Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-11
BOARD FOR BLIND
 FINANCES ARE STRONGER
Ninety three Persons Were Regis
 tered With Board During Year.

The board of education for the blind has filed it's report for the year ended September 30, 1916. showing that the activities of the board were greater last year than ever before and also that the finances were on a sounder basis, this being due largely to the legacy of s22. 900 from Mrs. William H. Palmer of Hartford ana also the. win fund. The report is signed by Governor Marcus H.. Holcomb, Chief Justice Samuel O.. Prentice, Emily Wells Foster and Elisha J. Steele, and. Is in part as follows:
 The work of the year shows, it is believed Substantial results in the number of those who have been re- ceivii1g education and training in trades as well as in the number who have come under the direction of the board. Ninety three persons were registered with the board during the time covered by this report, which was sixteen more than in the preced- ing year, ten more than in any pre- vious year, and twenty in excess of the average yearly number since the boards organization.
 The plans of the Connecticut Insti ute for the Blind in seeking in the interests of the adult blind to provide accommodations and facilities for the successful carrying forward of the work being done in their behalf are soon to be at least partly realized, as the construction of the new buildings
  gressed as well as could be expected during the year and in all probability the coming spring will see this branch of the work occupying it's new quar- ters.
 The need of endowment funds for this institution becomes more and more apparent with it's growth and also in view of advanced prices and Is gratifying, therefore, to note in this connection the increase during the year in the funds of this nature made possible by the legacy of $22 ,000 from and also by the establishment of the Mrs. J. J. Goodwin fund of s5,000. With the payment of Mrs. Palmer's legacy, endowment funds held by the institution will show an increase of about $41, 900 over three years ago and will amount to approximately $49, 1000, whereas in 1913 there was but a single fund of this nature, the en- dowment fund of the school amount ing to $7,503.80.
 Nine, six boys and three girls, were assigned to the Perkins institution and Massa chusetts School for the Blind and 84 to the Connecticut Institute for the Blind during the year.
 Of the 25 new charges who came under the direction of the board dur ing the year. 22 were new pupils who were reinstated. Of this number. one was sent to the Perkins Institution and Massa chusetts School for the Blind and 24 to the Connecticut lnSt1- tute for the Blind.
 During the year, S6 cases were in vestigated among which were a num- Der who should avail thenSelTes of the privileges the board has to offer and with whom the board is Keeping in as close touch as possible so that they may come under it's direction at an early date. In a number of in stances visits were made to those who have been esta ablished by the board in business while the careers of those not visited have been followed through information from reliable sources.
 In the three departments of the Con- necticut Institute for the Blind dur ing the year just closed there have been 134 blind or partially blind per sons as pupils. teachers, employees and boarders, of whom 106 were in at tendance at the opening of the differ ent departments for the coming years work. Owing to the prevalence of in fantile paralysis the department of trades did not receive its pupils until Oct. ,, 1916, and the school not until Oct II, 1916. which was two and three weeks, respectively, later than usual. The health record of the several de- partments has, on the whole, been
 Practically no changes have been made during the year in the means and methods employed in teaching and while the number and personnel of officers and teachers, with the excep- ton of the employment of a kinder gartner at the school. remains the same as in the preceding year. With the completion and occupation of the new buildings for the department of trades, all three of the departments will be in possession of plants and equipment adapted and suitable for the successful prosecution of the work in the field each is endeavoring to cover, and with adequate endowment funds, to which attention has already been called, the institution should be in position to handle most satisfac toriIy the problems which confront it or which are likely oarise.
 The total number of blind or part ly blind persons registered in the three departments of the institution as pupils, teachers, employees, work men and women and boarders, at the beginning of the year was 107. Dur ing the year 27 were admitted and 26 were discharged. while two died. mak- ing the total number at the close of kI,4