The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-01-06
attendance; at the latter about eighty,
this being the second year Of the nor

attendance; at the latter about eighty.
this being the second year Of the nor
nal school.
Deaf and Dumb school.
III January, 1897, the work upon the
deaf and dumb school building. at
Boulder, had practically ceased, for the
reason that the contractors were unable
to realize upon the warrants issued for
the construction Of the new building.
For some cause or other, after the an
pointment of Mr.. Haire and the Begin
ming of the new administration. the
warrants found a ready market and the
contractors were compelled to push the
building to d completion, which has
been accomplished, and the school at
Boulder has been fully installed in its
new quarters. Under the law, as it
now stands upon the statute books, the
deaf, dumb, blind and feeble-minded
are authorized to enter this institution.
I am constrained to believe that the in.
termingling of the predetermined with
the deaf, dumb and blind of our state
will be a serious %hindrance and draw
back to the institution. Separate and
distinct quarters should be provided for
these unfOrtunates, to be controlled and
managed by the same board and fac
ulty as controls the school for the deaf
and dumb, but the inmates of the two
schools should not be permitted to
comingle or come together, as they are
under the present law.
School of Mines.
The last of our educational. institu-
tions to be completed, though perhaps
not the least, is the school Of mines, at
Butte. For the successful completion
Of this building all credit is due to ex-
Governor Richards. The work upon
this institution had ceased completely,
prior to 1897. but after his retirement
from office, he Immediately went to
work among his fellow citizens at
Butte, and procured subscriptions sufi-
cient to take up all the necessary war;
rants for the completion of that build
ing. The same has been thoroughly
completed and is now ready to receive
its furniture and have the school in
stalled, but, unfortunately, the funds
of the state have not been sufficient to
furnish or equip the building or main
tain the school. 1t is hoped, however,
that this legislature will provide for
the opening Of the school at the Begin
ming Of the next school year in 1899.
By the energetic action of the regis
ter OF the state land office the rentals
and receipts arising from the lease and
sale of lands and timber belonging to
the school of mines grant, a revenue
exceeding 81. 600 annually is assured.
I therefore recommend to your consider
alton that you repeal the law authoriz-
ing the sale of bonds at 6 per cent, and
that you authorize the sale of bonds
bearing 4 per cent interest, and, if
possible under our constitution, you
give to such bonds such a guarantee as
will assure purchasers of the regular
and punctual payment of their interest,
or that you authorize the treasurer OF
the state to invest the permanent school
fund or enough thereof to take up such
bonds. at the rate of 4 per cent per
annum, the school fund receiving the
benefit Of the interest. This [ an sure
you can do without violating any con-
stitutional provision, for the income
and revenue derived from the lands
will unquestionably meet the interest
of the bonds at 4 per cent. I trust this
will receive your immediate and
thorough consideration.
Reform school, Orphans Home and Sol
diers' Home.
Upon an investigation made by a
of the Fifth legislative as
into the conduct and methods
pertaining in the reform school at Miles
City, it was deemed by me necessary to
the proper management and conduct Of
that institution to make a change in
the superintendency, and in doing SO
Hon. B.. G.. White of Fergus county was
selected as director of the school. This
position he has maintained ever since,
and his wife has been the matron Of
the institution. He entered upon the
discharge of his duties under circum-
calculated to dishearten almost
anyone, but by faithful, patient and
energetic work he has succeeded in re-
perfect order, confidence and
discipline in the institution, and at the
same time, with an increased number
of inmates, has reduced the cost of
maintaining the school as compared
with the preceding years. During the
past two years a perfect and complete
sewer system has been installed at this
institution at a cost of something over
81, 900. For this purpose only 50, 500
appropriated by the last legislature.
at the time was known to be in
The imperative necessity Of
a sewer system to prevent SICK
ness was our excuse for exceeding the
appropriation given by the last legisla-
ture, aud I trust that you may see fit
to affirm our action in this respect by
the necessary deficiency appro-
priation. There has also been con-
- L.. ILL., -.rt