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No. 10.

LEGISLATURE, 1855.

REPORT of the Trustees of the Michigan Asylums.

To the Legislature of the State of Michigan:

The Trustees of the Michigan Asylums submit the following report: Their first duty was to ascertain what were the views of the Legislature in the acts and appropriations relating to the proposed Asylums for the Insane, and for the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind; what the condition of the fund applicable to the purposes in view, and what the action taken by the first Board of Trustees.

It appeared that two money appropriations had been made by the Legislature, out of the general fund, viz: April 2, 1850, one of five thousand dollars, to be used in the construction of the Asylums and for other necessary expenses, and February 15, 1853, one of twenty three thousand dollars; of which latter appropriation, according to the terms of the act, twenty thousand dollars "may be used from time to time, as shall become necessary in the construction of buildings for the Asylum for the Insane, and three thousand dollars for the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, and for other necessary expenses attending the same.'' These sums were made payable on warrants to be drawn by the Clerk and approved by the President of the Board, and countersigned by the Auditor General.

By section 3 of the last named act, it was made the duty of the Board to adopt plans for the building of said Asylums, and to advertise for proposals for the building of such parts thereof and furnishing the same, as can conveniently be built and finished under the appropriations made, and within the sums donated, and to make contracts with such bidders as in the opinion of the Board shall make proposals best conducive to the interests of the State. These contracts they are required to deposit with the Auditor General, and to file with him accounts and vouchers for the money drawn from the Asylum fund.

It also appeared that donations had been made by the citizens of Kalamazoo, in addition to ten acres of land, amounting to the sum of one thousand three hundred and eighty dollars; and by the citizens of Flint, in addition to the ten acres of land donated by T. B, W. Stockton, Esq., and ten acres donated by the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Michigan, of three thousand one hundred and twenty-nine dollar, most of which sums were payable in labor and materials for building.

The Board fully concurred in the judicious course pursued by the first Board of Trustees, in the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land near Kalamazoo, to be used as the site and for the purposes of the Hospital for the Insane, in lieu of the the ten acres originally dona ted, and in accordance with the provisions of the act, the latter tract was offered for sale, and a sale effected for the sum of one thousand two hundred and eighty dollars, being a full equivalent for the sum paid for the one hundred and sixty acres, the title to which was secured and recorded.

The late Board also presented to the Legislature plans of two of the most approved Institutions for the Insane in the United States, but without any specific recommendation. The several plans of Institutions for this purpose, and also for Deaf Mutes, and for the Blind, differ so widely, and are in general so deficient in many improvements, deemed by the enlightened experience of the present age important to be introduced into new institutions, that the Board experienced great difficul ty in arriving at such conclusions in regard to the plans to be adopted, as the best interests of the State and of humanity seemed to require at their hands. It became necessary that one or more of their members should visit some of the Eastern Asylums, with a view of obtaining the

best information and collecting the necessary data which should govern the Board in proceeding to construct Asylums in this State. Accor dingly, Mr. Kellogg, who had been appointed by the Board to superintend the erections for the Insane at Kalamazoo, was deputed to visit some of the best Eastern Institutions, with such aid from Mr. Hubbard as he should deem important; and Mr. Walker was deputed to visit the Institutions at New York and Connecticut, for the Deaf, Dumb and the Blind. No pains have been spared which in the opinion of the Board could assist them in obtaining the very best data on these difficult subjects, the results of which will now be laid before you.

ORGANIZATION OF THE ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB AND THE BLIND.

The experiment of bringing together in the same Institution, the deaf mutes and the blind, has been fairly tried in Europe, as well as in several instances in this country. It is believed to be the almost unanimous testimony of those who have had the opportunity of testing the question, that no advantage results, except what may accrue from the economy of having one Superintendent and one building, where the number is small. On the other hand, it is the nearly universal testimony that these unfortunate classes derive little, if any benefit, from the association, that they are averse to each others society, and that it is a bar to their improvement. We believe it to be the most enlightened policy to entirely separate them, in distinct Institutions, governed by separate heads. Such, we have no doubt, will be the eventual policy of this State. This separation may not be required for some years, and your Trustees had no choice on this subject, the law of the State requiring the two classes to be conjoined.

It became necessary, therefore, to obtain the sorvices of a Superintendent, who had experience in the instruction of both classes, and such we are happy to state, has been found, in the person of B. M. Fay, A. M., a gentleman who was for several years teacher in the Institution for the deaf and dumb of New York, under Dr. Peet, and more recently in the State Institution for the blind in Indiana.

In making an appointment thus early, of a Principal of the Institutution for the deaf and dumb, and the blind, of this State, the Trustees were governed by the consideration, that the best interest of the State, as well as the spirit of the law, under which the Institution is created,

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demanded as prompt action as could be taken, to afford the means of instruction to that unfortunate portion of our population-already to be counted by hundreds-who are shut out by the act of Provide ce from the enjoyment of the ordinary means of education, which our State affords to all her hearing and seeing children. It appears by the late census of the State, that, in the Counties reported, there are two hundred and six deaf and dumb, and one hundred and seventy six blind persons. From eight Counties no reports are received, and there is reason to suppose, from experience heretofore, and elsewhere, that the actual number of these unfortunates is not fully ascertained. The proportion of deaf mutes to the population in the United States, has been ascertained to be about one to every two thousand. Assuming this to be the proportion here, the number of deaf mutes in Michigan (with a population of more than a half a million,) would not be far short of two hundred and sixty. The number reported by the census of 1850, was one hundred and ninety-four, and of blind, one hundred and twenty-five. It will therefore be safe to presume that we have of the former class, at least two hundred and fifty, and of the latter one hundred and ninety.

The Institution contemplated by the organic law, is not, like that of the Insane, a curative establishment, but a school for instruction, in such branches of mental culture, and such kinds of trades and business as may fit the recipients to maintain themselves, where they shall have passed from the care of the State. The object sought does not require a large preliminary expenditure in building, and it was deemed important not to delay the care which the State had determined to bestow, until a large and costly edifice could be erected.

In view of these facts, and aware also of the delay which attends the opening of an institution of the kind, and the reluctance of many per son to the removal of their unfortunate children from the parental roof, the Trustees deemed it advisable to open a school as soon as possible, in a suitable building hired for the purpose. It was also anticipated that in this way a large number of pupils would be ready when the Asylum building should be completed. It has been found furthermore, by experience in other States, that much difficulty and delay occur in making known, in the proper quarters, the provision which the State has made for this portion of her population.

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