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Land is much cheaper here, than there, which permits the occupation of the inmates to a greater degree in farming and gardening operations, in which employments the best financial results are attained.

In many cases here the county poor-houses are very moderate in size, and when well managed the inmates sustain almost a family relation to their care-takers. In all such cases those who have come from them to receive an education at the state institution could, after their terms of instruction were fulfilled, be returned to the same poor-houses, with the expectation that habits of self care and industry may be kept up by judicious management there.

After these exceptions, my observations of the British institutions and policy of management of idiots, leads me to the conviction that their experience and example would confirm the opinions and views of the trustees of this asylum, expressed in their earliest reports, and often reiterated since.

The practical expression of these views would lead to the continuance of this institution in the same line of policy as hitherto, namely, as an educational establishment. It might be enlarged to a moderate extent, to cover a slight modification of present plans. In fact, I think that this would be quite desirable. Thus we could add to our present capacity, accommodations for about sixty pupils. This would add to the convenience of a structure built when the precise needs of the inmates of such an institution were a matter of surmise, rather than actual knowledge. At the same time, it would provide a few work-rooms and workshops.

A few of the best pupils might then be retained a little longer than the customary period, to assist in household matters and in the care of the children, and also to constitute a nucleus for extended industrial occupations. This would not interfere with the past educational policy of the institution, but would enable the officers to apply this education to a little wider range of industrial pursuits.

By this change, two things would be accomplished. The real practical ends of the training and instruction in the school department, would be more constantly before the eyes of those engaged directly in the work of instruction.

Again, for some years to come, it is not to be expected that all or a majority of the idiots of the state will be gathered into institutions specially designed for them; nor is it entirely certain that such aggregation is the best mode of providing for the care of all included in the wide range of the term idiot. This would then be, in one sense, a model institution; its immediate aim, to develop capacity out of incapacity; its incidental purpose, by its practical training, to modify favorably the management and treatment of all the class wherever situated. It would be seen that a fair proportion of their number were capable of some degree of work, and of a varied character. It would point the way to the best and most economical methods of managing even the most helpless ones of the class. The additions proposed to accomplish this plan would not exceed the sum of $35,000.

The other suggestion of this board, so often reiterated in their reports, was the establishment of a supplementary institution to receive the unteachable and adult cases of idiocy. It is important to bear in mind, in this connection, that the line that separates the teachable from the unteachable is not one of original mental defect, so much as of associated disease or deformity; that is to say, the majority of idiots who would prove to be unteachable under proper efforts of instruction, are so diseased or deformed as to be fairly rated as hospital or infirmary cases. Intelligent children or persons with the same amount of disease, would hardly be put to school. This has a bearing on the question of the kind of provision that should be made for the two classes.

This supplementary provision might be made in connection with the asylum for chronic insane at Willard, or by the erection of an independent establishment at some convenient point in the state. In either case, the necessary buildings would be of a very inexpensive character; so, too, the cost of maintenance of such cases would be very moderate.

In closing this report, it is my good fortune to be able to express my entire satisfaction with the conduct of my assistants of every grade, in their several departments of duty and labor. I have found them ever ready to do not only their customary duties, but whatever of unusual service the exigencies of an asylum like ours demanded. If any credit attaches to my management as superintendent, I desire to share it with those, without whose cordial and efficient aid, my labors would have been in vain.

H. B. WILBUR, Superintendent.
SYRACUSE, N. Y., January 1, 1876.

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, 1875.