1863.

No. 8.

No. 8. J.

REPORT of the Committee on the Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind.

The committee on the Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind to whom was referred so much of the Governor's message a relates to that Institution,

Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and agreeable to a concurrent résolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, authorizing the committees of the two Houses, to visit, as a joint committee, the said Institution, having so visited, and examined the same, ask leave to make the following report: That, upon such examination, the committee are entirely satisfied that the Institution is, and has been, well and properly conducted. Your committee are also of the opinion, that in the construction, erection and finishing of the buildings and the appurtenances, so far as the work has progressed, utility, durability and economy have been studiously considered, and most happily combined. The Asylum buildings consist of five principal sections, or compartments, and their connections, viz: The front building, the centre building, and the east, west, and rear wings. Of these, the rear

wing only, is finished inside, the floors of the centre building are laid, and the windows are in. The remaining portions of the buildings stand precisely as the brick-layer left them, and choked up with rubbish of brick and mortar, and broken scaffolding, and therefore, at present, entirely unavailable and useless. The only portion of the buildings in which pupils can be received and accommodated, is the rear wing. The centre building, though very uncomfortable, is now used for kitchens in the basement, for dining-hall on the first floor, and dormitory above. The rear wing, and this cold, unfinished, uncomforta ble centre building, comprise the whole accommodations of the Asylum, and these are now crowded to their utmost capacity, and beyond their capacity. It seems to your committee, and it is their opinion, that to make the course of instruction in this Institution complete, it is indispensably necessary that the pupils should be engaged, a part of their time, in learning some kind of trade, or handicraft.

This is believed to be absolutely necessary, in order to the promotion of health, contentment of mind, cheerfulness, and the development of physical power; and also to fit and prepare them in some degree for future usefulness, and for obtaining à livelihood. This appears to have been one of the benevolent designs for which this Institution was established; but thus far this design has failed of execution. The reason of this failure is simply the want of room. It appears from the reports of the Board of Trustees, that the number of pupils has been steadily increasing since opening the Asylum, at the rate of about ten per cent. annually. This, and perhaps a greater increase is likely, nay, certain to continue, for years to come. The present accommodations are so strait and so limited, that no trades can be taught, the sexes cannot be separated and accommodated in different apartments, as your committee believe they should be, and therefore not only much inconvenience is experienced, but actual mental, moral and physical suffering is occasioned thereby. Your committee fully concur with the Principal of the Asylum, in the opinion by him expressed in his

late report to the Board of Trustees, that "it is poor economy, in a pecuniary point of view, for the State to have expended money in erecting the walls of these buildings, and then let them remain several years without receiving any benefit from them, especially when they are so much needed." Your committee do not deem it necessary to enlarge or expatiate upon the blessings and benefits an institution like this, when properly conducted, an institution which unstops the deaf ears, opens the unseeing eye, and illumines the dark chambers of the benighted mind with the lights of science and religion, thus enabling this truly unfortunate class of our fellow creatures, our children, our brothers, and our sisters, to perceive, to reciprocate, and to enjoy the inestimable blessings and pleasures of social and religious intercourse and communion with their fellow men and with their God. Nothing contributes so much to the solid, true and enduring glory of a State; nothing procures for it so large a measure of fame, as the establishment and generous support of institutions like this; nothing more likely to propitiate and secure the favor and the blessing of Heaven.

Your committee believe that both the Senate and the House fully understand, and duly appreciate, the importance of this subject. The people, too, are fully sensible of the value and usefulness of this Institution, and desire that it shall be promptly sustained and generously supported. In view of the foregoing facts, your committee have come to the unanimous conclusion that it is absolutely and indispensably necessary that another portion of the Asylum buildings should now be completed and finished. The committee are of the opinion that that portion should be the centre building, and the east and west wings, with their connections. According to estimates submitted to your committee by the building commissioner, this work will require an expenditure of $40,000. This sum your committee recommend to be appropriated as follows: $20,000 for the year 1863, and $20,000 for the year 1864, to be incorporated in and raised with

Your committee believe that the above estimate is amply sufficient to defray all the cost of completing the work contemplated in this report; and it is their opinion, that a considerable sum would be saved by authorizing and requiring the work to be let and done on contract. The committee, there fore, recommend that the board of trustees be authorized and required to make specifications of the material to be furnished, and of the labor to be done to complete said center building and wings, and to advertise for sealed proposals to furnish the ma terial, and to do such work according to the said specifications, and to let the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, who shall give sufficient security for the performance of the same. The last Legislature appropriated sixteen thousand dollars to meet the current expenses of the Institution for two years, being eight thousand dollars a year. The board of trustees, in their late report, say "they have found it impossible to bring the expenses within the limits of the appropriation," and they further say, that "the lowest estimate ever made by the commissioner or the board, within the past four years, has been ten thousand dollars a year," and further, that "with the present increased prices, the increased number of pupils and the addition of one more teacher, the Institution cannot be conducted, under its present organization, for a sum less than twelve thousand dol lars a year." Your committee are of the opinion, that the sum of ten thousand dollars per annum is none too large to pay current expenses, perhaps not large enough; they do, however, recommend the appropriation of that sum for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and the like sum of ten thousand dol lars for the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four.

Your committee having now briefly presented some of the reasons for their recommendations, would further say that they are entirely unanimous in the same, ask leave to bring in the bill herewith presented, and to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

D. MONROE, Chairman

[No. 9.]

REPORT of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, on the Reform School.

The committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, on the State Reform School, having been authorized to act as a joint committee, for the purpose of visiting this noble Institution, in order that they might be more fully competent to judge its character, its importance to the general welfare, and its wants, made necessary, in order to carry out the great reformatory work for which it was created by the munificence of our young and prosperous State, and in order more fully to report thereon, would respectfully present for the consideration of their respective branches of the Legislature, the following report:

Your committee have visited the Institution several times during the present session, both on the Sabbath and on week days, and have endeavored to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with its workings in all their details, for a full statement of which your committee would refer to the Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Control, having the supervision of said i Institution, which likewise contains the reports of the several