Library Collections: Document: Full Text

OFFICERS.

Superintendent.
HERVEY B. WILBUR, M. D.

Matron.
MISS ALVIRA WOOD.

Housekeeper.
MRS. SUSAN E. LOESCHER.

Teachers.
MISS S. P. YOUNG,
MISS M. CAVERT,
MISS M. AMIDON
MRS. M. E. COOK,
MISS M. AMIDON,
MISS E.PERTHERAM.

Steward.
MR. WILLIAM H. WOOD.

TRUSTEES.
JAMES H. TITUS,
HENRY N. POHLMAN,
ALLEN MUNROE,
GEORGE F. COMSTOCK,
FRANKLIN TOWNSEND,
LYMAN CLARY,
E. W. LEAVENWORTH,
LAKE I. TEFT.

State Officers-Ex-officio Trustees.
JOHN T. HOFFMAN, Governor,
ALLEN C. BEACH, Lieut.-Gov.,
H. A. NELSON, Sec'y of State,
ASHER P. NICHOLS, Comptroller,
A. B. WEAVER, Supt. of Public Instruction.

Permanent chairman.
HENRY N. POHLMAN.

Secretary and Treasurer.
ALLEN MUNROE.

Executive Committee.
E. W. LEAVENWORTH,
JAMES H. TITUS,
LYMAN CLARY.

STATE OF NEW YORK.

No. 16.

IN ASSEMBLY.

January 13, 1871.

TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE NEW YORK ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.

To the Legislature of the State of New York:

Agreeably to the provisions of the act establishing this institution, the undersigned, trustees, respect fully submit this, their twentieth annual report:

The total cash receipts for the year ending September 30th, 1870, as will be seen by the treasurer's report, herewith annexed, were as follows:

The expenditures for the same period were as follows:

They are classified under sixty different heads on the books of the asylum, but are here condensed for convenience of comparison with former reports.

CASH ASSETS OF ASYLUM, OCTOBER 1st, 1870.

The actual expenses for the year, deducting the clothing bills, amounted to $28,565.63.

Dividing this by 140, the number of pupils, we have an annual average cost of $204 for each pupil.

The trustees, in their last annual report, asked of the Legislature that the annual appropriation should be increased from $25,000 to $27,000, to meet the current expenses of the present fiscal year. This was not granted. The experience of the past year, and the present condition of the finances of the institution, as above shown, induces them to hope that the annual appropriation of $25,000 may prove sufficient for all ordinary expenses till the number of pupils is increased.

Soon after this institution was established, the trustees became satisfied that its capacity was insufficient for the accommodation of a large share of the feeble-minded children resident in the State, and capable of such improvements as is its design. They, therefore, in several of their reports, have suggested to the Legislature that increased provision should be made for such purpose. They have also stated, as the result of their experience in the supervision of this institution, the urgent necessity for the establishment of a new and custodial asylum to receive and care for that portion of the idiots of the State as were unteachable from disease, age, or other causes.

Not to enlarge upon these points, which are fully set forth in the report of the superintendent to the board, hereunto annexed, they content themselves with quoting an extract or two from a former report.

"Without discussing the question of how far down in the scale of idiocy the work of education can practically go, this much may be said: That some idiots are teachable to an extent which will fully compensate for the amount of labor involved in their instruction. These certainly should be cared for by the State."

The trustees are entirely satisfied that were the present capacity of the asylum doubled, it could soon be filled by those manifestly teachable.