MANAGERS' REPORT.

To his Excellency, WILLIAM R. TAYLOR,

Governor of the State of Wisconsin :

The fifteenth annual report of the Managers of the Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys, for the year ending September 30, 1874, is herewith respectfully presented:

The number in school at the beginning of the year was

Number received during the year

Returned from out on ticket........

Returned escapes

281

115

4

2

402

1,081

50

26

3

1

4

7

10

301

402

The bills audited and allowed during the year amount to the sum

of $48,453.02, classified as follows:

4 Farm and barn expenses (exclusive of salaries and wages).

It will be seen that the Industrial School has continued to grow in numbers, in usefulness and in the estimation of its friends and the public. Visitors during the year have numbered thousands, instead of hundreds, as heretofore, and their testimony, almost without exception, is such as the friends of the school would desire. The history of the institution for the year furnishes additional evidence of the wisdom and sagacity of its founders, as well as of the legislatures who have so generously endowed and provided for all our benevolent institutions. In reviewing the operations of the year with a view to arrive at correct conclusions, a variety of considerations present themselves not generally noticed or properly estimated. The early history of the boys, the character of their homes, their daily habits and associations, their occupations or want of occupation, their parentage, orphanage or half orphanage; their education, whether in the school, the street or saloon, these and the like considerations press upon us, and any opinion formed or expressed without reference to them, is necessarily unreliable. The records of their antecedents show a lamentable state of facts in the cases of a majority of our inmates. Few persons know, fewer yet properly appreciate, or will take the trouble to examine and learn the causes which have sent, and are still sending so many boys here. If the attention of parents and guardians could be successfully called to these matters as ours is, possibly we should have fewer inmates. The want of a good home, with all that accompanies it, the influence of right minded parents, brothers and sisters, the associa tion of orderly companions, the advantages of good schools an religious teaching, all these are frequently wanting and substituted by what almost inevitably sends a boy to the Industrial School. I' is intended that the school shall remedy the evils resulting frow this condition of things. To do this successfully requires ample room and means, continued effort, patience, judgment and time.

With all these provided, it is not absolutely certain that all the reprobate boys in the state will be made first class citizens, but it may be reasonably expected that a large proportion of our boys will become self-supporting, law abiding men, instead of paupers or criminals.

In our last report, we presented the crowded condition of our dormitories and play rooms, and asked an appropriation for an additional building. We presented the estimate of the superintendent as to its necessity and probable cost. The State Board of Charities and Reform, after a thorough examination of the whole subject without any disposition to favor it in advance, indorsed the recommendation of this board and the superintendent, but the legis. lature saw fit to refuse the appropriation. The result has been that we have, since the date of our last report, suffered more from sickness and death than in all the previous years of our existence as a school. Cur physician unhesitatingly attributes this to the overcrowded condition of our dormitories. We have been compelled to lodge fifty or more boys where only thirty and thirty-six were provided for, and we are not willing to be held accountable for the result. Our superintendent and matron, our officers and teachers, and every one connected with the school, who have escaped sickness themselves, have done every thing in their power night and day, for the sick. In spite of the kindest nursing and care, the best of medical attendance and constant vigilance, our calls upon the physcian and undertaker have been more frequent than ever before⚫ It is a matter of such importance as to cause the most anxious soliciitude among the parents and guardians of the boys here, as wel as with the managers, officers and friends of the school. During the winter, we had nearly a hundred boys attacked with scarlatina; none of these cases proved immediately fatal, but the boys were left in an enfeebled condition, susceptible to the attack of other diseases, with lessened power of resistence; and one subsequently died of lung disease, the effect of scarlet feaver. The hospital service during the year has been increased beyond precedent with us. Typhoid fever has been the prevailing disease, and its ravages have not been confined to the boys. Our baker, Mrs. Hemsly, was buried a few weeks ago. Miss Campion, one of our most valued teachers, was buried in February. At the present writing, three of our officers are disabled by sickness-one regarded as dangerously illwe have thirteen boys under the care of the physician. We can

not withhold the expression of our anxiety at this state of the health of the institution. Time, that is needed for the discharge of ordinary duties and for rest, is necessarily devoted to the sick.

Nothwithstanding we have suffered so much, we are enabled to present a fair exhibit from the farm, garden, shops and school, and to report some needed and valuable improvements such as we felt compelled to make. The history of the school is satisfactory, except as to sickness, and what has caused it and resulted from it. We have felt bound to release many boys who were not yet prepared to leave, in order that the condition of those remaining might be more tolerable. It is not probable that the subsequent course of these half reformed boys will reflect much credit upon the school, but their premature release seemed forced upon us. Family building No. 7, built of wood before the burning of the old reform school building, and, with reference to the location of the old building, was objectionable by reason of its location, and we have removed it, remodeled it, put under it a stone basement, and we think, in its present condition and in its present location, it may be regarded, as to health, convenience and appearance, an improvement eminently fit to be made. The land rented for the use of the school for the three past years has yielded satisfactory returns. The effort to increase the productive power of the school farm by the purchase and application of manure, has been continued with good effect, and promises to bring the land into profitable farming condition if persisted in. The products of the shoe and tailor shop as to amount and quality, show commendable diligence on the part of those in charge, and are creditable to the boys. A respectable boot or shoe, or any outside garment, can be obtained in the school, and the boys are well and comfortably provided for in all matters of dress. For details of the productions of farm, garden and shops, we refer to the report of the Superintendent.

The cane-seating business still continues to meet our entire approval. We have added to our list of employés a mason, who is also a stone cutter. We have boys who wish to perform this kind of work, the material is within our reach and we think the experiment promises well. We think of employing a painter with a view to make it permanent, if experience shall justify. The growth of the nursery is very gratifying, and will soon furnish the means of beautifying the farm and grounds, with but trifling expense. Our improvements already made are worthy of a state, watchful over its

humblest citizen, and generous in providing the means of reformation for its juvenile offenders, but there is, in our judgment, an imperative necessity to furnish additional room to secure reasonable health and to enable us to properly use the room already provided for general purposes. We again recommend the establishment of a reformatory for girls. We refer to the paper of Mrs. Lynde and the letter of Mrs. Hendrickson, contained in the last report of the state board of charities, if anything is needed to show the reasons why such an institution should be organized in Wisconsin. In the completion of the buildings, and in the making of many valuable repairs and improvements, the services of the inmates have essentially aided us to keep within the appropriations. We are enabled thus to save the state during every season a heavy outlay, which does not appear as the labor is so diversified as to quality and time that it is difficult to present any accurate statement, but in the aggregate, this work is greatly advanced and the state benefited. The labor on the farm is more remunerative than in the shops. It is pursued by the least skillful boys, who are most likely to make farming their business after they leave us, and in view of these facts, we think a large farm is more desirable than larger workshops. The winter must be provided for, but when we consider the want of educated farm labor in the country, it may be well to direct our efforts more to supply that want than to fill the mechanics shops. We estimate our expenses for the present year at thirty thousand dollars, in addition to what will be received from counties.

We shall need for building purposes the sum of $15,000 to erect a family building, carriage and horse barn and to alter the building now used for bakery and boys' kitchen, and to make necessary repairs, making in all to be appropriated by the legislature, the sum $45,000. To erect these buildings, and make the contemplated improvements, will, in our estimation, cost at least $18,000, and some of us think $20,000, but with the aid of our boys, teams, etc., we hope to do it for the sum asked for. We make our estimates with reference to the stringency of the times, the depression in all branches of business and the universal desire to economize and retrench. The demands of our increased and increasing numbers would justify much larger expenditures than we are contemplating, a wise economy and a decent regard to health and comfort forbid a smaller outlay.

We desire to renew the expression of our entire confidence in