Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children. The asylum for feeble-minded children asks for the following special appropriations: Enlarging rear building.. Work shop.... $11,650 00 9,275 00 4,525 00 1,200 00 20,000 00 980 00 455 00 1,000 00 2,000 00 .$51,085 00 The argument for these various appropriations is very fully and clearly stated in the report of the institution. We think that some additional accommodation for employes is much to be desired; but eleven thousand, six hundred and fifty dollars is a high price to pay for twelve additional rooms, and therefore the mode suggested for supplying this want does not meet our approval. It can be met more cheaply in some other way. In our opinion, if the basement were finished, a sufficient amount of additional room for all present necessities of the institution would be furnished, without any additional buildings, either for employes' dormitories or for work shops. It appears to us that the basement should be finished first; that it is good practical economy to use space which is already roofed and enclosed, before undertaking to enclose any more. We do not think that the present needs of the asylum demand the finishing even of all the basement; and all that we can recommend for building purposes for the next two years is an appropriation of ten thousand dollars, to be expended in finishing and furnishing so much of the basement as can be done for that amount of money. We do not think it necessary even to put up the soap house suggested in the report. The finishing of the basement will change the system of conveying heated air all over the establishment, and the obnoxious scent can be shut off from the rest of the house. A much more important question is that of the water supply. The present supply is sufficient but unreliable, more on account of the danger of the pump breaking than of the well giving out. The mode of supplementing this supply by connecting cisterns at the institution with the coal shaft close by is perfectly feasible and not expensive. We suggest, however, that if this is done it will be well to obtain a guaranty, forever relinquishing to the state the right to make any change on account of the water furnished by the coal shaft, which now goes entirely to waste. If provision is made for an additional supply of water, it will be well to build the four cisterns asked. The sum asked for an ice house is moderate. The refrigerating house at Elgin cost two thousand, five hundred dollars. A cow stable, though not perhaps indispensable, is desirable, and we recommend that it be built. With respect to the boilers and the repairs necessary, we know no more than is contained in the letter and estimate of Mr. Carlile Mason, printed in the institution report. We believe that Mr. Mason's opinions are worthy of confidence. We therefore suppose it advisable to make this appropriation. We are satisfied from our past experience of his work and counsel, that if the boilers are altered according to his suggestions, the legislature will not hear from them again for many years to come. In view of the fact that this asylum preferred no request for repairs or for improvement of the, grounds, but expected to do all that may be done in this direction from the ordinary expense fund, which we have very materially cut down, we recommend an appropriation of three thousand dollars per annum for repairs and one thousand dollars per annum for the improvement of the grounds. Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The soldiers' orphans' home, at Normal, desires no special appropriation, except for repairs and improvements, one thousand five hundred dollars per annum, which we recommend; also five hundred dollars a year for the pupils' library, which we regard as unnecessary. At the date of the last report, the library contained twelve hundred and fifty-five volumes, with two hundred and fifty dollars of the last appropriation yet to be expended. Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary. The eye and ear infirmary, at Chicago, asks: For repairs and improvements, $1,500 per annum. Total... 3,000 00 4,000 00 $ 7,000 00 These applications we endorse, except that we think a thousand dollars a year enough to appropriate for new furniture. State Reform School. The reform school, at Pontiac, asks for ten thousand, five hundred dollars in special appropriations, as follows: Repairs and improvements, $2,000 per annum. Drainage of farm. Total.... $ 4,000 00 400 00 1,000 00 $ 5,400 00 These requests are modest, and should, in our opinion, be granted without hesitation. The drainage thus far done on the farm belonging to the institution has been a very profitable investment, and the work ought in the interest of the state to be completed. RECAPITULATION. The following statement shows the amount asked by each institution, the amount recommended by this board, and the amount of reduction suggested: EASTERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. We have deferred speaking of the new hospital at Kankakee until now, in order to make of it a subject by itself. In our last report, we said:- The question of complete provision for the care of all the insane of the state must continue to engage the attention of the general assembly and the people of Illinois, for some years to come. With an insane population of over three thousand within our borders, the three existing state hospitals will not accommodate much if any more than onehalf of the insane who require such care. Cook county has an insane hospital of her own, maintained at the expense of the county, in which several hundred can be well cared for, under a proper administration. But it is evident that sooner or later the state will be obliged to make additional provision for hospital treatment at public expense. * We do not know what the present general assembly will be disposed to do in this matter; and we have no positive recommendation to make, other than to advise against the enlargement of any of the present hospitals. We call attention to the inadequacy of the present provision for the insane of this state, and leave the subject to the consideration of that body which is immediately and directly responsible-the general assembly itself.". When these words were written, we hardly anticipated that the last general assembly would be prepared to act upon the question of a new institution. The house of representatives, however, adopted a resolution directing its committee on state charitable institutions, to make inquiry into the need for further hospital accommodation for the insane of this state, and a circular was accordingly prepared and sent to all the county clerks, asking for information as to the number of insane supported at the expense of the several counties, either in almshouses and jails or privately. Replies received from seventy-five clerks (not including Cook county), showed: The committee estimated therefore the entire number of insane, out of Cook county, who were supported at county expense, at eight hundred. Each clerk was also asked whether public sentiment in his county demanded another hospital and would sustain an appropriation for that purpose. To this inquiry, fifty clerks replied, "yes;" ten "no;" and fifteen made no answer. Of the ten who said "no," five represented counties in which there were no insane who were a public charge. It was on this statement, which was reported to the house, that the bill for the establishment of the eastern hospital for the insane was drafted and became a law. Under this act, seven commissioners were appointed to "select a site for the said hospital in that portion of the state east of the third principal meridian and included between paralells of latitude thirtynine and forty-one and one-half." The commissioners were: John H. Addams, of Freeport, Stevenson county; William A. McConnell, of Richmond, McHenry county; John Thomas, of Belleville, St. Clair county; A. P. Bartlett, of Peoria, Peoria county; William M. Garrard, M. D., of Lawrenceville, Lawrence county; Myron C. Dudley, of Naperville, Du Page county, and Joseph Robbins, M. D., of Quincy, Adams county-none of them residents of the territory in which the hospital was required to be located. A very large number of tracts of land were offered for their examination, situated at or near sixteen |