The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-01-05

financially. Morally, 1t would be beneficial In
every way, and TO none more so than the indi-
vldualS Tor whom the segregation Is. designed.
would recommend that you investigate this
subject In oil its details as thoroughly as pos
slDle, to the end tEat such addition to the
states charitable purposes may be made.
Recently the success OF the education Of
children who are both deaf and blind has again
been demonstrated. There are several OF such
grievously afflicted ones In Ohio and humanity
would dictate that we should give to them the
care and education now offered the more for
tunRte children who are only deaf or only
blind BY small annual appropriation for the
work this new branch OF benevolent education
could be established. commend this subject
for the kindest consideration, and believe 1t
Will appeal to the charitable instincts OF all.
The Institution for the education OF the deaf
and dumb has had an unprecedented increase
In the number OF pupils, and 1t Is now appar-
ent that the facilities for lodging them and for
proper, school rooms are -inRdeQuate.e The
building as 1t now stands was intended to &C.
commodate $50 children. On November Is,
1897, there were 4t2 pupils and many applicants
for admission who could not be received. The
old school building, which was erected in 1857,
has never been suitable for its purpose, as the
rooms are small poorly lighted and poorly
ventilated There are now six more schools
than can be accommodated, and the officers
have been compelled TO adopt the half day sys-
tenn with some OF the classes, even after using
the reading rooms for school halls. The num-
Der OF deaf Is increasing In proportion to the
population, and has almost doubled in the last
80 years There Is great demand for the edu-
cation OF this class OF children, and there is
reason TO believe 1t will continue to grow, as
the opportunity offered by the state Is more
| fully appreciated. The management OF the in
stitution have asked for appropriations to
erect two new buildings and inaugurate de-
slrable improvements. Under all the circum-
| stances think the general assembly should do
the best possible In RECOGNITION Of the request.
| have to report that pursuant to the act OF
| April "a, 1895, the property and effects of the
Ohio working home for the LIND. near Iberia
Morrow county, were sold In accordance with
the terms OF the law, and the money appr0-
| priated for the institution was devoted to the
care and maintenance OF the inmates until they
had been returned TO their homes or the coun-
ties from which they came. balance OF S253 81
accruing from the sale Of effects together with
SJb3 ~. representing unexpended portion Of the
appropriation, was covered into the state
| treasury The state has now no existing obli-
| CATION on account OF the institution.
The grand institutions-the Soldiers and
| Sailors home. near Sandusky, and the Soldiers
and Sailors Orphans home, near Xenia-have
| had prosperous years. Every feature OF these
| institutions is to be commended and under the
| close attention and untiring zeal of their boards
| OF trustees and officers, the work accomplished
for the benefit OF those who are so clearly en-
titled to the states utmost kindness has been
| most gratifying. There are some improve
ments at the Soldiers and Sailors home that
are much needed One thing is landscape gar
dening, which will make the grounds more
comfortable for the old soldiers An appropri-
| alton to cover the cost OF planting shade trees
| should be made. The buildings are In fine con-
| dition and the institution Is possessed OF the
| best hospital attached to any public establish
ment In Ohio. The home is certainly deserving
| Of your recognition and its wants should be
met. The Orphans home at Xenia is very
well equipped institution, and during the last
| two years there have been some improvements
which would seem to nearly complete the ideal
| state.
The law providing for the construction OF
the new Eastern hospital for the insane at
Massillon, would seem to indicate that the
present board OF trustees, to whom Is delegated
the duty Of supervising construction, should be
superseded by new managing board as soon
as the buildings are ready for occupancy. /
would suggest such an amendment OF the law
as will authorize the continuance OF the present
board until after the institution is opened. II
seems to me that such an action will be In the
line Of good policy and expediency, for the
reason that the present board can carry on the
supervision OF construction and inaugurate the
work OF the hospital better than board en-
tirely new to its plan and scope. 1t will also
hospital districts to provide for the new insti-
| tuition.
One very important consideration which con.
fronts the management Of several OF the insti-
| tutionS is that OF an adequate supply OF good
water. Two-the Dayton State hospital and
the Boys Industrial school near Lancaster are
notably deficient In this respect, 1t is neces.
sary that this defect should be cured as soor
as possible, since 1t has already worked harm
to the inmates. The water supply Of all public
institutions should be the very best obtain.
able. and In abundant quantity, and the money
expended 70 secure such result will be wei
spent
1t is still my deliberate opinion that by thu
creation and operation OF board to purchase
the supplies for the various state institution.
money can be saved and other good ends ac.
compliShed.
The law providing for the inauguration of {
process by which the commodities Of the vari-
Gus institutions can be exchanged has been OBJ.
served as fur as the discussion OF the ways anC
means by committees representing the institu-
tions could bring about the desired result
Owing to some impediments over which tn,
agents designated by the act had no control
there has as yet been no actual operation oi
the plan. However, II Is thought that the
system can be started In the near future.
somewhat similar law is In effect In New York
and the reports made by the prison depart.
ment induce the belief that 1t will eventually
be successful
It will be found that many OF the state,
benevolent and educational institutions hav,
asked for increased appropriations for current
expenses and improvements. While, In ny
opinion, the estimates submitted are in som,
instances excessive yet there is good grount
in excellent condition, but the prospect TO
higher prices the increasing demands for ex
tension Of facilities and other proper objects
naturally operate In the way of asking NOR
liberal appropriations at time when the stat
is In the enjoyment Of sufficient revenue
would advise such careful adjudication as will
provide for appropriations to cover expense
and necessary improvements leaving thos'
not absolutely necessary until q still more au
spicious period. There should be no defici
even II improvements are desirable.
THE PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The showing now made by the Ohio penal In
stitutions is very satisfactory. In the Obi
penitentiary the conditions have been steadil
improving, until at the present time there is
promise OF successful outcome in all ways
The increase in earnings Of the institution 10
the fiscal year 1895, as compared with the pre-
} vious year, was t22ll.08, and the increase II
earniI g. for the fiscal year 1897 over 1896, wa
AL, ,l2lUJ In 1895 the per capita earnings wer
$106 %, ard the per capita expense sl3284 Il
1897 the per capita earnings were S1l9.64. AM
the per capita expense slSi So This good re
: suit has been obtained despite the fact that Il
! 1896 the average population was AHA and Il
1897, 2,y74, thus requiring that 100 more prison
ers should be put 10 some employment whicl
5 would provide, in measure, for the expens
OF their keeping In this connection II may b.
3 interesting TO state that in 1870 there was al
average OF 4S9 prisoners; in 1859 the averay
had grown 10 8j3, and In 1880 to 1, 49, The pres
ent population shows what great burden tn
r state has in the convict class The total earn,
i ings for 1895 were s2sS, ,1S61S in 1896 they wer
increased toS 80 2l and In 1897 to S2 00s "a
! The necessary expenses for the support Of tn
) prison population during 1895 were 1854 lg7 IS
/ in 1895, S2SS 80, and in 1877 these expenses
/ which include the salaries OF managers ofti
GERS and guards, were S3O6 $50 % This increas
4 Of expenses is to be accounted for by the larR
number OF prisoners and by the necessit
/ for more guards, the largo majority OF the mel
Y at present being employed. In 1895 the extra
) ordinary expenses, including the cost OF tn
} manufacture Of gas, rewards to discharge,
} convicts, repairs improvements to lights
b moral and religious instruction, and cost OF tn
new hospital, were S66, ,O483l in 1896 when an
: proprlatlons were added for improved fire pro
' lection and for improvement OF sewers an
i water works, these expenses increased to So2,
) b938h This difference Is fully covered by thl
) increased value OF state property resultin
, from the many needed improvements that hay
+ been made. During the fiscal year just passe,
! the extraordinary expenses were sos, ,10S. le