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In compliance with an order of the City Council, authorizing the disposal of the "Henry Morrison" at private sale, the boat has been sold to parties in Gardiner, Maine, for the sum of $4,000, cash. The net amount, $3,642, after deducting charges for wharfage, ship-keeping and advertising, has been paid to the City Collector.

The annual reports of the Superintendents are appended to this report. They are worthy the especial attention of the City Council for their valuable information in relation to the details of the several institutions.

The following table shows the average number of inmates, the aggregate expenditure for House of Industry (including Almshouse and House of Reformation), House of Correction and Lunatic Hospital, and the average expenditure for each inmate, from the first of January, 1860, to April 30, 1876:

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The average expenditure for each inmate during the past year has been less than at any time since 1862.

DEER ISLAND.

At no period in the history of the institutions at Deer Island has such a demand been made upon the accommodations of the place as during the past year. The number committed to the House of Industry alone has been 7,646an increase of 280 over the previous year, while the average number of prisoners has exceeded by 81 that of the former year. The increase in the other departments, es

pecially in the Almshouse, has been in about the same proportion. To provide accommodations for this greatly increased number the Superintendent has been obliged to avail himself of every possible space, appropriating the chapel floor, the prison corridors, packing and crowding the dormitories, and using room never intended to be used as sleeping-room. The reports of former years have been burdened with repeated requests for relief for these overcrowded wards and dormitories, and yet the need for more room is greater than ever before. To the casual observer, who visits the wards and corridors when the prisoners are engaged in their daily occupations, there appears to be ample room to comfortably dispose of all who may be committed to the institutions; but only those whose duty it is to provide the accommodations for the inmates can realize anything of the great inconvenience and trouble experienced in arranging for so large a number of persons in a comparatively limited space. While the numbers of inmates constantly and steadily increase the accommodations are not furnished in the same proportion, and although within a few years several buildings have been erected for special purposes, to remove work-rooms and laundry from the main building, yet but little space has been acquired for those who have come in to occupy all the room obtained. These new buildings have secured greater convenience for the management of the institutions, but the great want more sleeping-room for the increased numbers of the inmateshas not been relieved by these changes, however desirable in themselves.

The same difficulty has been experienced at Rainsford Island. At one time during the winter 282 inmates were literally packed into the same space that was crowded the year before with 242 inmates. The largest number at one time at Rainsford was 296, but of these 14 were provided with bunks in the attic of the bakery previously unoccupied.

The Charlestown-District Almshouse has been used to its full capacity, the average number of inmates being 81, an increase of 21 over the previous year. The building has now as many inmates as it can well accommodate, so that no more people can be provided for there without overcrowding. At this place the expenditure for each inmate has been $91.72 for the year, against $140.68 the previous year, a decrease of $45.96; and the actual cost has been $82.45 per year, against $108.05 the former year, a decrease of $25.60, the actual cost being but $1.58 per week for each inmate. In addition to the number fully supported 1,095 persons have been fed by the Superintendent at the door; an

average of three per day, the cost of which is included in statistics above given.

The City Council of the present year has appropriated the sum of $17,000, for fitting up the buildings on the Austin Farm and maintaining an Almshouse there. The Farm has been placed uuder the charge of Mr. Joel L. Bacon, who has been the chief farmer at Deer Island for several years. The work of preparing the buildings for the reception of the inmates is rapidly progressing, and the place will soon be occupied. About fifty of the female inmates of Deer Island can be accommodated at the Farm, but the relief to Deer Island in removing that number will be but temporary, as the number of female inmates is steadily increasing, in consequence of the recent changes in the laws of settlement.

In the last annual report the subject of providing suitable accommodation for the truant children apart from the inmates of the House of Reformation, sentenced for criminal offences, received an extended notice by the Board. The plan then proposed was to erect a building on the same general plan as the present Pauper School building and in connection with it; but during the year the City Council has directed the fitting up of the old Almshouse on Marcella street for this purpose. The work of remodelling is now going on, under the direction of the Committee on Public Buildings. Recently some members of the Board, through the courtesy of the Committee and the City Architect, have examined the work in progress and the plans of remodelling, and upon their report the Board of Directors have addressed a communication to the City Architect, setting forth some changes and additions which they consider essential to prepare the building for the purpose intended. The completion of this building will afford considerable relief to the schools at Deer Island, and is a step in the right direction to promote the true reformation of the class of children to be accommodated there. But the transfer of these boys to the home on Marcella street will afford relief only to the House of Reformation, in the main building. The number of inmates in the Pauper School has of late increased to such an extent, in consequence of the commitment of large numbers of neglected children, as to cause much inconvenience in the overcrowding of the building devoted to them, and considerable anxiety as to their proper accommodation.

The work of the agents for discharged prisoners has been continued throughout the year with beneficial results. The plan of their work was fully explained in the last annual report, and no change has taken place either in the method or results. The agents have devoted their time to the work,

and have rendered valuable assistance to a very large number of persons. Mr. McCarthy has had under his care 1,369 discharged male prisoners, and Miss Burnham 1,355 female prisoners and pauper women, and we are satisfied that much good has resulted from their active and efficient labors.

The average expenditure for each inmate of the Deer Island institutions and almshouses has been $12.82 less than the expenditure of the former year.

LUNATIC HOSPITAL.

At the commencement of the year the number of patients was 198. 50 patients have been admitted, and 45 discharged, leaving in the institution at the close of the year 203,- an increase of 5.

In addition to this number, on the first day of April, 1876, there were 202 city patients in the State hospitals; 162 at Taunton, 32 at Worcester, and 7 at Northampton. One year ago the number of city patients in the State hospitals was 146. The increase for the year has been 56.

The whole number of city patients under treatment during the year has been 536; 248 at South Boston, and 288 at the State hospitals.

The whole number under treatment in 1860 was 265; 1865, 251; 1870-71, 317; 1875–76, 536.

The report of the Superintendent contains many interesting facts in relation to the work of the hospital during the year, and valuable suggestions in regard to providing accommodations for the insane of our city. Those who are familiar with the condition of the State hospitals will readily appreciate the necessity which exists of providing increased accommodation for this class of our citizens. The accommodations furnished by the State do not keep pace with the steadilyincreasing number of patients, and the statement of the Superintendent, that the completion of the new hospital at Danvers, from which so much relief has been anticipated, will fail to provide the adequate space for all our insane, may well excite the earnest attention and consideration of the City Council.

The suggestion in regard to the committal of the insane to the hospital at South Boston has been the subject of special mention in the reports of the Board for several years past. It would seem that nothing more can be added by the Board to what has already been written on this important matter. We can but repeat the earnest recommendations of former reports, and request of the City Council a speedy repeal of

the order of December 21, 1871. The facts as stated by the Superintendent have been borne out in the experience of another year, and will probably continue while the order referred to remains in force.

The average expenditure for each inmate has been $29.88 less, and the actual cost $40.56 less, than for the previous financial year.

HOUSE OF CORRECTION.

Under the efficient management of the new master, this institution has maintained its reputation for good discipline and effectiveness. The average number of inmates has been 587, an increase of 12 over last year. The expenditure has decreased $12,182.54, or $24.66 for each prisoner for the year. The Board are gratified in being able to report this fact, although, owing to the decrease in the amount of income received, the actual running expenses have increased about $3,000 for the year, or $2.95 for each prisoner. If, however, we allow for the whole amount earned during the year, including the amounts now due from responsible parties, which will doubtless soon be paid, the running expenses have decreased to the amount of $8.36 for each prisoner for the year. This condition is the more gratifying from the fact that the depression in business has been more general than during the former year. And when we consider the great stagnation in manufacturing interests throughout the entire year, the result to this institution is more favorable than could reasonably be expected.

In the matter of earnings of the prisoners, the House of Correction has but shared the common fate of institutions of this character, for all the reports of kindred institutions that reach us show a great falling off in the amounts received for labor of prisoners. This has been more marked in the institutions that have been nearly or quite self-sustaining in years past than in any others. Contractors have

been obliged by the state of business to stop work and abandon their contracts, and the convicts, if employed at all, have been re-let at lower rates, while at our House of Correction there has been no decrease in the prices charged for manufacturing, the only drawback to a more favorable result being a lack of work, which is accountable for solely by reason of the condition of trade. The House of Correction compares favorably with all the institutions of which we have any knowledge, and the Board are satisfied that with a revival of business there will be ample employment for the prisoners in the manufacture of clothing with satisfactory re

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