Jackson. Its inmates are almost entirely from the Upper Peninsula.

Occupation and Discipline.-The prisoners are kept constantly employed at hard labor. Although it is very difficult to restore hardened criminals to a life of honor and usefulness, yet separation from evil associations, the opportunity for reflection, and the moral and religious influences which are brought to bear upon them, are all designed for this end. No system, however, has yet been devised that will reach all criminals, and it is a lamentable fact that but a very few become good citizens, after serving a term in the State Prison.

The Asylum for Dangerous and Criminal Insane.-This asylum is more especially used in connection with the prisons and the asylums for the insane. It takes from the prisons those who are insane and from the asylums all inmates who have developed dangerous or homicidal tendencies. Its aim is to isolate dangerous cases, and to restore, as far as possible, to reason the criminal insane.

Board of Corrections and Charities.-The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints a Board of Correction and Charieties for the general supervision of charitable, penal, pauper, and reformatory institutions. It is the duty of this Board to visit and thoroughly examine the prisons, asylums, and reformatories, as well as the jails and poor-houses of the several counties. It cannot interfere with the functions of the boards of control having immediate

care of these institutions, nor can it interfere directly with the internal management of any of these establishments; but it scrutinizes their management, points out their defects, reports to the Governor their excellencies and their faults, and makes such suggestions as it may deem proper. Two evils are liable to arise in all public and private institutions:

I.

2.

Officials are in danger of exercising too arbitrary power, and of neglecting and abusing those intrusted to their care.

When institutions are left to themselves, they are in danger either of running in familiar ruts or of degenerating.

Frequent visitation and inspection have a tendency to prevent these evils. Abuse of power is thus brought to the knowledge of the public, a greater regard is paid to the welfare of the inmates, and improved methods are suggested and carried out.

The Board consists of four members appointed for eight years, one being appointed every two years. They are paid their traveling and other necessary expenses. The Governor is a member of the Board by virtue of his office.

County Agents of the State Board.-In many of the counties of the State, an agent of the Board of Corrections and Charities is appointed by the Governor. The duties of this officer are exceedingly important. He is required,

I. To look after the interests of juvenile offenders in his county. When an offense, not punishable with imprisonment for life, has been com

mitted by any boy or girl, it is the duty of the county agent to examine into all the facts and circumstances, and advise with the magistrate who has jurisdiction of the case, as to how the public interest and the interest of the child can be best subserved.

2. To visit, as often as once a year, all children in his county who have been placed in charge of others by any State Board or officer of the State, and see whether they are properly treated and cared for.

3. To watch over and care for deserted and neglected children, and to assist in finding homes for them. He represents the watchful care of the State over the homeless and dependent children.

County agents, in addition to their expenses, receive three dollars for each child that has been properly attended to. The compensation in any one year can not exceed one hundred dollars, except in a few counties where it is limited to two hundred dollars.

STATE INSTITUTIONS.

I. CHARITABLE.

a. State Public School,

Coldwater.

b. Michigan School for the Deaf,

Flint.

c. Michigan School for the Blind,

Lansing.

2.

d. Asylums for the Insane,

Kalamazoo, Pontiac, and Traverse
City.

e. Michigan Soldiers' Home,

Grand Rapids.

REFORMATORY AND PENAL.

a. State Reform School,
Lansing.

b. Industrial Home for Girls,

Adrian.

c. State House of Correction and Reform

atory,
Ionia.

d. Detroit House of Correction,

Detroit.

e. State Prison,

Jackson.

f. State House of Correction and Branch of the State Prison,

Marquette.

g. Michigan Asylum for Dangerous and

Criminal Insane,

Ionia.

CHAPTER XI.

THE MILITIA.

Military Forces.--It is the custom among foreign nations to support, at great expense, large armies in time of peace, in order to maintain the authority of the government, and to defend the State in case of war. The necessity of supporting a large army is not as great in our own country as it is among foreign nations, and it is not in keeping with the spirit of American institutions. There is a deep-seated prejucice against maintaining a large military force in time of peace, for the reason that standing armies have been the instruments of despotisms in the past, they necessitate the expenditure of large sums of money for their support thus diminishing the industrial resources of the country, and they endanger the liberties of the people. The national government maintains a small military force to protect its frontiers and to garrison its forts, but the States are forbidden by the Constitution of the United States to keep standing armies.

The Militia.-That the State may at all times be able to enforce its laws and to protect its institutions, a State militia is established. The militia is a body of citizens enrolled or trained for military duty. They are liable at any time to be called out to aid the civil authorities in the enforcement of the laws, or to defend