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a ct have been complied with before issuing
his certificate for the sum due from the state.
While as to most of the provisions of the law,
he can readily satisfy himself from the reports
of the Superinteping School Committees,
whether they have been complied with, it is
easy to perceive that they do not furnish suf-
ficient data to prove that the proper attention
Ihas been paid to the specified studies required.
and that the schools comform in spirit as well
as in letter, to the intent of the law.
It is proper and business-like that the Super-
intendent should, in person or through his
agents, examine these schools before vouch-
ing for the justice of their claim upon the
state.
Besides affording the Superintendent infor-
mation which should be in his possession.
such an inspect would greatly tend to elevate
the standard and promote the efficiency of
this class of schools.
The virtual institution of High Schools by the
state, through the aid it proffers for their sup-
port, was a wise and timely act, in full accor-
dance with the provisions of the Constitution
enjoining the encouragement of education up-
on the Legislature. The system has been four
years in operation, and has fairly demonstrat-
ed its value. But care should be taken least
by failing to maintain a proper standard, they
not only defeat the object of their institution
but injuriously affect the comion schools. My
recommendation is intended to subserve the
interests of both grades.
It is the universally expressed opinion of
those having the most knowledge of ourschools
that better instruction is the one thing need-
full to their efficiency. The Normal Schools
are doing good service in this behalf to the ex-
tent of their capacity. Since the discontinu-
ance of the Teachers' Institutes, a great ma-
jority of teachers in common schools have had
no opportunity for obtaining instruction in
the art of teaching. The renewal of Instit-
utes is respectfully suggested for your considera-
tion.
# SAYINGS BANKS.
o new savings banks have been organized
during the past year. Since August, four of the
savings banks in the hands of re-
ceivers, and savings banks in have suspended
payment. One of end them, the Waterville
Savings' Bank, has restined payment by the
action of the depositors. No arrangen-
yet been accepted by the depositors of the two
other banks.
The amount of the deposits and profits of the
sixty banks doing business, was, or the 6th of
November last, $27.818.764.70, a increase dur-
ing the year of $4.264,049,68, including $1.029,-
963,95 of deposits placed in the hands of re-
ceivers. The number of deposors decreased
during the year 10,705. The present number
is 10,621, and the deposits average $306 to each
depositor.
The Winthrop Savings' Bank was taken pos-
session of by the receivers before the day fix-
ed by law for making returns to the State
Treasurer for the six months then nearly ex-
pired, and the receivers refused to pay the tax
for that period. A suit to recover this tax
was brought by the state Treasurer, and prose-
cuted by the Attorpy General to final judge-
ment by the Law Court to the effect that the
tax is upon the franchise of savings banks, and
the Winthrop bank having ceased to exist be-
fore the return for taxation was due from it,
nothing remaind upon which to assess a tax,
and the claim of the state was therefore not a
valid one. Applications growing out of this
decision wil probably be made to the Legis-
lature by several banks for refunding of taxes
alleged to have been improperly paid.
The Commissioners appointed for the pur-
pose uncer a resolve of the last Legislature,
have prepared a draft of a general law re-
lating to savings banks which will be reported to
you. A principal feature of the proposed
law is the substitution of a tax of one-half of one
per cent. for the present tax of one per cent.
The present rate of taxation, considered
relatively to the tax upon other franchises and
property, cannot be regarded as discriminat-
ing otherwise than in favor of the banks. The
only question is whether it is expedient, as
tending to maintain and increase deposits to
reduce the rates. If the Legislature shall fa-
vor the affirmate of the question I trust that
the reduction made will not exceed one-fourth
of one per cent.
# THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
The past year has been made notable in the
history of the Insane Hospital by the construc-
tion of works for supplying the institution
with water. The scource of the supply is an
artificial pond, excavated in that part of the
farm east of the highway, and so situated as to
be fed by springs, and to receive the drainage
of an extensive water-shed. A substantial
reservoir has been built in the summit of a hill
near the pond, of the capacity of 355,000 gal-
lons. The water is raised from the pond to
the reservoir by steam power, and conveyed
thence through iron inshes the hospital, and
distributed by a system of pipes through the
main building and to the various offices and
farm buildings where it is needed. The water
is conducted through two ilus-one at the
outflow from the pond and one at the outflow
from the reservoir-and is perfectly clear and
pure where it is drawn for use. Water may
be forced at need directly from the pond to
the hospital. It is believed that the supply
will be ample at all seasons for all uses and
exigencies.
While it is a matter of the first necessity to
the proper conduct of such an institution that
there should be anbundance of water for culin-
ary, cleansing and sanitary purposes, and for the
farm uses, every consideration of humanity
and prudence imperatively demands that the
lives many inmates of the hospital, and the val-
uable property of the State should have the
fullest protection possible from the dangers of
fire. The trustees have, well done their plain
duty making this indispensable provision. The
works cost twelve thousands dollars, and have
been paid for from the hospital fund.
The inception and execution of this enter-
prise are highly creditable to all concerned in
it.
The amount of the crops raised upon the
farm, indicates that its productiveness has been
increased to a marked extent. This improve-
ment is undoubtedly due in good part to the
fertilization of the soil with the sewerage of
the hospital, upon a system which was devis-
ed by an officer of the hospital and has been
three years in effect. The State Board of
Health of Massachusetts have made this system
and its operations the subject of investigation,
and in their annual report for 1876 they de-
scribe it and give it their recommendation, as
"almost the only system which has stood the
test of experience in this country."
The trustees propose to provide at once for
the thorough ventilation of those wards of the
hospital which are deficient in this respect.
The reports for the present year. and form-
er years, of the various officers conected with
the hospital, make it evident that the capacity
of the hospital barely suffices for the present
number of patients, and suggests the propriety
of seasonably providing accommodations for
the increase of applications for admission which
will attend the growth of the population of the
State.
The trustees make no request for an appro-
priation, and I am informed by them that they
expect to be able soon to make a reduction of
the rates changed for the support of patients.
The public have always been peculiarly
sensitive with regard to the treatment of pa-
tients at such institutions, and therefore every
care should be taken to inspire the community
with confidence in the management of the
hospital. The frequent inspections by the vis-
iting committee are a valuable means to that
end. Whenever any differences appear be-
tween the observations or opinionsof the trust-
ees and those of committee, the attention of
the Legislature is called directly to the ex-
amination of the matters in question.
# COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS.
The leading object of this institution is "to
teach such branches of learning as are related
to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in such
manner as the Legislature of the state may
prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and
practical education of the industrial classes in
the several pursuits and professions of life."
Whatever lattitude of instruction the term of
the foundation may seem to permit, it must
be evident to all who are acquainted with the
sentiment of the state, that the prevailing op-
inion is, that the college should first of all be
faithful to its leading object, and so arrange
and limit the course of instruction that its pu-
pils upon completing their course may be pre-
pared to enter at once upon the practice of
some industrial pursuit.
The want of facilities for practical instruction
has caused the course of study in branches re-
lating to the mechanic arts especially, to be nec-
essarily of a general and theoretical character.
The trustees propose, in order to fulfil more
directly the object of the college, and to meet
the popular expectation, to establish workshops
of instruction in the various mechanical trades.
