REPORT OF THE STATE VISITING AGENT.

The want here noticed, in cases of girls may be met in part by permitting admission to the Industrial School at Lancaster of those under seventeen years of age, instead of limiting to sixteen as now.

Section 6 of the Visiting Agency Act should be repealed, in order that all visitors may hold the same relation to this Agency. The section makes an exception in favor of the State Industrial School, and practically limits visitation by women to girls placed out therefrom. They are only onefourth of the number of girls subject to visitation. The remaining three-fourths, as the law now is, must, as a matter of necessity and economy, be visited by the men visitors, although there are many cases arising among the girls placed out from the Primary School, and by the Board of State Charities, that could advantageously receive the attention of a female visitor. All girls should be visited by a lady; and all could be in the absence of that section.

I desire to express my thanks to the members of the Board of State Charities and to the superintendents and officers of the several State institutions, for their courtesy and consideration in all ways of official and personal intercourse; also to the officers of the Temporary Home, Chardon Street, Boston, for many and valuable favors received from them.

Thanks are due to the officers of the Eastern; Boston and Maine; Fitchburg; Boston and Albany; Old Colony; Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg; Cape Cod; Taunton Branch; Vermont and Massachusetts; Worcester and Nashua; Connecticut River; Providence and Worcester; New Bedford and Taunton; Boston, Hartford and Erie; Cheshire and Ashuelot; Boston, Barre and Gardner; Framingham and Lowell, and the New London Northern Railroads, for favors received.

Very respectfully,

GARDINER TUFTS,
Visiting Agent.

APPENDIX TO SECRETARY'S REPORT.