We believe the institution to be well managed, and recommend the following as their most urgent needs: The reformatory was visited by the committee on February 18, 1913, and a general inspection was made of the grounds and buildings. The sanitary conditions are good throughout the institution. The old high board fence surrounding the buildings is inadequate and should be replaced by a suitable stone or concrete wall. The general condition of the buildings is good except for some needed repairs on gutters and conductor pipes, and on some of the buildings on the brick work, which below the cornice has disintegrated from weather conditions and the elements, and also from faulty construction. We advise that more care should be taken in regard to these defects in the future both as to workmanship and as to material, in the construction of all state buildings made of brick. The new central building nearing completion is a fine piece of work and commands especial attention and commendation as it was built almost entirely by inmate labor. The interior concrete stairway made. by the boys is an especially fine piece of architecture. The large dining room and newly equipped kitchen in this building are worthy of notice. The new maple floor in the large assembly room was a partial failure, and much of it must be relaid. The principal industries are farming, brick making, broom making and manufacturing of overalls. The latter is the principal industry at present. The average net earnings in this department is forty-one cents per man per day. We consider that a better disposition of this labor could be made by manufacturing clothing for the inmates of the other various state and county institutions. The brick making department is in need of a new brick machine estimated to cost $3,000. Cement fence posts are also made at a cost of twelve cents each. The total income from the farm for 1912 was $12,487.35. One hundred and fifteen acres of the farm land are tillable, but in certain portions of this land tiling should be done. More land should be purchased and could be made a profitable investment. The total number of cows kept is fifty, of which they are milking thirty-five. In 1912, 227,320 pounds of milk were produced. The engine and boiler houses, also machine shops, are in good condition. The coal used here is furnished at a cost of $2.55 per ton. The discipline is excellent. The officers are well drilled and attentive to their duties. The superintendent seems well versed in all the details of the institution and enthusiastic in his work. There are today 249 inmates, and the average term served in the institution is one year and seven months. Many paroles are granted for good behavior. We would recommend a law forbidding the sale of liquor to paroled men. Nearly all cases of recommitment are attributed to use of alcoholic drinks. The food furnished appears to be very good in variety and quality and quite sufficient in quantity. Inmates are given about twohours school instruction each day, which is one of the best features here, as the great majority of the young men are too ignorant to hold jobs, and this, with liquor, makes it easy to drift. into crime. NORTHERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE-OSHKOSH. The hospital was visited February 19, 1913, by the committee. The management of this institution in all respects made a favorable impression. All buildings are well kept and in good sanitary condition. The farm is an important feature. It appears to be exceptionally well managed, but as some of the land is low, a small but needed expenditure for tile drainage would be a great benefit and would increase the production to a large de gree. It was suggested that more young work horses should be obtained for the coming work this spring. Special care is exercised in selecting and testing seed corn and other grains, and enough is saved so that much of it is sold to outside parties at a good price. There are eighty-seven head of cattle all told, forty-eight milch cows and two bulls, and of this number twenty-nine are registered Holsteins. Enough milk is produced for home consumption, but butter is purchased. The old silo is practically worn out and two new silos are asked for and recommended. Ducks, geese, turkeys and chickens are raised in large numbers; there are eighteen hundred chickens now on hand. The swine at the present time number one hundred and twenty-five, mostly all Poland China and Duroc breed, and all in good condition. The barns are somewhat scattered and the work would be much easier and more convenient if the outbuildings were properly grouped together. In the kitchen some new equipment is advised, especially a modern bread mixer, for they now use an old concrete mixer for that purpose. The laundry was found to be well managed, but new mangle and new body ironer are considered necessary. The inmates are well cared for and well treated and managed. They are placed in departments according to mental and physical condition and advanced to other departments as their condition improves. Lastly the ward is reached from which they are discharged as cured. A psychopathic hospital for the treatment of acute and more easily curable cases is needed, as are also contagious wards in time of emergency. The continuous bath treatment is used here for disturbed cases with marked success, as it is also used at Mendota. There are five hundred and ninety-three inmates at the present time, of which three hundred and eighty-three are male and two hundred and ten female. We especially commend the superintendent and assistants for efficiency, and also the steward, who is especially well posted in every department. The bill of fare of the inmates is good and fully up to the average of other similar state institutions visited. In looking over the appropriation made for the women's dormitory for nurses at this institution the committee wishes to state that this is the best built building that we have found on our inspection tour, being strictly first-class in every respect, and a credit to who ever had the building of it in charge. At the request of the State Board of Control your committee on March 7, 1913, visited the Industrial School for Girls at Milwaukee. We were received by the matron and several members of the board of trustees, which is made up of resident ladies of Milwaukee who serve in this capacity without pay. They extended the committee every courtesy in helping us make a thorough inspection of the buildings and grounds. In our judg ment the institution is well managed and efficient discipline is maintained. Different school classes were visited and inspected while at their work, and the students appeared to show efficiency equal to that of students in ordinary schools. In sewing, dressmaking, and domestic science the students made a very creditable showing and appeared much interested in this kind of work. The report of the trustees and superintendent in relation to paroling inmates seems to be a satisfactory one in that homes are carefully selected for them and their future surroundings safeguarded as much as possible. The average attendance in this school is a little less than three years. It is the opinion of the committee that this school which appears to be so well managed, should for the present at least, retain the present system of management by the voluntary board of trustees made up of the fifteen ladies serving without pay rather than the state should take over the institution and place it under the management of the state board of control. Your committee further reports that a good and substantial class of food products is being furnished to the institutions. We believe that several of the institutions could use additional farm land to advantage to the state, and we recommend that some provision be made whereby purchases of land can be made without designating the particular institution, and that a liberal appropriation should be set aside for this purpose. We believe that all future appropriations should be used for the specific purpose for which they are appropriated. To that end we recommend that a contingent fund be created for the use of the Board of Control to take care of emergencies that are always arising in the different institutions. And further to such end that in the event of a surplus left over from any specific appropriation it shall be turned in and made a part of the contingent fund. In this way we feel that all appropriations could be accounted for in a much better way. In the judgment of your committee the purchase of supplies and materials for the state institutions is being done in as efficient and economical a manner as could be expected under the present system. We belive, however, that the purchasing of materials and supplies for the charitable and penal institutions should be centralized in one purchasing department or agent in conjunction with the Board of Control. There is every reason to believe that such a plan through quantity buying and standardization of grades and classes would result in a large financial saving to the state. The question of contract labor in our penal institutions is one that might be deemed a subject for investigation and careful consideration as to the advisability of continuing or of changing the present system. Respectfully submitted, Chairman; G. E. HOYT, S. C. GOFF, Secretary; A. R. POTTS, MARTIN GORECKI, E. J. KNEEN, Legislative Visiting Committee. April 21, 1913. Senator Hoyt dissenting only as to the control of the Industrial School for Girls. |