NEEDS OF THE HOME.

ENLARGING COTTAGES, $10,500.

The same arguments that were advanced two years ago for this improvement still hold and the need for it is in some respects more urgent than at that time. These cottages are all on the girls' side of the grounds, those on the boys side having been raised five and six years ago. In the one story cottages the children all live and sleep on the same floor, there being only about one yard of floor space for each child in the living room and about two yards each in the dormitories. This is far too little for comfort and much less than is necessary for proper sanitary conditions. A wholesome regard for the comfort and health of the children demands more space in their living and sleeping rooms. There are seven cottages that are now only one story high. These are amongst the oldest on the grounds, and the roofs of some of them are in such a condition that they must be reshingled (preferably slated), soon. In the proposed enlargement this repair is contemplated and the additional room furnished will increase the capacity of each cottage from twenty-four to thirty-two children or more, and the conditions for the proper management and general welfare of the children will be much improved. The necessity for this change in these small cottages is just as urgent as it ever was in those that have already been raised to two stories, and those who have to occupy them are just as much entitled to the increased comfort and conveniences they would afford if improved like the others.

COTTAGE FURNITURE, $1,500.

The enlarged cottages will need considerable additional furniture to suitably equip them. The old wooden beds now used, and which are double, are not such as are desirable for the new dormitories. They should be replaced by single beds made of iron. To properly equip the dormitories in this manner and provide other necessary furniture will require in my opinion, the full sum named.

NEW BOILER-HOUSE, BOILERS AND EQUIPMENT, $16,000.

Our present boiler-house is located beneath the laundry and almost entirely under ground. It consists of five boilers of three different sizes. Three of them are fourteen feet by forty inches, two of which have been in use twenty-four years and the third

one eighteen years. They have been patched and repaired many times, and besides not being efficient or economical, I do not feel that they are safe. Four of these boilers are connected with a smoke stack which has been taxed far beyond its capacity and it does not afford draft necessary to proper combustion. Much of the fuel is lost in this way, which otherwise would give valuable service. I think it is the opinion of those who know, that no public institution of the state is so poorly equipped to furnish power, light and heat, as our own.

The plant should be moved about 100 feet further west and away from the administration building. This will put it in such a position that it will be mostly above ground (a desirable feature) and where we will get much better drainage into it from the whole heating system, as the boilers will be on a lower level than at present.

The last boiler put into our present plant is 16 feet by 60 inches and has been in service less than a year. This would do to go into the new battery which should consist of four boilers of the same size and description. This would necessitate the purchase of three additional ones, and would always afford one boiler in reserve, which is essential to the welfare of the boilers and the proper handling of such a plant. A new boiler house and smokestack would be needed, and they should be built large enough, not to accommodate the four boilers alone, but adapted to the placing and use of additional boilers and apparatus, as the future increased needs of the institution might require. For the proper equipment of such a plant, I would recommend one direct-connected dynamo, 75 K. W.; automatic stokers for the furnaces; one 3-horse power feed-water heater; one return pump, 6-inch by 6-inch by 10-inch, duplex; one feed water pump, 5% x6%, and switch board. There should also be, on account of the great distance of the power from the industrial buildings, laundry, and points where it is to be appiled, means of electrical transmission. This will avoid the use of much idle shafting and belting and the consequent loss of power. Such an arrangement would require two additional motors, one of about 6-horse power and one of 15-horse power. Some change would also be necessary in the location of the coal shed and siding and the extension of the heating apparatus would have to be made to connect with the boilers in their new location. All these improvements could, I think, be made for $16,000, and would give us a steam power and light plant that would be safe, efficient and economical.

Straightening creek and enlarging grounds, $2,000.00.

The only play grounds the children have are those in the hollow square in front of the cottages. Taking out the drives, flower beds, etc., it leaves very narrow quarters for the recreation and outdoor exercise of the children. Three times the amount

of ground would be none too much for this purpose.

By cutting a channel from a point where Duck creek enters the pasture of the Home to Goose creek, near the bridge, where it crosses the Orphans' Home road, the former creek may be directed from its long meandering course under the bluff immediately behind the boys' cottages. The course of the stream would thus be shortened some twenty-five or thirty rods. The earth removed to form the new channel could be used to fill the old channel in the rear of the cottages. The lower ground or flat in this way could be converted into suitable and more ample play grounds for the boys. This change in the channel would also prevent, in a measure, the excessive overflow onto our pastures in times of high water and much consequent damage. It would also serve another good purpose in preventing the constant washing away of the earth at the foot of the bluffs and the continuous encroaching upon the grounds back of the cottages and chapel, a menacing danger to these buildings.

In the rear of the cottages on the girls' side a small portion of the grounds now used for garden could be converted into playgrounds for the children on that side. These changes, I think, could be made for $1,800, and the greater facilities they would afford for the greater comfort, health and pleasure of the children, would make it a profitable and agreeable investment.

NEW FENCING, $600.00.

On the two farms recently purchased and on other grounds belonging to the Home, there are between 800 and 900 rods of fence, most of which is in a very dilapidated condition and should be entirely rebuilt, both for the sake of appearance and the safety of the stock and crops. I believe $600.00 could be well invested in making these improvements on the farm.

LIBRARY, $500.00.

The library is a source of great pleasure and profit to both children and employes and should receive liberal support and encouragement. A certain amount is necessary to provide for the wearing out of books by constant use and something in

addition is needed, in order that a library may grow and keep supplied with fresh literature. I feel that $500.00 is little enough to ask for so worthy a purpose.

CONTINGENT AND REPAIR FUND, $4,000.00.

A fund of this kind is one that every institution needs to meet emergencies and to provide for conditions that are unforseen and cannot be anticipated. The amount named we have been allowed before and is none too much to provide for the possible and probable needs of the Home.

SLATE ROOFS, $750.00.

All but three of the cottages which have been raised to two stories have been provided with slate roofs. The condition of these three roofs is such that they will soon be beyond repair and new roofs must be supplied. This, in my opinion, will have to be done during the next biennial period, and I would advise that they be made of slate. The roofs contain about twenty-five squares each and I estimate that the amount named will be sufficient to do both the slating and the galvanized iron work nec

essary.

IMPROVEMENTS.

From appropriations made by the last session of the legislature some very substantial improvements and desirable additions have been made to the Home, A new chapel has been completed with a seating capacity of one thousand persons, and wisely provides not only for the present but future needs of the Home. It has a large stage equipped with scenery for the giving of entertainments; a commodious basement that can be used for a gymnasium and drill room; and is provided with a most excellent pipe organ, the very generous gift of ex-Governor Larrabee. Everything is so arranged as to best adapt it to its purpose, and the whole thing is neat and complete and a comfort and joy to the children who use it.

A new cow barn has been built which will acommodate fifty-one cows, and is arranged for convenience and to afford the best possible sanitary conditions for the stock kept in it.

One hundred acres of additional land have been purchased for farm purposes, which will afford us better opportunities for employing the boys' labor in this line of work and enable us to keep more cows. The herd has already been increased to fiftyone head, and with our present amount of land and facilities can

be well cared for. Out of the appropriation made for land there is still a balance of $1,680, and I would advise that this amount. be expended for this purpose if a suitable parcel conveniently located can be procured. We are certainly much within the limit yet at which we can make an investment in land profitable to the Home.

The Home has during the past two years enjoyed a degree of prosperity that is very gratifying to its management. Good health has prevailed amongst the children, no calamity has fallen upon the Home or anyone connected with it. Good and substantial progress has been made in all of its lines of work and its material interests have been advanced in a marked degree. Harmony and good will have prevailed and a general disposition has been shown on the part of all to work together in promoting the best interests of the children and serving the purposes of the Home. To the loyal support of officers and employes, and a generally willing spirit of obedience on the part of the children, I attribute the success that has been attained. All in the Home know and appreciate the kindly feeling and generous action of the Board of Control in the management of its affairs, and I bespeak for them most sincere thanks. I wish also to express my own personal appreciation of the cordial relations that have existed between the Board and myself. The best that I can wish is that such relations may continue, and that my administration of the interests of the Home may be worthy of the same confidence and support in the future that they have received in the past.

Respectfully submitted,

M. T. GASS,
Superintendent.