had plans for the improvement of the grounds prepared by competent landscape architects, and are carrying them out with the aid of the labor of the inmates, without very much expense to the state. If the cost of this work is not provided for in the ordinary expense funds, it is certainly good policy to grant special funds for this purpose. A third class of requests are those for the maintenance and increase of the libraries connected with the insane hospitals and the educational institutions. These also seem to us very reasonable and right. There is another class of requests not so easy to deal with, those for additional safeguards against fire. The 27th general assembly adopted a joint resolution in the following words: Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That all boards of trustees of charitable institutions of this state, and all other persons having custody of buildings or personal property belonging to the state, be and they are hereby instructed not to insure the property of the state against loss by fire. Since insurance is only a mode of distributing losses by dividing the loss among a number of persons, and this is more effectually done by the mere fact of state ownership than can be done by insuring in any corporation whatever, the resolution appears to be founded in solid reason. The state is richer than any insurance company; it can therefore well afford to take its own risks and save the annual premiums. The only argument against the position here taken is, that in case of fire the institution is in better shape to repair the damage done at once, if it is insured, than if it has to wait for legislation. But this is a benefit rather to the institution than to the state, and may even prove a detriment to the state, if it should be for any reason desirable to remove an institution from one locality to another. If, then, the state assumes its own risk of fire, it is wise to take all reasonable precautions against the occurrence of a conflagration. It is important to have an abundant supply of water, always and instantly available in case of need; inside and outside fire-lines, with all necessary plugs, hose and couplings; stationary or portable steam fire-engines; fire-extinguishers; fire-escapes; stand-pipes running through and above the roofs; vents for steam in all attics and other places not easily reached; fire-proof stairways, and whatever other apparatus is of known use in extinguishing fire or preventing loss of life should a fire occur. But experience has shown that in spite of the greatest precautions of this sort, buildings burn to the ground; that apparatus is useless unless instantly and effectively applied; that much money has been wasted in its purchase; and that it is easier to prevent the outbreak of fire by constant vigilance, than it is to put it out when started. How far it is wise to go in this direction the legislature must itself judge, and we trust that the committees who visit the institutions this winter will take especial pains to inform themselves as to the safeguards already provided and the degree of importance to be attached in each instance to requests for more. We now take up the requests of the institutions in order. Northern Insane Hospital. The northern hospital for the insane, at Elgin, asks for special appropriations to the amount of $30,629 06, as follows: New washing machine $425, and steam mangle $450. 875 00 Fire buckets and rubber hose.... 691 00 One dozen Babcock's fire extinguishers. 420 00 Gallery in amusement hall.... 796 00 Sixty-four pairs blinds for cottages, with locks. 480 00 4,000 00 Scientific apparatus for pathological research.. 1,000 00 1,000 00 .$30,629 06 "Total.... A long list of items-and the majority of them less than one thousand dollars in amount. The most important of them, after the first two, which we cordially endorse, are those for a new engine and machinery for shops. We are satisfied that the present engine is of insufficient capacity to do properly the work now required of it; and that if an appropriation is made for machinery, a new and more powerful engine is a necessity. As to the need for machinery to do wood and iron work, in so large an establishment, where the amount of repairs is so great, there is no question. The machinery which it is proposed to place in position embraces one number two mortiser, one two-foot scroll saw, one universal saw table, one small wood lathe, one foot power jig saw, one furniture planer, one drill with compound table, one large size hand forge, one lathe with eight-foot bed, one band saw, one portable corn and feed mill with two-foot stone, and one corn sheller with hopper on top; also lathe, drill, vise and small tools for doing plumbing work, gas-fitting and steam-fitting. The sum requested to provide such an outfit is not extravagant, and we recommend an appropriation of four thousand dollars with which to do the whole work. We suggest, however, the propriety of purchasing an engine with automatic instead of variable cut-off, as we believe it would prove more economical and efficient; and we take this occasion to say that we doubt the wisdom of the action taken by the trustees in placing the shops over the coal house, as has been done, for the reason that the coal dust will rise, especially in summer, and injure the machinery as well as the work. A matter of equal or greater importance is the water supply, concerning which we have great anxiety. The hospital is indeed on the bank of the river; but the pipe through which water is furnished to the institution is a two inch gas pipe, which has now been seven years in the ground. The life of gas pipe in the ground is from seven to ten years, and it may be anticipated that before the first of July, 1881, it will be so decayed as to be of little or no value. A two inch pipe is much too small, on account of the immense friction to be overcome in lifting the water from the level of the river to that of the hospital tanks; it should be at least six inches in diameter, and of cast iron. If it is to be relaid, we unhesitatingly recommend the substitution of water pipe of sufficient size. The trustees ask for four thousand dollars with which to sink an artesian well, the cost of which will be, for the first four hundred feet, eleven hundred dollars ; or for one thousand feet, twenty-five hundred dollars; and will increase fifty cents per foot for each two hundred feet below one thousand feet. The cost of boring sixteen hundred feet would therefore be thirty-six hundred dollars. We are of the opinion that if artesian water of suitable quality can be found and will flow out above the surface, without pumping, such a well would furnish better water than that in the river, without the cost of pumping. Their hope of finding such water is based on the experience of sundry persons in the vicinity, particularly of the owners of the factory for condensed milk, in Elgin. Before we can recommend the expenditure of money in the experiment, we must be satisfied first that the water likely to be found is soft and palatable, and second that it will rise to the surface. As we understand, the wells around Elgin are near the river and not on high ground, like that on which the hospital stands. It is therefore uncertain whether the difference in elevation will not make a difference in the practical result, and the hospital be compelled to fall back upon the supply in the river, at last. In case a grant for an artesian well is not made, it will be necessary to make an appropriation of one thousand dollars for relaying the pipe from the river. If there were a certainty of success with the artesian well, or if the experiment should be tried and prove successful, it would of course be a wise and economical thing to do. P These items-repairs, improvement of grounds, machinery and water supply, if allowed, will cost seventeen thousand dollars. They are all that we consider it absolutely necessary or very important to provide for by specific appropriations. Of the rest, some are unnecessary; others are desirable, but can be postponed until another year; others of more pressing necessity can be attended to from the fund for repairs, or for ordinary expenses; and some can be furnished from the interest on the Burr bequest. Among the unnecessary appropriations, we include that of five hundred dollars for a steam elevator in the laundry, to hoist wet clothes to the drying room above. At Jacksonville, a hand hoist, which cost perhaps fifty dollars, has done this very work for seven years past in a perfectly satisfactory manner, and is to-day as good as new. We do not think that the extension of the piggery is a necessity; if the hospital has more hogs than it needs, let it sell the surplus instead of building additional pens. A new washing machine is not an immediate necessity, and if it were, the amount asked is too much. The twenty-ninth general assembly appropriated three hundred and sixty dollars for a new washing machine; the act was approved April 10, 1875; the machine was not purchased until June, 1877, after the adjournment of the last general assembly, and then it was, we believe, kept some time before it was set up. There is no very pressing need for sheds between the barns. Neither do we regard it as very important to furnish lightning rods for the new buildings. Of the minor requests we are most inclined to recommend those for a gallery in the amusement hall, and for blinds for the cottages. The amusement hall is very much overcrowded and a gallery in the rear would be a relief. Blinds at the cottages would be a great improvement, even though not used as means of restraint. We are not sure that any metallic blinds are necessary but they do not cost a great deal; and as the superintendent desires them, we think it wise to furnish them. The change in the public highway we regard as desirable in itself, but an expense which can be postponed for two years longer, without serious detriment to the institution. The apparatus for a pathological laboratory would be useless without a pathologist. The trustees of the southern hospital for the insane forwarded to this board, last May, a copy of resolutions adopted by them, as follows: Resolved, That the interests of the insane in this state would, in our judgment, be promoted by the appointment of a pathologist, whose duty it should be to give his entire time to the scientific study of the diseased conditions attending insanity, in order to preserve in the best form, for the use of the medical profession at large, a record of everything in our state hospitals calculated to throw light upon the nature and causes of diseases of the nervous system. Resolved, That this board is ready to co-operate with the trustees of the other state hospitals to secure such appointment; and that the state commissioners of public charities be and are hereby requested to suggest some feasible method by which a pathologist may be selected, paid, and his duties defined. We never have seen our way quite clear to take action on the foregoing resolutions, and the trustees of the central hospital in their report say that they cannot recommend, at this time, the adoption of a proposition which will add to the burdens of the tax-payer. Indeed the trustees at Elgin say nothing about the appointment of a pathologist. Such an officer, however useful he might be, if properly qualified for his work, ought to give his whole time to it. The appointment of a pathologist for one of the hospitals and not for the rest would seem to create an invidious distinction between them, and a pathologist for the three cannot be appointed without the co-operation of them all. We therefore advise the postponement of the consideration of this subject for the present. The purchase of books for the library, and of musical instruments, pictures, etc., for patients, may be appropriately made from the Burr fund, a full history of which is given in the report of the institution. Mr. Jonathan Burr, a citizen of Chicago, died in 1869 and bequeathed certain real estate in that city to a trustee, to hold, manage and improve the same, and to invest and hold the net annual income "until such time as an insane asylum shall be organized, located and established in the northern part of the state of Illinois, under and by virtue of some state or municipal authority, or some charter which shall give to the institution a character of permanence and stability;" and to convey the premises, with the accumulated income, "to the authority or corporation managing and controlling said asylum, but in trust, however, to hold, manage, improve and invest the same, and the net annual income thereof to use and expend in and towards keeping and maintaiinng such asylum in a condition to relieve those who are so unfortunate as to need its treatment and care." In 1869 and 1870, Cook county erected an insane asylum (in connection with her county almshouse, and upon the same ground), and in June, 1873, commenced suit in the circuit court of Cook county, to obtain possession of this bequest. In May, 1877, Judge Farwell rendered a decree in favor of the county; but in June, 1878, the supreme court of this state reversed the decree, and the property came into possession of the hospital at Elgin. The opinion in the case was rendered by Mr. Justice Sheldon. The estimated value of the property on the twentieth of July, 1878, the date of delivery to the trustees, was thirty-five thousand, nine hundred and ten dollars (or if the valuation of Messrs. Averill & Cole be accepted, it was thirty-one thousand, nine hundred and ten dollars; the latter is the valuation by which the amount charged for rent is fixed under the terms of the lease). The net annual income, which alone is available, is estimated at one thousand, eight hundred and sixty dollars; it would have been one thousand, nine hundred and eighty dollars, had not two water bonds of the city of Chicago, valued at two thousand dollars, been delivered to the attorney in the case in part payment of his services. It is somewhat questionable whether this delivery of a portion of the principal of the bequest was quite in accordance with the terms of the will; and we accordingly suggest that the amount taken from the principal be replaced from the income, before using the income for any other purpose. The accumulated income, July 1, 1879, will be three thousand, six hundred and seventynine dollars (of which seven hundred and twenty dollars will not be payable until the first of August). It will be for the general assembly to make such direction as to the conservation and use of this fund as it may see fit. The form in which the requests for appropriations are preferred by the hospital at Elgin is a subject worthy of a moment's attention. The multiplication of funds is unwise, because it confuses accounts and makes book-keeping more difficult. Each special appropriation necessarily constitutes a separate fund. Beyond and above this, the discussion of such minute details takes up the time of the general assembly in a very unprofitable way. Again, if it should become the practice of the general assembly to grant long lists of petty applications, a door is opened for unlimited expense in a form not calculated to attract attention. Last year this very hospital bought and paid for a fan from the ordinary expense fund; if it could do so once, can it not do so again? It now asks for a special appropriation for a steam mangle; why for a mangle any more than for a Sturtevant blower? and why should an appropriation for a mangle be made to this institu tion and not to every other institution which is destitute of that con |