ask for discharge that they may go
out and support themselves.
The home became auxiliary to the
great system of soldiers homes of the
nation in February, 1891, since whi ch
time it received from the general
government 800 for keeping each
member. The institution has
received warm commendation from
the government inspector. The
annual cost for each member of the
home is about $40 month.
During the nineteen months COW
cred by the report there were six
deaths among the membership, but
Notwithstanding the facts that the
inmates are necessarily past middle
life and enfeebled and worn out. still
the death rate is less than 24 per cent
per annum. A hospital has been
provided by contributions from
Grand Army posts, Women's Relief
corps, Sons of Veterans, and the pat
riOtic citizens of the state. 1t has
cost $3,l20, and has been named
Craven's Hospital, in honor of DR..
Craven of Yankton, who gave the
home $500.
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