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Dr. G. A. Doren, for twenty-three years superintendent of the Ohio State Asylum, was unanimously selected, and we congratulate the State on his acceptance.

The recommendations for the farm at Fairmount made in our last report are renewed; the want is still more pressing, and we urge that that sum be reappropriated ($10,000).

This institution was occupied nearly thirty years ago. No appropriation has ever been made directly for repairs -- those pressing and absolutely necessary having been made from the ordinary fund. The total amount expended annually for all purposes has been low, notwithstanding. The natural decay worked by time, to say nothing of wear, renders a considerable amount of repair necessary to prevent waste, as well as for the safety and comfort of the inmates. Another fear also oppresses us, and that is, the exposure of this institution to the dangers of a fire. In connection with the repairs necessary to be made, we urge that all possible precautions be taken to render the buildings secure, and to facilitate escape in the case of fire, or an alarm from fire. The terrible and frequent lessons experienced by the absence of these provisions, in the case of strong men and women, will enable all to imagine the horrors of a fire at this institution in its present condition. Estimates based upon well-considered plans have been made, and we urge the appropriation for these purposes of the sum of $42,500.

This institution now has in charge, including the branch at Newark, about five hundred persons, one hundred and forty of whom are in a rented building. We, therefore, recommend that an appropriation be made to purchase land and provide safe and economical buildings for the accommodation of as many imbecile persons as the State shall determine. The number that should be provided for at once is not less than four hundred and fifty.

F. D. HUNTINGTON,
N. F. GRAVES,
ALLEN MUNROE,
ALFRED WILKINSON,
F. HYDE,
GEO. F. COMSTOCK,
FRANK HISCOCK,
GEORGE B. SLOAN.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

ALLEN MUNROE, Treasurer of the New York Asylum for Idiots, in account current with the State of New York, for cash received and expended for the general supplies, and the salaries and wages of officers, teachers, attendants and servants of said asylum, during the year ending September 30, 1883.

RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR.

DISBURSEMENTS.

NEW YORK ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS, SYRACUSE, N. Y., October 10, 1883.

We certify that we have examined the above statement, with tables annexed; have compared it with the treasurer's books and with the various books kept at the asylum, and the bank book, as also the vouchers for the moneys expended; and find the same correct.

N. F. GRAVES, ALFRED WILKINSON, F. HYDE, Executive Committee.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Trustees of the New York Asylum for Idiots:

GENTLEMEN -- The annual report of the affairs of this institution for the year ending September 30, 1883, is respectfully submitted:

MOVEMENT OF POPULATION.

The causes of death were: Consumption, 2; congestion of lungs, 1; pneumonia, 1; diarrhoea, 1; total, 5.

Of those discharged, fourteen have been removed by friends; five because they received all the benefit which they were likely to derive in the department for their training, and have been dismissed to make room for those of whom improvement is hoped for; five were insane; four have been removed to the Newark branch. It is deemed proper here and in this connection that the recommendations of my honored predecessor, and indorsed by this board of trustees, and which has also been recommended by the writer in another field of labor and there successfully applied, should now be renewed in behalf of custodial and industrial departments for this class. With the application of intelligent and humane efforts for the betterment of the helpless and dependent classes, the feeble-minded are recognized, and efforts for their relief applied by sending them to an institution organized for their improvement, not only from families, but from local and public charitable institutions. With the death of parents and guardians, these would, with the public beneficiaries, drift back to the alms-house to a certain extent, thus undoing the good that has been done, and possibly increasing, rather than diminishing, the public burdens. The remedy for all of this is simple. The gentle isolation and insulation of all of the class in institutions organized for their care and protection, and having them contribute to the extent of their capacity to their own support. To this end, that which has been commenced and pursued wisely enough as an experiment in behalf of custodial care of both sexes in connection with this institution should now take permanent and enduring form. The experience of the writer in this field of labor, already alluded to, warrants this positive recommendation. For this purpose, nothing in that experience proved so beneficial and elevating to the children as productive farm and garden labor. In the co-operative work of such an establishment, the work is not confined by any means to one sex, nor is the entire breadth and depth of human sympathy and charity reached in such cases until efforts for their relief and elevation go beyond simply feeding, clothing and the development of their mental capacity, unless they are also trained to habits of industry and to systematic and productive labor. In the cases of those who have homes to go to, their presence will not be a burden to themselves and their friends. Others will be capable of self-support; still others will be left to the care of the public, and by careful training can be made happier by regular labor, and contributing that much to their own support, it being but just to have them accomplish whatever they can in this direction as well as humane to give them definite occupation. Much more might be said upon this subject, but with the facts before the public, a given number of dependent ones to be cared for, it will only be a question as to the best way in which to do it. This has been fully answered for the girls at the Newark branch of this institution, where a cheerful and happy family demonstrate that it is a more humane provision in behalf of this class to gather them into such a shelter than to permit their exposure to the vicissitudes of life outside, possibly to increase their kind. Each instance a monument of neglect of society, and criminality of individual members thereof. It is further answered in the case of the boys at Fairmount, where a happy colony of working boys are each day performing the labor assigned them. This family or department is capable of indefinite enlargement, its limit being facilities for employment and accommodation for the children. All of the work of extensive farming and gardening can be well done by them, and the products so ordered that they may be used in the institutions. The interchange of labor and co-ordination of work suggest vicinity of location of the several departments, to say nothing of the facility of administration, economy and careful oversight.