Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-10

This institution was determined upon.
and the work upon II has thus Far been
carried on, IN response 10 n well settled
conviction that more. and perhaps bet
ter. In the light ~ modern improvements,
accommodation should be provided for
the unfortunate lnsane. .as II was the con-
viction OF former Legislators that already
AZ many insane persons were ggregated
and treated In the insane hospital at
Augusta as II was prudent or desirable
10 have in one place. These unfortunate
people are peculiarly the wards Of the
state Every humane consideration
urges and demands that they should
not only receive the best possible care
nursing and medical treatment. but that
their every surrounding should be made
pleasant and comfortable. They should
not be too closely crowded together.
The number OF patients now in the In
sane hospital at Augusta Is iS3. an In
crease OF some 20 within the last year,
certainly all and perhaps more than can
be suitably and properly cared for. as
this number Is $50 In excess of what the
buildings were intended 10 furnish prop
er accommodations for.
believe that this humanitarian en-
terprise. the building ot a new insane
hospital at Bangor. which shall contain
all the best known modern improve
ments. and sanitary methods, In lts con
struction and equipment, should not be
abandoned or any longer neglected
There were by the last legislature many
thousands OF dollars appropriated. In
somewhat small sums for objects and
purposes, very proper. no doubt. but
not nearly az urgent and deserving az
this one. These expenditures this year
may well be called upon To wait and
permit the money To be- applied to this
philanthroplc work 80 urgently needed
by the state. I desire. Therefore. TO i'm
press upon you the truth that this East-
err Maine insane hospital q. a state
necessity and institutiuu FOR which there
ie n pressing need. and that IL should re-
ceive at your hands such aid ~ yhall ~
II to receive patients at an early day.
Its management could be under the
boarJi uf trustees OF the insane hospital
al Augusta, IL you should deem it best To
place IL there.
SCHOOLS.
The reports OF the superintendent of
public schools viii furnish you with
much valuable Information and suggeS-
tons upon n subject Of vital Importance
TO the welfare of our state. and the per-
petuity OF free republican government
I refer especially To our common schools
They were never in a more prosperous
condition than at The present time, We
are obtaining better results with each
recurring year. and more competent
teachers. Especially Is chis true in the
rural districts. The state. cities and
towns expend very large sums OF money
TO maintain and advance our educational
interests. The object and necessity fully
Justify all the outlay.
The number Of teachers which our
present normal schools can graduate.
even II they all remained in Maine. and
followed the vocation Of teaching. are in
deed very Inadequate TO the demand
Normal schools have ceased 10 be an
experiment In this and other states. They
have becom. recognized and estah-
lIsh.d factor essential 90 promote the
best interests ~ education. especially
TO furnish teachers for onr common
schools Mindful of this fact and also
desiring more fully 10 supply the call
fnr more teachers the last Legislature
authorized the governor To- appoint a
COMMITTEES, of three persons 20 examine
and decide upon the desirabllity or es-
tablishing a normal school. or schools.
I'm the northern and eastern part Of the
state. and also To determine a To the
place or places where these schools
should Ns .,cated. m case they believed
them necessary.
Acting under this authority. appoint
ed committee OF three gentlemen. tn"
Hon. Frederick :. Walls. General John
Harper and Albert r. Hawkes.. persons
OF large business experience, good .udg
ment and sincerely Interested In the
subject OF education. They accepted the
trust. have visited the several localities
have examined Into. and Investigated the
workings and results from normal
schools IN our own and other states, and
also the desirabillty OF establishing
more and their conclusions. embodied
I'm their report and also their recon-
mendations. will be- placed before you
and should receive careful attention.
Tn. University Of Maine. formerly The
Maine St..te College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts. which. In fact. Is Names
chic. school of science and technology
during the past two years has had a
la rCe and constantly Increasing attend
ance and is doing an excellent ard much
needed work The results obtained. !
have no doubt fully compensate for tn"
outlay and expense which the state has
incurred In It's behalf lts faculty and
management II of the best, and Il fur'
nishes an opportunity TO obtain good
practical AMI scientific education al
comparatively low cost.
II has recently established In Bangor,
as one of It's departments. law school.
which. II We may judge fOm H." mum
ber " students who attended IL auspi-
clous beginning. VIII. I'm the near futur".
be decided success.
I, has an endowment from the state
- Tnar
annum. This sum. added 10 the amount
which IL ~ entitled to receive from The
United states government. under the
act ~ congress creating IL. places at It's
disposal. y NJ stake not a lars yearly
sum Of money than any other college at
Institution In our state. and Is potent
factor In enabling Il TO provide so many
educational advantages within the reach
OF students OF limited means.
As n general rule however. ! doub;
the advisability OF making grants OF
money TO continue through "A series or
years Upon careful reflection ] am con-
yinced that IL is safter legislation. and
more in keeping with the spirit. OF our
constitution. To leave to each successiv"
legislature the right and the duty 10
provide for and decide how much the
state will aid or appropriate for any In
stitution. or contribute for any purpose.
and To confine its appropriations strictly
to the two years for which IL has been
chosen. And / would suggest. that In
any grants OF money. which you may
deem IL necessary and proper 10 make
you confne them to that period. unless
there Is some very cogent reason Ior
extending IL a longer time.
When the laws creating the nigh school
tn f.zvl n TOD u a =
very generally supposed and believed
that these schools would take the place
OF. and furnish the means Of. instriIc
tion that had been obtained largely IT.
the several academies and for a time
this superstition appeared To be-. in
great measure. realized. More recently,
however nearly all the academies in our
state have been coming here and OBJ
tanning quite large financial aid. some
times for a series OF years, and in sew
eral cases beyond what. In my judgment.
| the attendance of pupils Will warrant.
| am confident that on careful investi-
gation you will find that there are some
of these academies where further all
can be discontinued without serious det-
rimeut to our educational interests.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND INSTI-
TUTIONS.
The several reports OF the railroad
commissioners, insurance commissioner.
labor commissioned. secretary OF the
state board OF health and Others having
In charge various penal and reformatory
institutions will. think. furnish YOU
all the necessary information as to their
present workings and condition. and
enable you to legislate understanding
| " in reference to their future wants. and
/ shall not further trespass upon your
| time with any extended remarks in ref
| erence TO them.
In building the Washington County
| railroad and in determining and settling
vary MANY controversies growing out