Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-09-13
SOUTH DAKOTKS INSTITUTIONS.
Secretary Ipon Reviews Their and
Favoritsm Have Been Ostracised.

Secretary W. e. Upton Of the state
board Of charities and corrections
mas just completed the biennial re-
port OF the board to the governor
and legislature. Under the head Of
'Nepotism" the report says: For
kindred forms Of favoritism hau,
been abolished by this board. Expe-
rlence has proved the wisdom of this
policy and it will be continued. No
member of the family of the head Of
any institution or relative or mem
Der of the family of any member Of
his board is employed in any ca
oacity at any of the institutions of
The state"
In reference to local influences ove~
Institutions the report says: "Your
BOARD has acted upon the theory that
The penal and charitable institutions
belong to the people of the entir
state, and not to any particular COM
munity where they happen to be To-
Gated, and should be managed ac-
cordingly. No local town or indivi-
lual should have undue influence in
The affairs of any institution, either
in the selection of officers or en-
ployes or in the policies of its man.
agement."
Two large buildings have been COM
pleted and occupied at the hospital
Tor the insane. A new cell hall for
The state penitentiary containing
lightweight new cells has been COM
pleted and occupied, besides fortv-
loot addition to the shop building.
The buildings for the Irvine factory
are well under way.
1t is shown that at some Of the
institutions farming is an important
industry For the year 1905 crops to
the value of $12,599.35 were produced
and used toward the maintenance of
the institutions.
The last legislature at the request
Of the board, reduced tbs amount of
appropriations for several Of the IN.
situations below those of the preced-
Ing period Notwithstanding this re-
duction large sums have accumu-
lated in the period covered by the re-
port beyond what was needed for the
support of the institutions. The re!
port shows that $45,62S was turned
back to the state treasurer, being
surplus funds at the end of the year
closing June 80, 1906. This is bust
ness showing Of which the state
ought to be proud.
Property Worth Over Million.
The report gives a list Of lands,
buildings and other properties which
shows that the state owns property
to the value of s1,12s,00O, divided
among the various institutions as fol-
lows: Reform school, $94,045; school
for the blind, s35,60o; school for
deaf mutes, $63,63s; penitentiary,
s223,756; hospital for insane, $780,
900: northern hospital, $130,964.
| The report calls attention to the
excellent standard of economy and
efficiency which has been reached in
the various institutions without ex-
ception. Never before in their his
tory have as great results been OBJ
tanned with the same cost, Or more
approved business and institutional
methods been brought to bear upon
the solution of the problems involved
in the purposes Of each particular in
| stitution.
The report takes up each institu-
ton, and sets forth in detail matters
relating thereto. Concerning the re-
form school it says: "In some re-
spects this is the most important
penal institution in the state. The
object Of the school is to take the
straint and education set their faces
toward nobler lives. Aside from
teaching them the common branches
of an English education the best
thing after all that can be done for
I them is to thoroughly teach them
the three great lessons of industry,
economy and a wholesome respect
for constituted authority and create
in them a deep purpose and ambi-
| ton to be something and to do some.
| thing"
Shirt Factory Success.
Some important information is Civ.
en- regarding the shirt factory in the
penftentiary, concerning which the
report says: "The plan Of operation
is a simple and safe one. The state
put in the plant at an expense OF
about $1,000. A five-year contract
was made with firm under which
they are to furnish the labor of 100
men, and the firm to take the finished
| product at the factory and pay the
| states so much per dozen for the
goods. The state controls it's own la.
Dor and has no money invested in the
operation of the plant. About 2,30C
shirts are being made every working
4 day. most of which are shipped to
the Pacific coast. Plans have been
made whereby all shirts used in the
/ other institutions of the state will be
manufactured at this plant, which
will mean a saving to the state in
this line"
Continuing, the report says: tits