Nov 30, 1899, 474 ditches were surveyed by his office, amounting to 863.3 miles. Since that time there has been no funds available and the board has ordered no further surveys. FEES. The Engineer's office received the following fees in the last two years: 1899... .$1,465.75 1,800.50 $3,266.20 Which amount has been covered into the State Treasury. THE BOARD OF CONTROL. A review of the operations of this board is contained in the State Engineer's report. During the two years ending Nov. 30, 1900, this board selected 100,000 acres of lieu land for leasing purposes. This amount of land was divided into 301 selections, averaging 330 acres each During the past twoyears certificates of appropriation of water were issued by the board to the number of 389. The board has adjudicated the water rights of two of the largest rivers in the state when number of acres irrigated is considered; also those of a very important stream bounding the Shoshone Indian reservation on. the north. In the adjudication of the Gray Bull river, 229 proofs were submitted and no contest whatever was initiated. Under the immediate supervision of the Assistant State Engineer, gauging stations have been maintained on all the principal streams that it was possible to attend to properly.. THE STATE EXAMINER. The importance of this office should not be underrated, as during the past two years it has probably saved the state more than double the cost of maintaining it. In the matter of the examination of assessment rolls, alone, in order to ascertaim whether all assessments made were returned to the state, the work that has been accomplished by the examiner has resulteď in a saving to the state of more than $9,300, or about 50 per cent more than the office has cost during the past two years. Under the careful supervision and instruction of the StateExaminer, the expenses of maintaining county governments has decreased from $412,000 in 1892, to $295,000 in 1899. State offices and institutions have been thoroughly examined and the offices of all counties have been examined with one exception, during the past twenty months. The volume of business in all county and state offices has increased rapidly in the last two years and much more time is required for examinations than formerly. This office now supervises and examines annually nine state banks. These banks, in addition to nine private institutions, report five times each year on call. The banks are all in good condition and the Examiner estimates that there is a per capita of $70 on deposit in the banks of the state. The bond sales within the state during the past two years have been supervised by the Examiner, thus preventing any illegalities or technical errors in the proceedings. Wyoming is acknowledged to be among the foremost states in the Union in the administration of public affairs and was among the first to create the position of State Examiner. We have been free from defalcation and embezzlement and other states are now beginning to adopt the course that we have pursued. STATE INSTITUTIONS· The report of the State Board of Charities and Reform for the year 1899-1900 is before you, and should be of much interest as a showing of the great progress and saving that has been made in the management of the several state institutions, each of them being in a flourishing condition. I desire to call your attention to each separately. THE WYOMING GENERAL HOSPITAL. This institution which had been a burden on the taxpayers in the past, has become nearly self-supporting, as will be seen by the following statement: In 1898, with an average daily attendance of 19.8 patients, the gross cost was. Less earnings by the institution... Leaving a burden on the state of..... In 1899 with an average daily attendance of 29.3 patients, the grocs cost was... Less earnings by institution... Leaving a cost to the state of.. In 1900, with an average daily attendance of 29.49 patients, the gross cost was... Less earnings of the institution. Leaving a cost to the state of only... . $13,136.11 6,260.60 $6,874.42 . $15,015.72 .$ 2.768.57 $13,505.78 .$ 917.55 Thus there has been a saving to the tax-payers between the cost in 1898 and the cost this year of ($5,956.87) nearly $6.000. With the funds raised by the special levy made by the legislature of 1899 for this institution, the board has constructed a new boiler house and laundry; remodeled the entire heating plant, which was found not only defective but dangerous; put in a sewage system and constructed the west wing of the hospital, thus making it one of the best appointed and equipped hospitals in the west. PENITENTARIES. The keeping of the convicts at the Laramie penitentiary being fixed by contract, it has not been in the power of the board to make much of a showing in the reduction of expenses, yet with an average increase of 12.07 per cent in the number of convicts kept per day, the total cost of this institution for the year has increased over the cost for the year 1898 only 4.60 per cent and the daily cost per capita has been reduced 1-10 of one per cent. The convicts are well kept and provided for and are in as good a condition physically and mentally as can be expected under the circumstances of confinement. The penitentiary at Rawlins has been and is in the course of being put in as good condition for occupancy as could be done with the means at the disposal of the board Under Sections 644, 645, 646 of the Revised Statutes, the State Board was required to repair the Rawlins penitentiary, provide workshops, etc., and, after a careful inspection, remove the prisoners confined in the Laramie penitentiary to Rawlins prior to Jan. 1st., 1901, but the funds available were found inadequate to put the place in proper condition for the safety of the guards and the safe custody and welfare of the prisoners and the board, therefore, found it impossible to make the transfer. A high plank fence has been constructed enclosing the ground on the north side of the new penitentiary and connected with the main wall of the building. The roof has been repaired, much work done on the plumbing and a workshop built in the vard. This has exhausted the means at our command and there still remains many improvements and repairs necessary to a proper equipment of the premises. I go thus into details to show that the board has not wilfully failed to execute the law. I would urgently recommend that a joint committee be appointed who shall visit the Rawlins penitentiary in company with the lessee of the penitentiary and very carefully ascertain what shall be necessary to be done to make the new institution fit to accommodate our convicts: make an estimate of the cost and an appropriation to cover the same and the board will have the work done at the lowest obtainable figure and when completed, move the prisoners as provided by law. HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. may be There is but one more patient in this institution now than there was in 1898, notwithstanding the fact that the admission for the past year has been two more than the average for the previous five years. The per capita cost of maintaing this institution has increased six cents over that of 1898, due to the necessity, as the board believes, upon thorough investigation, of employing additional help for the proper care of the patients. Some legislation is certainly necessary; first, to prevent the present easy method of sending patients, at the state's expense. to the institution who should be cared for at the expense of their families; and, second, to enable the board to rid the institution of inmates sent into the state from other states. The recommendations of the superintendent as to these matters are called to your attention. Contracts for erecting the addition provided for by Ser 1848 Revised Statutes, have been let, amounting to $21,168— this being within the appropriation-and a saving of $1,000 'having been made, by the employment of the inmates in making the necessary excavation. The board has also erected an ice house at a cost of $225. which will pay for itself in saving to the state the cost of ice. and has also built and equiped a much-needed laundry at an expense of $529.08. THE SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME. In the report of the State Board of Charities and Reform is incorporated an instructive report from the commandant of the Wyoming Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Since the establishment of this institution in 1895, 71 persons have been admitted as members of the home. The present membership is 21; the gain during the year by admission and re-admission was 18; the losses from various causes was 13; leaving a net gain in membership over the preceding year of 5. There are two dependents (members' wives) in the home at present. The average attendance of males for the year was 21.25; females, 2.66. The average cost of manterane per capita for the year ending Sept. 30, 1898, was $288.85. The average cost for the past year was $211.56-thus making a saving of more than $67 per capita over the cost of maintenance for the year 1898. The total cost of naintenance for the past year was $5,234.38. Of this an. ant $1,507 was received from the general government as provided by law. As the time passes, these honoicu wards of our nation and our state, the old soldiers, who, on the field of battle, risked their lives in the valiant defense of their country, grow more helpless and infirm. To my mind, it is but seemly and fitting, that we, in recognition of their bravery and self-sacrifice, should do everything in our power to make their declining years as comfortable as circumstances will permit. To that end, I commend to your thoughtful consideration the suggestion made by the commandant of the home that a hospital room be fitted up for the use of those old soldiers whose age and infirmities demand it and I therefore earnestly recommend that an appropriation be set aside for that purpose. BIG HORN HOT SPRINGS. Under the provisions of Sec. 1847, the State Board of Charities and Reform has let a contract for the building of a bridge over the Big Horn river at the springs for $9,990. which will be completed on Feb. 1st, 1901. The formation and grounds have been enclosed with a wire fence at a cost of $28.40 and the property is under the supervision of a competent superintendent at a cost of $25 per month. The board has promulgated rules for the management of the springs and the leasing of privileges, which, it is hoped, will bring in a considerable revenue in the near future. JUVENILE DELINQUENTS There are five male delinquents at the State Industrial School at Golden, Colo., at a cost of $719.32 per annum and five female delinquents at the Good Shepherd Industrial school at Denver. Colo., at a cost of $725.80 per annum. DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND. There are six pupils at the Colorado State School, Colorado Springs, and three at the Utah School at Ogden. The cost of maintaining these pupils is $250 per annum each. Transportation to and from schools and clothing is furnished by the parents. FEEBLE MINDED CHILDREN. The state is supporting one at the South Dakota Children's Home at a cost of $12 per month. STATE LIBRARIES. Hon. John Slaughter, State Librarian, presents an inter-esting report relative to the State Law Library. During the past two years 1616 volumes have been added to the State Law |