during the fall term, as has been the usual custom. For many reasons the pupils should be best fitted for the literary examina. tions at the end of the school year while the buildings naturally show to the least advantage at the close of a year's constant usage. Hence, the time this year selected would seem best adapted for the two-fold purpose mentioned.

A number of changes initiated during the past year, some of them radical in character, indicate a determination to attain higher ideals, both as to the physical and literary well-being of the pupils. The attainments of the pupils in some of the schools are however considerably below the average, and it is believed that it would be especially profitable to those schools, as well as advantageous to all, if the principals of each institution would make it convenient annually to visit the other schools in the State, and thus become personally acquainted with their work. No school has all that is best, and much good would undoubtedly follow the mutual and friendly interchange of views suggested. The report of the inspectors giving a detailed account of visitations and a tabulated presentation of the results of the literary examinations will be found among the appended papers herewith transmitted.

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS.

During the year 1898 the Board was called upon to make several special investigations into the management of institutions subject to its supervision, against which complaints had been made.

One of these institutions was the House of Mercy, a reformatory for women, at Inwood-on-the-Hudson, New York City, which in January was the subject of newspaper criticism alleging improper treatment of the inmates.

The

executive committee of the board of trustees of the institution requested the Board to investigate these charges, and at the meeting of January 12th and 13th, a committee consisting of Commissioners Stoddard, Litchfield and Marvin was appointed for that purpose. The committee entered promptly upon its duties and presented a report of its findings at the succeeding meeting held on March 15, 1898. The report of this committee, which is printed as an appended paper to this report, showed that the complaints were for the most part not well founded, so far as the conditions then existing were concerned, but also that in some particulars, which were brought to the attention of the trustees by the Board, the management of the institution should be improved.

Another investigation, conducted by a special committee consisting of Commissioners Bergen, Smith and Dahlgren, was made into the financial management of the New York Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital, in New York City, against which charges had been made inferentially by the Manhattan section of the New York Medical League. This committee was appointed at the meeting of May 18th and presented its report at the meeting of July 13th, which will also be found printed as an appended paper to this report. No facts were found to substantiate the charges, but a change was suggested in the institution's method of making up the financial statement in its printed annual report.

NEW INCORPORATIONS.

During the year 1898 the Board approved of the incorporation of the following-named institutions, societies and associations, twenty in number:

1.-" Brooks Memorial Hospital;" principal office, Dunkirk,

N. Y.

Formed for the purpose of the "Establishment and carrying on and maintaining of a public hospital in the city of Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, New York." Approved, July 13, 1898. 2.-" Cohoes Hospital Association;" principal office, Cohoes, N. Y.

Formed for the purpose of "Erecting, establishing and maintaining a hospital and dispensary in the city of Cohoes, county of Albany and State of New York, for the care of such indigent persons needing medical or surgical treatment as the funds of the corporation, or the rules established by the Board of Directors, may allow, together with such persons as may wish to receive and pay for treatment, and may be admitted into said hospital under the regulations of said Board of Directors." Approved, March 15, 1898.

3.-" Friendly Aid;" principal office, New York City.

Formed "To maintain for charitable purposes a building or buildings for baths, gymnasiums, kindergartens and for the purpose of permitting social relations among the people for whose benefit the organization is conducted." Approved May 18, 1898.

4.-" German Home for Recreation of Women and Children;" principal office, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Formed "To establish and maintain a temporary home by the seaside, and another in the mountains, for the recreation, recuperation and physical and mental improvement of women and children, and provide for them food, care, amusements and suitable diversions, with incidental instruction and employment." Approved, July 13, 1898.

5.-" Industrial Colony Association;" principal office, New York City.

Formed for "The maintenance of a boys' industrial colony, wherein by self-government boys shall be educated to become useful and patriotic citizens." Approved, May 18, 1898.

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6. Marien Heim of Brooklyn;" principal office, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Formed "To provide a home for aged or indigent persons and provide them with necessary food, care, employment, shelter, clothing, medicines and treatment suitable for their ailments and afflictions, and Christian consolation in their declining years." Approved, May 18, 1898.

7.-" Martha-Heim of Brooklyn;" principal office, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Formed "To provide a temporary home for female servants who have been sick and are convalescent, or who are weak and unable to work, and for those out of employment or desiring advice or assistance in obtaining employment, and for kindred subjects." Approved, January 12, 1898.

8.-" Olean General Hospital;" principal office, Olean, N. Y. Formed "For the purpose of erecting, establishing, maintaining and operating a hospital, infirmary and home for the recep tion, care, maintenance and giving of medical and surgical advice, aid and treatment to persons afflicted with maladies, or physical injuries, or physical weaknesses, deformities and infirmities." Approved, July 13, 1898.

9.-" Pelham Summer Home for Children;" principal office, Pelham, N. Y.

Formed "To provide a temporary home and care for poor children in the country." Approved, May 18, 1898.

10." The Albany Fresh Air Guild;" principal office, Albany,

N. Y.

Formed for the purpose of "Establishing and maintaining of one or more vacation homes for children and others and improving their moral and physical condition by such means." Approved, January 12, 1898.

11." The Associated Charities of the City of Lockport, N. Y.;" principal office, Lockport, N. Y.

Formed "To be a center of inter-communication between the various charitable agencies in the city of Lockport; to foster harmonious co-operation between them and to check the evils of the over-lapping of relief; to prevent children from growing up as paupers; to encourage thrift, self-dependence and industry through friendly intercourse, advice and sympathy, and to help the poor to help themselves; to raise the needy above the necessity for relief, prevent begging and imposition and diminish pauperism; to maintain a provident woodyard, that food and lodging may be provided for the poor by their own labor." Approved, January 13, 1898.

12. "The Bloomingdale Day Nursery Association;" principal office, New York City.

"Formed to maintain a day nursery in the Bloomingdale district of the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York, with power to establish and maintain a kindergarten, kitchen-garden, summer homes in the country or by the seaside in connection with its principal work above specified, and such other departments for the care, nurture and education of infants and young children as the corporation or its board of managers may at any time, or from time to time, think best to establish and maintain, and the funds and resources of the corporation will permit and