Assembly and the people of the State the known facts in relation to the number, condition, and justly consistent requirements of idiots upon the benefactions of the State.

"It is safe to say that the proportion of idiots in Illinois (and probably in other communities) is at least as large as that of the insane," is the statement of the Secretary of the Illinois State Board of Public Charities in the report of that Board to the Governor, in December, 1870. From the statistics obtained for, and published in that report, there were 1,738 idiots then reported, by name, in the State. Of that number 852 were twenty years of age and under. Of the 1,738, only 134 were reported as being afflicted with or the result of epilepsy, convulsions, paralysis and scrofula. Deducting these from the number twenty years of age and under, and there remains 718 of a suitable age for improvement in an institution. If this number should be reduced one-half, in order that every possible allowance may be made for probable nonattendance, we have left 359 who were at that time suffering for the want of the privileges an institution should afford them.

In relation to the accuracy of these statistics, that report states, "the most cursory inspection makes it apparent that nearly or quite one-half of the idiots below the age of eleven are unreported, being either unknown to the physicians or not yet recognized as idiots."

There were 652 between the ages of eleven and twenty, and in reference to this fact, the report continues, "assuming the number 652 between the ages of eleven and twenty inclusive, to be correct; and supposing it to constitute twenty-two and a half per cent. of the total number, as the census would indicate it to be in fact, the actual number of idiots in Illinois is 2,900 or 1: 867 of the entire population, which is a larger proportion even than that of the insane."

The necessities of these unfortunates, their condition and the degree of their ability for helping themselves, should next be considered.

As pauper inmates of county alms houses, their condition is certainly miserable in the extreme, and no effort can be made for their improvement. On the contrary, by such surroundings and neglect, they must inevitably sink in the scale of humanity.

In private families their condition, in the main, is but little better, for they are seldom improved, are without discipline, are often misused, and the same unfortunate result follows.

As they are ordinarily found in the community, they are unable to help themselves, and being without occupation, the inevitable result of idleness follows. Is it not a duty, as well as a wise principle of action on the part of the community, to attempt to draw out their latent powers, to stimulate, educate and compel them to help themselves, instead of taking away from them entirely the necessity for exertion, as does the county poor house and family custodial system.

By this latter course they must remain a burden to their friends or to the public during their lives.

It is the opinion of those familiar with the results of efforts to educate them, that as large a proportion of young idiots can be trained to productive usefulness at an Institution, as of insane can be cured by hospital treatment. Large numbers have been educated and trained at the several institutions of the country, and a capacity for useful occupation has been developed in a majority of the cases that have been afforded opportunities for instruction, and the condition of all has been ameliorated.

The cost of maintenance at the public Institution established especially for their custody and instruction, when organized with its proper number of inmates, (and society must maintain them somewhere,) will be no greater than it is elsewhere, provided they are treated as the people of a civilized community should treat them.

As a measure of social economy the gathering of this class into institutions is eminently wise and expedient, for it releases to society four persons to every five idiots in such care; for while, at their homes, one person must be continually with the unfortunate one to keep it from danger or mischief; at the well-organized Institution, upon the average, it requires, including officers and all employees, but one care-taker to five pupils.

The Constitution of the State of Illinois, in the first section of article eight, declares that "the General Assembly shall provide a thorough and efficient system of free schools, whereby all the children of the State may receive a good common school education."

Does not the General Assembly fail in fulfilling the spirit of the Constitution, as well as its philanthropic duty, when it stops short of providing an efficient system of education to all those children of the State who, by reason of their peculiarities, are deprived of the privileges of the ordinary common school? Does not the true spirit of that Constitution, as well as of Christian civilization, prompt the representatives of the people to let in the light of reason to the clouded intellects of those who, without such aid, must forever remain with their faculties dormant and their minds obscured?

In addition to the cruelty of subjecting it to the ill treatment of bad boys and girls-which sad experience has taught the friends of such are to be found in almost every district school-would not the presence of the idiot, in constant association with young children of ordinary capacity, prove detrimental to them, and tend to demoralize them more or less?

There are no better or nobler evidences of the social progress of the people of the State than the disposition manifested by them to test the

susceptibility of the idiot for improvement, and to afford him opportunities for physical, intellectual and moral development.

That susceptibility for improvement has proven to be much greater than was anticipated, and the Institution was incorporated by the last General Assembly after its utility had been demonstrated by six years of the most satisfactory results, and it only remains for the next General Assembly to complete the work so nobly commenced by the last, by the provision of safe and commodious buildings for the Institution, thus augmenting the sphere of usefulness of a truly charitable enterprise which is among the first in its importance.

Dr. H. B. Wilbur, the Superintendent of the New York Asylum, (who was the pioneer in establishing Institutions for Idiots in the United States, and who, from his more than twenty-four years of constant labor and experience in the work, is probably the best authority in relation to all matters connected with it), is of the opinion that an institution calculated to accommodate two hundred and fifty pupils is as large as one should be to insure the best results for its inmates. In deference to that opinion, desiring the welfare of the idiots of our State, we earnestly recommend the establishment of the Illinois Institution immediately upon that basis of organization, and trust that the next General Assembly, early in its session, will make sufficient appropriations to purchase land and erect buildings for the comfortable accommodation of that number.

Agriculture being the prominent industrial occupation of the people of the West, it is deemed desirable that one hundred acres of land at least should be owned by the Institution, in order that the male pupils may be trained for useful labor in that vocation. It will also afford the Institution the opportunity of sustaining itself, in a measure, from the products of its farm by the labor of its pupils.

Judging from the cost of buildings which have been erected for similar purposes in this and other States, it is estimated that the sum of two hundred thousand dollars will be necessary to purchase land and erect suitable buildings for the accommodation of two hundred and fifty pupils.

Feeling assured that the Legislature will act wisely in this matter; that it will justly weigh the claims of the unfortunates whom we have been appointed by the State authorities to represent-we leave it in their hands.

A detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Institution for the year ending November 30, 1872, will be found in the financial report of the Superintendent.

For a statement of the applications received, pupils admitted and discharged, and other information concerning the Institution, we refer to the report of the Superintendent, herewith appended.

It is with much satisfaction that we are able to speak of the work of the Superintendent. The method of organization and the practical details are his work, and to him is due the credit of the results of the training. Not mere custody, but improvement in nearly all cases, and surprising advancement in many, have crowned his efforts.

Much of the efficiency of the Institution is also due to the Matron, and nothing but praise can in general be spoken of the other subordinate officers. The selection of these and the employees has been made with great care, in order that the right persons should be in the right places.

With equal vigilance and more experience the results of training may be expected in the future to exceed those of the past.

At a cost of three hundred dollars, per capita, for eighty pupils (and we now have eighty-two present), it will require for all expenses of the Institution (except insurance) an appropriation of twenty-four thou sand dollars per annum.

We would further request an appropriation of the sum of four hundred dollars per annum for insurance, for reasons which have already been mentioned.

In conclusion, we would urge the members of the General Assembly individually to visit the Institution, to make themselves thoroughly familiar with its operations and necessities, in order that they may act wisely and intelligently in its behalf.

Respectfully submitted.

GRAHAM LEE,

DAVID PRINCE,

WM. J. RUTLEDGE,

Trustees.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Institution for the Education of Feeble-minded Children :

GENTLEMEN: At the close of the year ending November 30, 1871, when our last annual report was submitted, there were present seventyone pupils. Since which time, thirty-six new pupils have been admitted, making in all one hundred and seven children and youth who have been connected with the Institution during the twelve months ending Novem ber 30, 1872.

One boy died March 4th of typhoid fever, the only death which has occurred at the establishment during the year. Six pupils were dismissed because their parents had moved out of the State, and as appli cations were so numerous, for cases resident in this State, it was consid ered inexpedient to keep them. Six were discharged in order that their places might be filled by more teachable cases, as we deem it our duty, in some instances, to make such changes while our accommodations are sc limited. Three were found to be not only imbecile, but insane, and as we had no single rooms for their custody, or means of restraint, they could not judiciously be classified with the other pupils, and were conse quently removed. Two were sent to the Institution for the Education o the Deaf and Dumb, as the system of instruction pursued there seemed the best adapted to their advancement. One boy, evidently afflicted with hereditary phthisis when he was admitted, failed in health so per ceptibly, that it was thought advisable to send him home, where he ha since died. Four, while at home during the vacation, contracted diseases and on account of illness have not returned. Two having learned t read and write intelligently, and being qualified to enter an ordinar school, or engage in useful labor at home, their places have been fille by younger pupils. In all, the number thus removed has been twenty five, leaving now present eighty-two pupils, more than can be comforta bly cared for with our present accommodations.

Eighty-seven new applications for the admission of pupils have bee received since December 1, 1871, and in all, since the opening of th school, 465 applications have been placed on file.