TEXAS. BY DR. SAUNDERS.

This is the first time our State has been represented, and I had but little idea of the character of report that would be required; yet I feel that I ought to make some excuse for our State in regard to a remark of the retiring President, last night. He has contrasted Texas with the "bloated bond-holding State of Massachusetts." Our people, at the end of the civil war, were impoverished, and our State treasury empty, entirely, and though we were poor, we owed much. He alluded to our vast extent of territory, that would make from seven to ten States as large as Ohio. There are perhaps nineteen out of every twenty acres in that State which are a burden to the owners. It is uncultivated land, and pays no taxes; consequently, it is unfair to make any contrast between Texas and Massachusetts, or Ohio, in regard to the extent of its territory. In addition to that, we have about 600 miles of frontier to protect from the Indians, on our border; and about one-third of our State taxes have gone to protect our frontiers from the scalping-knife of the savages. Notwithstanding all this, Texas is making some progress in the way of charitable institutions. We have a lunatic asylum with about 275 inmates, and a capacity of 365. We have added some improvements to our institutions. The deaf and dumb asylum has about sixty-five pupils; the blind asylum about eighty-five. All three were improved during the last year, when we added about fifty per cent. to their capacity.

In regard to our criminal institution, the State penitentiary, we have pursued the cheapest system, because we were compelled to do so. Our prison was not large enough to hold the criminals that have been poured into our State since the war. We are building now another penitentiary, and by the first of next January it will be completed, and then the managers mean to confine all the inmates within the walls of the penitentiary, which is in the eastern part of the State, two hundred miles distant from the old one, and it is designed to give employment of some kind to all of the convicts. I am not prepared with statistics in regard to our institutions.

ILLINOIS. BY W. A. GRIMSHAW.

The State Board of Charities of Illinois, has honored your speaker with authority to represent to you the condition of the charitable institutions of Illinois, and to suggest what the views of those charged with the superintendence of the charities of that State are, on the topics presented by this report. The demands upon the treasury of the State, through our public institutions, are increasing, commensurate with the great growth of our population. This leads our Board of Charities closely to scrutinize every outlet or source of expenditure, and we commend to you the studies

embracing a period of five years, of the disbursements for the benevolent institutions of our State, copies of which have been transmitted to your Boards of Charities. It will be seen from them, that notwithstanding the increased numbers of those under charge of our State, in the form of institutions for the Insane and the several single institutions for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, Soldiers' Orphans' Home, Feeble-Minded and Reform School as well as the Eye and Ear Infirmary, the average per capita expense has not increased; and that although the appropriations by the Legislature have been very liberal, yet that by the wise and honest supervision of the local boards of trustees of those institutions, the sums given have been ample, and even in excess of actual needs.

The existence of a central supervisory authority, contrasting the expenditures of the respective institutions, is doubtless beneficial, and the expense of the Board of Charities is more than compensated in the economy and judicious system pursued in the several institutions; the reports from them serving to enlighten and to guide each the other. The institutions enumerated, have, by the liberality of our legislation, been enabled to keep in good repair and to improve in many beneficial respects, as well as to beautify the institutions and grounds, and to provide for the safe keeping and comfort of the inmates.

Since our last report to you, the Central Insane Hospital at Jacksonville, by the erection of a spacious and handsome amusement hall, by other improvements on the premises, and by an engine house, with ample engines and machinery and outbuildings for domestic purposes, has added to the comfort of inmates and of employés. In the treatment of the insane we have formerly reported to the Conference that Illinois has directed the trial of detached buildings or cottages. At Elgin, the Northern Insane Hospital has two such buildings in use, with results, so far, inducing the Board to desire thorough and careful trial of this plan, as possibly conducing to economy and likely to give beneficial results to patients. At Kankakee, the Eastern Insane Hospital occupied its main building in January last; and the outbuildings, or detached wards, four in all, are drawing to completion.

There are incidental expenses necessarily connected with the use of these detached buildings, which will add to the cost of them. Food supplies, and artificial light as well as water must be afforded, it is contended by the trustees, by proper communication with the centre sources or works, in each of the respective departments, used by the main structure, for its supply; and large outlays are necessary therefor. Heat may be furnished in each detached ward from its own means of supply. The problem of economy, in these lesser detached structures, for the homes of patients, is not easily solved, in view of the suggestions just made. If restoration to reason, the prime object, is promoted by the detached system of

buildings, as more congenial to home life, then a great desideratum will be attained.

The Southern Insane Hospital, a large and sightly edifice, has extended its kitchen, and has increased the facilities, in many of the departments, for carrying on the necessary daily working of the institution; and, by a new fire apparatus, has added to its safeguards; has increased and improved the modes of water supply, and by many minor improvements added to the works.

The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Jacksonville, conspicuous for its extensive grounds and buildings, its superior school house, in a building detached from the residence building, has projected cottages for its junior pupils, and has one of them in very satisfactory operation. The appropriations provide for two fire escapes, a new laundry, a new horse barn and other essential expenditures, in excess of ordinary expenditures. In this institution thermostats have been placed, as well as telephones.

The well appointed Institution for the Blind at Jacksonville has received liberal appropriations to add to the efficiency and comfort of its departments. The Soldiers' Orphans' Home, which is very neatly and carefully managed, has had liberal appropriations for ordinary purposes, and for an increase of its library. The Eye and Ear Infirmary at Chicago, is carried on with great economy, and is of inestimable advantage as a benevolent institution, and has received sufficient appropriations.

The State Reform School, which is charged with an important work, is beyond doubt producing fine effects, and by its system implanting industrious habits and inculcating moral principles, where all was vicious and devoid of principle until brought under the discipline of this most needed and exemplary institution.

The Asylum for Feeble-Minded, at Lincoln, is carried on earnestly and successfully as a training school for a class of most pitiable unfortunates; it has received large appropriations for repairs and for strengthening the original structure, which is very capacious and beautifully located. This institution has caused us much solicitude. We question the feasibility of mental education to the extent that firm and zealous friends of the pupils desire to carry it. Is there not a limit in that direction necessary for economy? but may there not be still a hopeful and useful field of physical culture, so as to enable the pupils to become respectable inoffensive members of families, and, to some extent but not, perhaps, entirely, self-supporting?

Our Board of Charities has almost invariably recommended appropriations less than those asked by the institutions, and yet, when the Legislature has followed our recommendation, it has been proved that the sums given were, in most instances, adequate for the purposes designated. All our institutions of charity, in the last year, show by exhibits that they are judiciously managed, and that economy is practiced; and yet we are sensible from inspection

that no diminution exists in the comfort and efficiency of the institutions.

A communication from the Board of Charities of the State of New York was received by us, a few months since, on the subject of alien paupers, and other public subjects of charge, to which the Illinois Board responded in sympathy with the views of New York, and also adopted a resolution referring the subject to the senators in Congress and to members of the House of Representatives for the necessary legislation.

It is probable the subject must become one of international treaties.

MICHIGAN. BY MR. LORD.

Since the last Conference the State of Michigan has had no session of its Legislature, and there is, therefore, no change in its legislation in regard to its correctional and charitable establishments. The legislative session of 1878-9 provided for a Reform School for Girls, an institution that has been much needed in the State for many years. A commission appointed for the purpose have selected a location, and the building is under contract and will be in operation within the next year. At the same legislative session, an appropriation was made for a new Institution for the Blind. They have been, heretofore, taught and provided for with the deaf and dumb, in the same establishment. This association in the first place was injudicious, and has never worked to advantage. The new institution is located at Lansing, and is nearly ready for occupancy.

Our two hospitals for the insane are full, in excess of their capacity, and little more than one-half of the insane are provided for in State institutions. The next Legislature will have to consider the subject, and a plan of providing for the chronic cases, at a lower rate of expenditure for structure of asylum, and of attendance, will be discussed. For the class of cases in which there is even remote prospect of cure, the State has ample provision for many years to come. The important question is, to what extent these facilities shall be devoted to chronic cases to the exclusion of recent cases? Shall the State provide for all cases at the same expense per capita, or shall it attempt a classification, and distinguish between hospitals and asylums, and provide for these, respectively, according to what is hoped or expected of them.

Our Reform School for Boys, at Lansing, has in attendance about 325 boys, all committed for penal offences, but the school has been deprived of all its old prison features - walls removed, all gratings taken from windows, guards dispensed with, and nothing now relied upon to restrain the boys from departure, except their own parole of honor, and their interest in the institution and its teachers. If any do escape, they are captured and returned, if possible; but there are fewer attempts at escape than under the old prison discipline.

Some three years ago the military drill was introduced into this school with very important advantage to the boys. The boys are provided with real guns, organized into two companies, and are almost perfect in the manual of arms. On public occasions they are permitted to parade with other military companies, and no boy has ever abused the privilege.

The State Public School, at Coldwater, is able to keep the poorhouses very nearly cleared of all such children as are of teachable condition, and of sound bodily health. These it holds in transitu, awaiting adoption in families, and, in the meantime, affords them all the educational and domestic training bestowed upon children in well-to-do families. This school has about 300 pupils, divided into families of twenty-five or thirty, each with its cottage and matron; all, however, meet for meals, and for school purposes, in one central building. This school is properly regarded as a model of its kind, both at home and abroad.

The Board of Corrections and Charities in our State has always been non-partisan - the Governor appointing its members, indifferently, from both the leading political parties.

IOWA. BY MISS M. A. CLEAVES, M. D.

During the last biennial period but little of interest has transpired in the history of the penal, charitable and reformatory institutions of Iowa. The number of inmates in the different State establishments was 2,262, at the time of the biennial report to the Governor, in November, 1879; an increase of 172 over the number reported in 1877. Aside from those under State supervision, there are (as nearly as can be estimated in lieu of any means of obtaining definite numbers) about 1300 who are under the care of the local, or county authorities; giving us a total, at the least estimate, of 3,562 dependents and delinquents in the State. Of those under State supervision, there are in the two State Prisons, 533; two Hospitals for the Insane, 932; Girls' Reform School, 65; Boys' Reform School, 175; Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, 142; Orphan's Home, 130; College for the Blind, 107; Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, 178.

With but a capacity of 800, at the most, our hospitals for the insane contain nearly 950 patients, while there are, it is estimated, between five and six hundred insane persons scattered throughout the State, most of whom are cared for in the county poorhouses. Forty-nine counties have accommodations for insane in their poorhouses; six counties having made provisions for their incurable insane by the erection of asylums in connection with their poorhouses. Mercy Hospital, located at Davenport, accommodates about 100 patients from our own and adjoining counties. In the county asylums and poorhouses, the expense per capita is from 66 cents to $7.00 per week, the average cost being $2.50. Our hospitals are continually overcrowded, and, as in other States, a