The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-01-06

pcnt IN the puDnc nina ana there has
been something done during recent
years looking TO the Improvement of
our public highways. Suitable legis-
latiOn is much desired and | assume
| that you are sufficiently familiar with
the situation to reGui. !, no special COM
ment on the part OF 'he executive. An
increased tax for the road and bridge
fund would undoubtedly accomplish
good results and state aid in township
work Wonld probably stimulate en-
deavor along this line.
IMMIGRATION.
Throughout the northern part of our
commonwealth large tracts of land are
idle and unproGuctive because of the
lack Of people TO till the soil Our
neighbors have been busy in the en-
couragement OF settlers 20 locate with
them and within very few years
thousands OF hcmeseekerS have passed
through our own state to find an abid
ing place in the Uakotas, Montana.
Washington and Canada. Minnesota
offers every advantage TO the settler
and by well directed effort q large PFC
portion OF people seeking new homes
might be induced to locate in our own
state and materially aid in its growth
and development. A state iInInig:a-
ton society has been organized. but,
lacking state assistance, the result of
their labor has naturally been limited
The establishment OF a permanent bU-
reau CT Immigration with sufficient
funds to prosecute the work OF urging
settlers TO locate here would Jesuit in
great good
MANAGEMENT OF STATE lNoTl-
TUTiONS.
The nagcmcnt OF our state inSti-
tutions is properly a matter iof your
earnest consideration. Two policies
have been pursued by our state in the
government of the public institutions
of the state. The present syStai2 OF
government by board of control IS
comparatively new. Many of OR peo-
pie differ III their opinions IS to the
best method OF institutional govern
ment. The board OF CONTROL system
obtains now and must lie given a fair
opportunity to delEonstia ate its value.
Some OF the methods employed by the
board OF control are subject to criti-
ciSm. Contacts are made iii secret
and the business in which the public
has an interest is withheld fiC-a the
public Itself. Whether o: not It is
wise to make al Of the business, the
letting OF contracts and the purchase
of supplies, open to public inspection,
there certainly should be some proyi-
sion made by which all Of the transac-
tons Of the board of control would be
subjected to regular inspection and
investigation by the public examiner
or some other competent authority.
CARE OF INSANE.
The care Of the unfortunate wards
of the state is worthy Of your most
earnest and careful consideration The
state has been very generous i'll the
past and in its provisions for the care
of the insane and the feeble minded
Minnesota ranks favorably with her
sister states. Much progress has been
made along this line OF work during
recent years and it has now become
established that in the care of the in
sane it is the duty OF the state to pro-
vide humane GALE for this class OF our
unfortunate citizens and that it should
also be the duty and the privilege OF
the state to develop the study OF in
sanity as 4 disease and make proper
progress along the lines OF scientific
treatment of the insane with a view
OF the education of the medical profes-
sion in a more thorough knowledge of
insanity. More attention should be
paid to the treatment OF. new cases and
the best of facilities should be pro-
yided with that end in view Our
hospitals for insane should be placed
on the high plane of general hospitals
and they should be relieved so tar as
possible of the incubus of the incura-
BILE inmates who only require personal
care but whose presence means the
crowding out of those who need and
might be benefited by medical treat
ment. | would call your attention to
the ACCESSIBILITY OF providing nurses
homes at the various hospitals. Sep
arate homes would mean economy Of
room in the hospitals themselves and
would be simple act OF judgment TO
the nurses employed. | would also di-
rect your attention to the need of pro-
viding a place at the state prison for
the retention of the criminal insane as
well as the insane criminal. The con-
Wet or criminal insane should not be
allowed to mingle with the non-crimi-
nal insane. Insanity is no more a
crime than tuberculosis The care and
treatment of those who are mentally
deranged or i'll from nervous diseases
should be along the most modern and
scientific lines. Our entire system
should be Ieorganized and based upon
the idea of curing the disease rather
than caring for the being.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
A very important work in the pub
lie service is that done under the SUI
pervision CT the state board of health.
In general, everything relating to the
work of this board has grown enor
mously during the past decade Not
only has the board undertaken work of
a general sanitary nature, but it is do
ing and has done splendid work in the
matter Of infectious and contagious
diseases. 1t has also performed good
service in dealing with infectious dis
eases Of animals. The work should be
facilitated by every possible encour-
agement which can be rendered it by
the legislature.
STATE TRAINING SCHOOL.
A reform is suggested by number
of our philanthropic people looking to-
wards a separation OF the sexes at our
state training school, | heartily en-
dorse the proposition, believing that
the present association is detrimental