Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/266

 254 MASSACHUSETTS this agency arc to look after offending and neglected children, and to promote their wel- fare. The number of children in families out- side the state institutions and subject to super- vision Sept. 30, 1874. was about 1,400. The following institutions, not under state control, were also aided by the state in 1874, and re- ceived state beneficiaries: INSTITUTIONS. } Whole number of Inmates State bene- ficiaries. The Massachusetts charitable eye and ear infirmary, Boston. The Massachusetts school for , Idiots, South Boston Massachusetts asylum for the Mind, South Boston. . The American asylum for deaf 1824 1848 1829 1816 $8,600 20,000 80,000 6,652 148 205 92 81 85 The Clarke institution for deaf mutes Northampton 1%7 - 30,000 5T 49 The Boston school for deaf 1869 55 Massachusetts infant asylum, Brookline. 1S67 4,500 61 Aid of discharged prisoners Belief ofdisabled soldiers Boston 4,500 8,000 42T Total amount appropriated $100,500 .... 840 Massachusetts has provided most liberally for its insane inhabitants. In addition to the asylum in Worcester, which has a capacity for 400 patients, that in Taunton, 500, and that in Northampton, 325, the Tewksbury almshouse has accommodations for 300 chronic harm- less insane, and a new asylum capable of receiving 450 is in process of construction at Danvers. Moreover, the McLean asylum in Somerville, which is chiefly supported by pri- vate benefactions, will accommodate about 200 patients, the city asylum in Boston about 200, and the county asylum in Ipswich about 70 ; making the entire capacity for this class not less than 2,450. The number of insane in the state in 1874 was reported at 3,843, of whom 2,625 were under the care of hospitals or overseers of the poor, Sept. 30. The whole number in the various hospitals of the state during the year was 3,380 ; average number, 2,167 ; discharged, recovered, 248 ; improved, 395 ; not improved, 279 ; died, 241. Of the number (2,217) remaining Sept. 30, 1874, 821 were supported by the state, 886 by towns, and 510 by individuals. The Massachusetts f_vn.nil hospital in Boston, founded in 1811, affords medical and surgical treatment free to those unable to pay for it. It is supported by the income of its invested funds, to which the state contributed $75,000, and the gifts of individuals. It receives from 1,500 to 2,000 house patients annually, of whom more than half are treated free of charge, and its aver- age of out patients exceeds 1,000 per month. The state prison in Charlestown, in charge of a wardi-n appointed by the governor, is con- ducted on the congregate plan, the convicts being separated at meals and at night, but as- sociated at labor during the day. Disciplinary punishments are the withdrawal of privileges, with solitary confinement in a dark cell. Many of the convicts are taught trades, and a portion of them are instructed in day schools. All are required to attend religious exercises, and have the privilege of a library. The labor of the convicts is let to contractors, and for some years the prison was a source of profit to the state. The income of the institution in 1874 was $81,098, including $77,068 earned by the convicts; the total expenses were $123,673. The number of convicts ranged from 586 to 685, the daily average being 647. The site has been selected in Concord for a new state prison, on the completion of which, according to the original plan, the one in Charlestown will be discontinued. In the several counties of the state, under the management of officers elected by the people, there are 19 jails and 15 houses of correction, though there are but 21 different establishments, as in many cases the jail and house of correction are under one roof. In 1873 the legislature authorized the building of a reformatory prison for women, to be erect- ed within two years, and to it when completed most of the female convicts will be sentenced. Men and women convicted of certain minor offences are sent to the workhouse at Bridge- water, while juvenile offenders are confined in the reformatories at "Westborough and Lancas- ter. An agency for aiding discharged convicts is provided by the state, which appropriated $3,000 for this purpose in 1874 ; and there is a tem- porary asylum for discharged female prisoners at Dedham, supported by gifts and the income of investments, for the benefit of which the state has lately made an annual appropriation of $1,500. There are also houses of reforma- tion in Boston and Lowell, besides the indus- trial school at Lawrence, the Plummer farm school at Salem, and truant schools in Wor- cester, Springfield, and Cambridge ; and there are many private organizations for charitable purposes. The whole number confined in state, county, and city prisons in 1874 was 17,- 856 ; average number, 3,483. The entire cost of these was $581,643, while their earnings amounted to $195,212. The county and mu- nicipal prisons are to a limited extent under the supervision of a board of prison commis- sioners appointed by the governor. During 1874, 4,888 paupers were entirely supported by the state, at a cost of $268,096 ; the aver- age number was 2,229. Besides these, there was an average of 4,057 paupers supported by towns, at a cost of $643,440. Including those partially supported by the state and by towns, the entire cost of pauperism was $1,412,780, of which $403,000 was borne by the state. The almshouse in Tewksbury is now the only state establishment for paupers. The system of public schools in Massachusetts has at- tained a very high degree of excellence. Every person having under his control a child be- tween the ages of 8 and 14 years is required to