benches for seating all the convicts. One hundred and twenty-five dollars has been expended in lumber, for relaying some of the old shop floors, and one hundred dollars for lumber for plank walks to the different work-shops in the yard. And I have also had the new dwelling house, erected by my predecessor, Mr. Goodwin, finished and painted, and by your recommendation, in April last, I added a few fixtures of furniture, and took possession, and have occupied it since. The old dwelling house being rented to the prison's clerk for seventy-five dollars per year.

Since my last annual report, it has fallen to my lot to have the re-letting of the different contracts for convict labor, and I regret I am not able to make a more favorable report on this subject.

The wagon contract was let some time in January last to Messrs. Davis, Austin & Co., of Kalamazoo,, for the working of from 35 to 50 convicts for five years from the first of May last, at 38 cents for each convict per day,-an increase over former contract of three

c ents

The shoe contract, lately in the hands of F. W. Anthony, Esq., and which expired on the first of September last, was let to Mr. Walter Fish, of Jackson, for 20 men for five years from and including the 20th of September last, at 35 cents per day for each convict.

And the contract of Messrs. Pinney, Connable & Co., for the manufacture of farming utensils, has been let to Messrs. Pinney & Lamson, for the working of from 80 to 100 men for five years from the first of May next, at 31 cents per day.

At all of these lettings, unwearied pains were taken to induce competition, but with little success. The wagon contract was twice advertised. The shoe contract was advertised at three different times

before a bid worthy of acceptance could be obtained. And in case of the contract for the manufacture of farming utensils, there was no competition whatever.

I am aware that an opinion has prevailed to some extent, that when the labor of convicts should be re-let, the State would be able to obtain better terms from contractors. Whether this opinion has been based upon a knowledge of the prison system of working convicts, and the productiveness of their labor; or, whether it has been more

upon hearing statements of the transactions of prisons of other states, -of course I am not prepared to say. But by referring to the various official reports of the state prisons in the different eastern, middle and northern states of the Union, I am very confident ours will not suffer by comparison. And it gives me pleasure to say, that with the small advance on labor over former prices, and a judicial arrangement and disposition of the prisoners, we may hereafter expect a still greater improvement in the working and financial affairs of the prison.

Finanlly, gentlemen, permit me, in closing this report, to tender my grateful acknowledgements for the kind and courteous manner in which I have at all times been treated by you during our official in

tercourse.

WM. C. PEASE,

Agent..

STATE OF MICHIGAN.

No. 10.

LEGISLATURE, 1853.

REPORT of the Board of Trustees of the Michigan Asylums.

To the Governor of the State of Michigan:

The Board of Trustees of the Michigan Asylum for the education of the Deaf and Dumb and Blind, and of the Asylum for the Insane, respectfully report:

In the last annual report made by this Board, we took occasion to refer to the inadequacy of the quantity of land selected under the law organizing this Board, for a site for the Asylum for the Insane Ten acres was the amount donated by the citizens of Kalamazoo, upon which the site was located. It was found on a further examination of the subject, to be the unanimous opinion of all persons of experience in like institutions with whom this Board have had communication, that the quantity was totally inadequate for the purpose designed; and to construct an asylum upon it would be to hazard much of the usefulness of the institution in the face of a universal experience. The Board of Trustees fully concurring with this opinion, and an opportunity offering for the favorable purchase of a very desirable location near the village of Kalamazoo, containing the necessary quantity of land, and another indispensable requisite, an abundant supply of pure water, decided to make the purchase. The tract purchased contains one hundred and sixty acres, and lies about one-half mile south-west of the village of Kalamazoo, on an eleva

ted table about seventy-five feet above the plain on which the village is built, so that the buildings would overlook the village. It is what is termed oak openings, and the Arcadia Creek runs across the northwest corner of it. This stream takes its rise from several large springs but a short distance above, and therefore always affords an abundant supply of pure water, which never freezes. There is fall enough on the quarter section to enable us to carry the water by means of a water-ram, over every portion of the land, and to any part of the buildings which may be constructed thereon. The highway from Dry Prairie divides the quarter section into nearly equal parts. On the west side of it we have underbrushed about forty acres, and prepared it for breaking. All on that side of the road is enclosed by a fence, the portion along the road being built of oak posts and pine boards. It is contemplated that the buildings will be erected on the portion west of the highway; that east of it should be cleared, fenced and cultivated as soon as possible.

The amount paid for the land was twelve hundred and eighty dollars, being at the rate of eight dollars per acre. It is believed that the ten acres donated will sell for nearly or quité enough to pay for this purchase.

According to the census returns of 1850, as taken from the report of Mr. Kennedy, the superintendent of the census, the number of the deaf and dumb, blind, insane and idiotic persons in this State, is as follows:

From the imperfection of those returns in other matters, and the experience of other States in such cases, we are led to believe that this number, large as it is, falls considerably below the actual number of this unfortunate class of persons in our State, and who, as yet, have not received from the State that care and provision which every dictate of humanity and justice demands should be made for them, and which has been so liberally bestowed by all other States similarly situated, upon the same class within their ownborde rs.