For a repair and contingent fund.. Total INDUSTRIAL HOme for the blind. 6,000.00 26, coo.co $132,000.00 To pay for care of, and to make repairs to, and to preserve the property.. PENITENTIARY AT FORT MADISON. For a new power house, smoke stack, machine shop, blacksmith shop, well, water storage, boilers, piping and connections...... For a new building for a hospital, library and school room, fixtures and furnishing, and taking heat, light, water and sewer to same For laundry equipment For a new solitary For a new prison wall. For Warden's house fund. For transportation of discharged convicts...... For a contingent and repair fund.. Total....... $ 3,000.00 $ 21,000.00 30,000.00 2,000.00 4,500.00 20,000.00 250.00 2,000.00 6,000.00 $ 85.750.00 For machinery and repair of water system, engineering department. For Warden's house fund For transportation of convicts. For a contingent and repair fund. $ 2,662.50 2,000.00 11,600.00 800.00 400.00 2,000.00 5,500.00 240.00 250.00 1.000.00 4,000.00 Total......... $30.452.50 If the legislature will authorize this Board to use so much of the balance on hand of the fund which was appropriated by the Twenty-eighth General Assembly for "closing the home" at Knoxville, as may be necessary to properly care for and keep in repair the buildings and other property of the state at that place, the special appropriation of $3,000, herein asked for, will not be needed. There was a balance to the credit of the Industrial Home for the Blind in its support fund, of $762.18, and in the manufacturing fund, of $1,354.80. There was also a balance of $409 in the "iron shutters and door" fund, appropriated by the Twenty-fifth General Assembly for the School for the Deaf at Council Bluffs. As none of these balances are needed for the purposes for which they were appropriated, we have certified that fact to the Auditor of State and Treasurer of State, and asked them to make the proper entries, transferring said balances to the general funds of the state. The amount in the state treasury on October 1, 1901, to the credit of the support fund of the Penitentiary at Fort Madison was $25,006. Such a large balance is not needed for that institution and we recommend that we be authorized to apply $20,000 of said balance on the erection of the hospital and library building. There was also in the state treasury on October 1, 1901, to the credit of said institution in the "books and periodicals" fund, the sum of $3.555-32. As this fund grows rapidly it is safe to use $2,000 of it for other purposes, and we recommend that we be authorized to apply said sum towards the erection of said hospital and library building. If authority is granted to us to use these balances as suggested, the appropriation for the hospital and library building should be $8,000 instead of $30,000. RECAPITULATION OF APPROPRIATIONS ASKED FOR INSTITUTIONS. 'Soldiers' Home.. Soldiers' Orphans' Home College for the Blind..... School for the Deaf Institution for Feeble-Minded Children. Industrial School for Boys... Industrial School for Girls Hospital at Mt. Pleasant Hospital at Independence. Hospital at Clarinda Hospital at Cherokee.. Industrial Home for Blind Penitentiary at Fort Madison. Penitentiary at Anamosa. Total If allowed to use funds as suggested the total of appropriations needed will be reduced as follows: Hospital at Clarinda. . Industrial Home for Blind. Penitentiary at Fort Madison. Total. Which deducted from the total sum asked for would leave...... $ 75, 100.00 40,750.00 9,700 00 13, 100.00 109,075.00 47,450.00 33, 100.00 105,950.00 93,200.00 69,500.00 132,000.00 3,000 00 85,750.00 30,452.50 $ 848, 127.50 $31,000.00 $ 817, 127.50 CHAPTER XIII. OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING INSTITUTIONS. SOLDIERS' HOME. At the beginning of the biennial period there were 494 inmates who were actually present in the Home and 665 on the rolls. present and absent. At the close of the period there were actually present 624, and the number of inmates present and absent was 799. It seems reasonable to expect an increase in the population of the Home during the ensuing biennial period. The appropriations made by the last general assembly have been expended as contemplated, so far as the available funds would permit. In one or two instances they were found to be insufficient in amount and have not been used. · The new administration building is a handsome two-story and high basement structure and contains convenient, well-lighted and ventilated rooms used for offices of the commandant and adjutant; it also contains the postoffice, reading room and library. The south wing of the old people's building is completed and occupied. This building now contains forty-eight suites of two rooms and a closet each, for a soldier and his wife. The rooms are well furnished. A large dining-room, pantry and kitchen arein the basement. The addition to the hospital building and the elevator therein. furnish much needed accommodations. The heating and lighting plant has been strengthened by theaddition of a new boiler, engine and direct connected generator. Young women are employed as waitresses in the dining-rooms in place of the old soldiers. The change has resulted in a marked improvement in the service and meets the approval of the members of the Home. A comfortable building has been erected for their accommodation. As a rule, the members of the home have been orderly, and the discipline has been good. The erection of the new administration building permitted rooms in the main building, which were formerly used for offices, to be used as dormitories, and the capacity of the home was thus increased so that about sixty more members can be accommodated. The chapel is far too small and is situated over the kitchen. A new assembly hall of ample capacity is badly needed. There should be better and larger accommodations for keeping the stores. The laundry is now in the basement under the main building. It is too small, is inconveniently and improperly located, and and should be in a separate building. A new ice house is badly needed. Several boilers must be installed in place of old ones which are badly worn and in part not serviceable. The plumbing and water closet work in the main and old men's buildings is in bad condition and needs a thorough overhauling, and new bath tubs and stools are needed. The enforcement of the law exacted by the last general assembly, providing for withholding pensions from those twice convicted of drunkenness has resulted in some of that class of members taking their discharges, and the home has been benefitted thereby. The hospital accommodations are insufficient, and a hospital building for women should be erected as soon as practicable. The kitchen is dark and poorly ventilated. A new kitchen should be provided with ample light and ventilation. With the additional buildings more boiler capacity will be a necessity. This will require an enlargement of the building and a new chimney. The appropriations made by the Twenty-eighth General Assembly for a gate house and for new gates were not large enough for the purpose. A passenger elevator for the main building is desirable, owing to the age of the members, which makes it difficult for them to walk up two or three flights of stairs. SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME. The average number of inmates at this institution during the month of June, 1901, was one less than at the beginning of the biennial period. The land mentioned in our former report as being needed for the purpose of building a switch from the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul railway, to the institution coal house, and consisting of about eight and one-half acres, was pro. cured by condemnation proceedings at a cost to the state of $2,145.65. The switch has been built and has proven a great convenience to the institution. In November last the Board purchased out of the appropriation made for the purchase of land by the Twenty-eighth General Assembly a fraction over one hundred acres of land at a total cost of $13,320.00. This land adjoins that heretofore owned by the state. Negotiations are pending for the purchase of another small tract which also adjoins the state's land. These purchases, with the land heretofore owned by the state at this institution, will furnish ample land for the needs of the institution for many years. The appropriation of $2,500 for connecting the institution sewer with the sewerage system of the city of Davenport has not yet been expended, as the city system has as yet not been completed to the proposed point of connection. The appropriation will be needed whenever the city shall make its extension. The $20,800 appropriated for a new chapel has been expended, and a beautiful, substantial and commodious building has been secured, which will comfortably accommodate 1,000 or more people. The original contract price of the building was $19,100. Some extra expense was necessary to secure a safe foundation. The contract for equipping the chapel with steam heating was $1,200, and the balance of the appropriation was expended for seating the room and providing necessary scenery and lights. Ex-Governor Larrabee, late chairman of this Board, placed in the hands of his late associates on this Board a sum to be used by them in the purchase of a pipe organ for this chapel. The organ, costing $2,800, was purchased and erected in the chapel. It is pronounced by all experts who have examined it as a firstclass instrument of great power and yet of excellent tone, and possessing all modern improvements. The gift was a generous one, and the instrument is highly appreciated by the children. On the 26th day of April, 1901, the chapel was dedicated with appropriate exercises. An excellent program was given, largely by the children, and it was a most interesting and creditable entertainment. An audience which filled the house was present. All of the members of the Board were in attendance. Regret was expressed at the unavoidable absence of Ex-Governor Larrabee and his family. |