ELEVENTH ANNUAL HEPORT - Samford University Librarylibrary.samford.edu/digitallibrary/pamphlets/cod-001059.pdf · ELEVENTH ANNUAL HEPORT ... Principal, two male teachers, (no female

ELEVENTH ANNUAL HEPORT

-OP rHE-

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND OFTICERS

OF THE

ror. TIIE

TO THE GOVERNOR.

)!0::\TGOl\IERY, ALA. : VV . W . S C R E W S • S T A T E P R I N :rE A .

lb71.

Samford University Library



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REPORT.

OFFICE BoARD OF CoMMISSioNERS

ALA. INSTITUTION FOR DEAF, DuMB AND BLIND.

Talladega, Ala., Nov. 1, 1871.

To His Excellency, ROBERT B. LINDSAY,

Governor of Alabama: Sm: I have the honor to submit herewith the eleventh

annual report of the Board of Commissioners and Officers of the Alabama Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and

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the Blind. The several reports show the condition and progress of

the Institution, and suggest its wants. The report of the Improvement Committee is referred

to for detailed expenditure of special appropriation for improvements, furniture, &c.

The increase in the number of pupils, and the suggestions of the Principal in his report to the Board on that subject, dem11.0ds the special attention of the Legislature, and I trust will meet the approval of your excellency.

Respectfully submitted. M. H. CRUIKSHANK,

P resident.


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REPORT OF 'filE f::ECRET ARY OF THE BOARD OF COjE\liSSIONERS.

To JI. JI. Gru,"kshanl.·, Pre$ident of the Board:

Sm: I IHI\'e the honor, in accordance with the rPqnirement of s<>t·tion 5 of the by-laws of the I nstitution, to submit the followiug:

I lH'<Y leave ro state in the outset that this l'E'))Ort will ~ .

not he ll>ng, ns it w II be accom paoied with the rPports from the otlwr ofliet·rs of thr I nstitution. T here ha\•e been som<> dwngt>s in tlw oflicers of the Institution.

~[rs. ('. B. Asbury, fo r several years ou r faithful n.nd 1 flic,<>ut matron, whose kiodnes::. and devotion to the dut it•:> of l11·r oltice had endeared her to us all, has, t•n account of ill hla lrh, re;:igned. :\I rs. E. A. Johnson, teacher of the advalll'l'U class of mutes last year, has been appoimed in her gtead.

~Ir. W. ~ . .Johnson (himself l\ mute) has been added to our eorp uf teachers. The other officers and teachers the same as reportt>d la~t year.

The Bo~trd of Commi~~ioners haYe been diligent thcmseJyes, and through thei r IrnproYemeot Comrmttee, in making the improYenw nt and repairs contemplated by the act passed at the lagt ses~ion of the GcnPral As~embly.

Tire report of thP Improvement Committee will l-lhow fully what cli)'position ha'> been made of the fund appropriated fur repairs, improvements, lights, water, &c.

Tire Principal's report sets forth the present condition and future prospect~ and requirements of tire Institution.

It will ue seen from the Principal'R report, that the annual appropriation, always heretofore sufficient, must be increased to enable the Iustitution to take care of the increased number uf pupils now in attendance.

It is ouly nece.;sary, we believe, that the members of the Legi::.lature be convinced of the necessity for an increase in the appropriation, to secure its being made.

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It is the policy and determmation of the Commissioners to administer the affairs of the Institution in an economical an<l judicious manner. The Board invite the closest inspection of all the affairs of the Institution.

With fresh gratitude to God for His protecting care over us in the past, and relying upon Him for help in the future, we commit this Institution to his keeping for another year.

JO. H. JOHNSON, Secretary.


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REPORT OF THE PRINCIP,AL.

To the Commissioners: GE:l\TJ,E~tEX : At the end of another year it becomes my

duty to place up6n record a statement of the condition of the I nstitution, so far as it comes unde r my p ersonal supe r

vision. The marked liberality manifested toward it by the Gen-

eral Assembly, the enlargement of its sphere of nsefulness , growing out of iucreased numbers, the degree of health , amounting almost to exemption from sickness of any kind, enjoyed by its inmates, the improvements made in the appliances essential to the working of many of the departments, and the steady progres!:l which has been made toward realizing onr ideal of what such an institution ought to be,- all point toward the past year as one to be r emembered in our history. We fee l grateful to a kind Providence, which has' ' been over us and about us," prospering us and opening wider and wider to us the field of useful

Pess.

PUPILS IN ATTENDANCE SIXCE LAST REPORT.

Whole number mutes and bl ind . . ...... . ... .... .. 69 Number mutes . .......••. • •• .... . ... .... 53

" blin<l .. .. .. .... .. ........ ....... - ..... ....... .. .. 16-09 .. ·'

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male.:~ bli nJ ..... •.••. . .•• _ • ••• ... 8 females blind ... . . .... . .•. .. ..• . . 8 malt' mutes . . ..... . • . •..... ..• • • . 19 female mutes . .. _ .• .. .... .... . .. . 3-1:-09

Titer£' are at this time, (Oct. 30, 1871,) in t l1e I nstitution, wltule number.......... .. .... .. ... . .. . ... 58 Number mutes ........•• . .• ••• . ... ..•... . . . .45

.c b 1 i nd . .... .......... .. ........ _ ...... ~ .. . .. ............. 13- 58

Tlti-. is quite an increase over any former year a t t he opening of tlH' scssiou.

We ua\·e as teachers in the mute department, besides the Principal, two male teachers, (no female t eacher.) Messrs.

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Jehu A. Iloge and W . S. Johnson, both mutes themselves, are devoting their best energies, both in and out ol the school room, for the advancement of their classes. We have more pupils classified as they are than can be taught sati11factorily by the teachers; and I would recommend to the Board the employment of another. 1\Irs. E. A. Johnson, who taught the advanced class last year has been call~d to the duties of matron in the stead of illrs. A'!bury, who was forced to retire on account of impaired health . Our most u rgent demand now is, for a teacher for the aclvancecl class of mutes .

.lVIr. R. R. Asbury is still in charge of the class of blind pupi ls, and has met the full expectations of those whoselected him to fill this important position. :\!iss Omberg, the music teacher, has met with good success with her class, and has now the gratification of seeing some of the fru its ol her labors in this new field of instruction.

Tile duties of Steward and P hysician have been per

formed by the writer. The condition of the buildings, premises, furniture, bed

ding, &c., bas been pretty t horoughly shown in the report of the Improvemt•nt Committee, and need not oocupy any

place in this report . The iucreased number of pupils. and the addition of tl~e

bliuJ departme11t has so cncroa('hetl upon our space for school or recitation room._, that \Ye haYe been forccJ to gi,·e up two rooms in thr wood building in the n•ar o( the institution intended for bathing rooms for tlol' girls, to ue usetl as recitation rooms. The old sdwol room in the main building we no>Y usc as a sitting room for the girl-<, and a~ a s:tudy room at night. As soon as our shop buildinz is fini•dll'd we propose to u<;e our flvor as a s:.·hool room nDtil the nwans nre nH;JrJcd ns to Cl'l'd a :.uitahle scl10vl bui ld

ing wi~h a chapel included. 'Vt' pmpot:'ll' to en'ct this building east of the mai n buildin~. aud at the same distance from it as the new shor building uow being built. W e estimate the cost of such a building at- eight thousand


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dollars (~'3.000.) For this sum a building can be put up large enough, and complete in all its parts, for t!1e purpos('S of the institutillU for many years to come. We earnestly ask of your honorable body to urge this pressing want of the institution on the attention of the Leg;slature.

Onr lauudry and bakery is a poor, unsightly wooden shed, occt1pying a place in the mid Llle of the back premi- , ses. and greatly marring the appearance of the grounds, beside:! being, from its inferior anJ defective construction, difficult to keep clean.

\Ye can for a small sum remove these two indispensable establishm('nts anJ rebuild them under the roof of our old

shop building, but would r ecommend that a new brick building be erected for the purpose. The fences around the premises need repairing, and an entirely new and substantial front fence would add greatly to the appearance of the institution.

W c trust that th<' judicious and economical expenditure of the Improvement fund, heretofore granted to us, will justify the Legislature in the eyes of a generous public, in making the necessary appropriations to enable us to comp lete the e much needed improvements. As the chief executive officer of the I nstitution, I beg of the Board to iij\·ite a vi~:~it by a committee, appointed by the Legislature, to examine into and report upon the affairs and management of the Institution.

Since date of last report, embracing a period of one year and covering fou r quarterly settlemen ts with tho Boan.l, I have received the sum of twr.lve thousand and ninety-eight 18-100 dollars, from the hands of the Treasurer and from sale of horse, and have expended tha sum of twelve thousand five hundred and fo rty-fou r 75-100 dollars, leaving a balance due me of four hundred and forty-six 57-J 00 dollars. It will be seen from this statement that we have confined the expenses of the Institution within the annual appropriation of thirteen thousand

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dollars; leaving a balance to our crecl1t of fou r hundred and forty-fivtl 25-J 00 dollars.

Although this report is only intended to covrr the year ending September 30, 1871, we deem it proper to state here that, as wi II be shown by the list of pu pih! appended to this report, the number of pupils has increastd to fifty-eight, the number now in the I nstitution, and the sum appropriated for the support of the I nstitution will be insufficient.

The average cost per pupil in the I nstitution for the Deaf and Dumb is two hundred and sixty dollars. In I nstitution for the Bli nd, or where both mutes and blind pNsons a re recE-ived, the cost is greater.

We have now sixty-two pupils in the Institution, and will, 10 all probability, have seventy befo re the first of January, 1872, which, at the minimum rate of two hundred and sixty dollars each will require nearly eighteen thousand dollars to support and instruct them.

In this connection I come to speak of a matter that gives us more trouble t han any tl1ing else in connection with the management of the Institution, and that is, the suitable clothing of the pupils. Many of them are here now, almost entirely unprovided for the winter. Their fnends are either unable or unwilling to furnish them with the necessary clothes to keep them decent and comfortable. We are not allowed to furn ish them clothing at the

expense of the Institution ; we can't send them home, and we are at a g reat loss to know what to do unless some

means be provided to remedy the evil. 'l'his trouble is obviated in many States, as in Il linois antl in New York, by an act of tbe Gt>nernl Assembly a uthorizing the Superi ntendeot of the I nstitution, wbeneYer a pupil is too poor to procure clothing sufficient to keep him or her decent and comfortable, to procure the same and certify the same to the auditor of the State, whose d1 ty it is macic to tax up the amount of the cost of the clothes to the county

rom which tht} pupil comes. I o this way each county is


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ri'CJIIircll to pny for the clothing of their indegent mute and hlirul ehildrcn, pupils in tl1e State Institu~ion.

Something must be done to remedy this great evil or cl~e we shall be compelled to refuse admission to many who ought to be in school.

I u the musical dt~partment we are much in need of another piano nnd a cabinet organ. The instrument we have i:i n fine one and ought only to btl used by the more advtut<·ccl pupils. Besides, having only one instrument, time enough for practice is not allowed for each pupil.

I sub111it, herewi th, the report of a committee of five of thtl most cli11tinguished Superintendents of Institutions for the Blind in this coun try, appointed by the second conwntion of American instructors for t he Blind held at I ndiurwpolis, Indiana, on the Sth , 9th, and 1Oth of August lu~-ot, to whom wns referred the following resolution:

•·Jlrsolr('(l, That it is not expedient to instruct the blind in the !'ante in-;t itution with deal mutes."

I would rcspl•ctfully a&k that it be p1·inted with the report, tog<•thcr with the discussions on it.

I am satisfied that the position taken by the convention is com•ct uud must sooner or later, demand the attention of th(• L<·gi:,.luturc. I also submit a copy of the act of the Gt•n!'ral J\s;.,t•mbly of Il linois, passed ia 1857, and which hu'l lwt'rt f~Hilld to work well and obviate the difliculty of '' l11rh '''L' contplain in rder(;nce to the clothing of our pupil~>. I would u'>k Ll1at it be printed •vith this report.

Artd, finally, gentlcnwn, for your uniform kindness to n11• persu1mlly, and for the inte rest you have manifested in tht• ufluirs of tht• Iu:.-titutiou, I retu rn you rny sinecro thnnks. and hoJW that you may live long .,to enjoy the hnpptrtt'S!> tlwt flu\\'~ froru the recollections of a. wt>ll spent I i k.

Ht'8l'ect f u II y, Your oht.'dicnt servant,

JO. H. JOHNSO~, Principal.

1 Samford University Library

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R EPORT.

ALlnutA lNIITI'l'UTE Fon Tire Dur, Dt:YD .a.ND DusD,

In acc't with A. G. Storey, Treas'r, from Nov. HI, 1870. lo July~. 1"71.

1870. Nov. 19-To am't paid M. II. Cruikshank, Prc~<iden t 13oard

Commissioners, draft in ft\vor of J os. 11. J obnhon, Principal. ..... .. .................. ... ... ...... $ 3,029 G5

1871. Jan. 12-To am't paid M. II. Cruikshank, Prosidcnt Doanl

Commissioners, draft in favor of Jos. II. John6on, Principl\1 ..................................... .

April l -'l'o am't paid l\:1. II. Cruikshank, President llol\rd Commi!ll!ioners, draft in favor of J os. II. Johu~;on, Prlncipal .......... . ....... . . . ..... ............ .

July 10-To am't paid M. H. Cruikshank, President Board Oommi&sioners, clr:Ut in favor of J os. H. Johnson, Principal. .................................... . .

CR. 1870. Nov. 19- Dy nm't recei\·ed from SL'\te Tretlsnrer on my war-

3,100 35

3,08!1 31

$1~,018 ll

rnnt, dnte October tst, 18i0 ............... .. .... $ 3,029 r.:; 1871. J an. 12-By nm't received fram State Treasurer on my war-

rant, date January 3d, 1871 ..................... . 3,100 35 April1- By am't received from State Treasurer on my war-

rant, date March 25th, lb71 ................ ..... . 3,0~3 31 J uly 10-By am't received from Stnte Treasurer on wy war-

rant, date J uly 4th, 1871. .. ... ......... . ........ . 2,8:!1! 1>0

$1~,().jl; 11

A. G. STOllEY, Trca•ur('r.

Audited, and found oorrect. W:\I. TAYLOR, G. T. McAFEE,

.A uditiii:J C• mmittu.


Jor. IJ. Jvii~<RON, Principnl,

Iu acc·t with tho Alabama Infltitute for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind,

IS7U. Ud. I To nm't of warrant on A. G. Storey, Trens'r, dntcd

Oct,bcr 1st, lt!70 .•••... •••....•................ S 3,029 65 I ... ;!.

Jnn. 4-To nm't of warrnnt on A. G. Storey, Trens'r, dated Jnnnnry lth, 11'71. ............................. . 3,HO 37

Mur. :!.5 To uno'l of wnn;lllt on A. G. Storey, Trens'r, dntcd ll!nn·h ;l;,th, I 'ii i ............................. . :I,OHO 3:;

July 3 '1 u nm't of wurrnut on A. G. Storey, 'frentl'r, dnted July :hl, lb7l. ........... ...... ..... ........... . 2,82r.S 81

1 il70. Oet. 1 To uw'l from snlo of hort>o, Octo her 1st, 1870 ..... 50 ou

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By nm 't due· Prim·ipul. n~ per Rtnttrueu t last Rc•port ...... .. $ ];)7 15 podd •nlnrkH tl,ird qnnrter, 1'-70 ................ .. bi:l :,u

·' cnrn•ut cxpenHcs Jourth qul\l"tcr .•.•.... .' ... . 2, I l:t t-7 " ~uiRrics tnurtb CJnnrter ..... ... ............ .. l.f!07 !iU ·' cnrrcut expl·nsc:» first qunrter HS7l. ......... . 2,(101 :!:; •· t.ollaric~< fir~t qnnrter. ..................... .. l,llb5 0(1

" '· cnt n•ut cxp<:u~ec; second quarter ............ . 2,:!-t:l !;0 " Miari<:s sc•cond <Jllnrler .................... .. J,OK'i 011

ndmncc·d n. H. A~bnry on third q•tarter 11:!7 I .... . '''" ('0 paid H. R Asbur,1·, incrensed pny . . ............. . 74 45

'' ~xpcn~c s of trip canvnssiu~ for pnpilH ................ -- - --· ............... . 70 55

cxpen::~ea third quarter 1871. ......... . ... .. l,(i51 lj:)

------$12,.5 II ;;,

l:l,O!lf'l Hi -----

Amonut clnC' JoH. H. Johnson to balance •... .••.••...... l:i 41(; 31 Anclilul, and found corr~ct.

WU. TAYLOU, G. T. McAFEE,

..t udiU11g Commit/~.

l Samford University Library

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lmPORT OF TJJF. PRF.f;IDE~T OF TfiE BOARD Of' r.mDTI"STOSr-.H~

A~O CJJ,\IIDfAX 01<' THE Dll'ROVE~lEXT CO\OliTTI·:~; OF 1'111~

ALAHA~lA INSTITCTION FOR THE DEAF AXD ])Uill AX!> Till·:

BLIND.

To the Board of Commissioners : GENTLE:\lF.N-SE'ction 3 of an act entit}..,d "An art to pro~

vide for the repairs and improvement of the Alaham.l In~titution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind.'' n'qni rt'l-1 tlw Pr..,sident of the Board of CommiRflioners to inclndt> in hi-> annual report to the GovPrnor of the State a complt>tt~ and minute account of the expenditures of the appropriation made by said act.

The Board of Commissioners, at their regular tn(•ct in g. held in February last, appointed two of tlwir numlwr, towit, the President of the Board and Dr. \Vm. 'l'nylor, and the Principal of the Institution, a Committee on HPpairs and Improvements, to which was entrusted the duty of superintending the repairs and improvements rwt('s!'l:ny to be made, to procure suitable furniture, and provide lights, water, &c., for the Institution.

The committee entered promptly and earnE'stiy upon the work assigned it, and has labored fai thfully to dts~ charge the trust in a manner that would meet the »pproval of the Board, and carry out the objects of the appropriation.

The following is a detailed statement of the work donr, and expenditures made, most ol which hats bcf'u done u~dcr the general direction of the Board, and ha~ b(•e11 inspected and approved by it. The comruitte\l rrqne~ts that this statement be mnde a pnrt of the report to the Gov~ ernor of the State, in compliance with the requiremcuts of law.

Respectfully submitted, )!. H. CRUIKSIIANK,

Pt·csidcnt of the Board of Commissioncr3, and Chairman of Improt:cmcnt Committee.


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REPORT OF TllE IMPRO\EME:NT CO:Ul\IITTEE.

To the Boarcl of Commissioners : GE:-.'TLE:\rEN-Your Committee, to whom was entrusted

the matter of repairs and improvements, purchasing furniniturc, providing for lights, water, &c., for the Alabama Institution for Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, submit the

following: Deeming it of the first importance to p reserve the main

building, the committee had t he wood work thoroughly repainted, both outside and inside. The painting was done by Mr. Charles Seabrook, who executed his contract with u~ promptly and faithfully. T he painting of the gables and deep cornice was accomplished by swinging

from the roof. A substantial barn and stable has been erected. The

building is fifty feet in length by thirty in width, and has a brick foundation wall twelve inches in thickness. The first or main story is ten feet in height, and the upper half story is se,·en feet high. The building contains stalls for nine head of stock, a feed room, tool and harness room, and a wagon and carriage room fourteer.. by thirty feet in size The upper room has no partition walls. The sides are supported by iron girders, rendering the whole strong and secnre. The building is surmounted by a cupola for ventilation, and has a porch covering two-thirds ot the front. The whole is well painted and presents a fine appearance. It furnishes ample barn and stable room for the purposes of the iliStJlution for many years. A cister n constructed in the stable yard proved a failure on account of a porous. limestone rock found near the bottom.

The barn and stables were built by Mr. William Stockdale, and reflects credit on him as a b uilder.

The Board of Commissioners having decided to light the building with gas, the committee contracted with 1\IeRsrs. Eichberg and Langgesser, of Atlanta, Ga., to fit the building up with the necessary gas pipe-the work to be done according to the rules of the Philadelphia Gas Light

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Company, at 22~ cents per foot, the contractors to furnish all the material and to do the work subject to ou r approval ; the fixtures to be furnished us at list price~. To supply the gas we acted under the direction of the board and purchas~d one of Ganster's domestic gas machines, manufactured by the New York Gas Light Company. of which 1\lr. 'Vm. Foster, Jr., is president. 'Ve ordered a fifty light machine, the difference in price being one hundred and fifty dollars, was donatee] to us by tlte company. The apparatus was received and put up in July, and has g iven satisfaction. The pipeing was very carefully put io ; the floors were taken .up and the whole of it carefully concealed. T he generator is located in a brick building built for the purposP and situated eighty feet from the main building. In accordance with the request of the board of commissioners, we provided for the introduction of water into the building, and for this purpose contracted with Messrs. Eichberg and Langgesser to furnish and put up a sheet iron tank of sufficient strength, well bracnd aud riveted, six feet in diameter and five feet in height, wi th an inch rim (to hold I ,057 gallons.) This tank is placed on a circular brick tower twelve feet in diameter at the base and thirty-two feet high. From this tank i1-1 run an inch and a hulf pipe to supply wash basius in the main building and boiler in kitchen. We also contracted with the same parties to furnish and put up eighteen wash basins, consisting each uf one marbleized, wedge wood, patent ovt•rflow basin, one basin cock, one silv,'r-plated plug and chain ; t he basins to be supplied through an inclt and a half pipe from the tank to the building; tht•nco with one inch pipe to first story, and th ree-quarters of an inch pipe to third story, and half inch pipe to each ba~in. I n the dining-room we ha\·e made and put up a dishwashing sink, with hot and cold water supplied tltrough two§ inch tlraw-cocks. Th~ kitchen sink made of iron is also supplied wi th hot and colJ water through ~ inch cocks, und affords an abundance of hot anJ culJ water at

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all times. Each upright main pipe has a separate stop cock. There is also a main stop cock under the tank, all properly fitted and executed in the most substantial and workmanlike m'\nner. In connection with the water works we IHn-c purchased and put up one of McGowan's "Victor Force Pumps," size 21-xS inches. 'With this pump we can throw up into the tank forty gallons of water per minute. \Ve bn,,e also provided one hundred anJ fifty feet of good rubber hose, one and a half i nche::~ in diameter. This is arranged so as to be readily attached in case of fire. The pump is located over a large new cistern just. built, thirty feet in the renr and opposite the centre of the main building, and near the tower on which the tank is placed. We also procured a galvanized iron boiler 2~ x * feet in sil.e, which is put up in connection with the kitclwn range, and from whiuh we draw our supply of hot water for cooking and bathing purposes. It Cl\D also be used to furnish water to bath rooms when built.

The waste pipes are one and a half inches in diameter, and empty into a brick sewer well laid in lime cement. The hot water pipe from boiler in kitchen to dining room is laid in a wooden box coated with tar to keep the water from cooling too rapidly by contact with the earth. The back yard of the institute premises we have had carefully graded, underdrained and graveled, which adds mach to the comfort and convenience of the occupants. The front yard has been much improved also by re-arranging the walks and drives and grading the same as far as we have, been able to p rocure the material for this purpose.

The n1ain drain is four teen inches in diameter, and extends one hundred and fifty feet from the main buildings. It is proposed to extend this so as to convey the water out of the g rounds as soon as we are able to do so.

The old wooden steps in front of t he main building, which were not only unsightly but insecure, obstructing the light and preventing the ventilation of the large base-


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ment dining room, have been removed. Substantial, durable nod handsome iron steps of the latest improved pattern, with secure hand rails, have been erected.

These steps rest upon a stone fou ndation, and are put up in the best style tor appearance and durability. They are so constructed as not to obstruct the light or Air from the diniug room, and make a neat, substantial and elegant improvemt>nt.

The kitchen and storeroom building, in the rear, has been neatly painted, and the kitchen thoroughly refitted.

This brings us to the last, and only unfinished portion of the work entrusted to us,-the new brick bui!Jing for mechanical department. We adopted a plan of building suggested to us, and approved by the board, and let the work out to contractors ; the brick work to James McCann, and the wood work to E G. Morris. 1'he former to lay the brick at four dollars per thousand; the latter to furnish all the material, hardware, locks, gla s, &c. The building is located west of, and fronts on a line with, the main building. It is thirty-two feet front, and fifty-four feet det>p. It has a basement nine feet in hetght; the first story twelve feet in height, the second story ten feet. The roof is of the modern French or Mansard pattern, and furnishes what is termed a l\Iansard story. The "''ails are eighteen inches thick to top of basemf'nt, thence twelve inches to the top. There are eight pilasters, projecting eight inches, to top of basemt>nt. at'W capped with sand stone, thence projecting fou r inches to top of wa~l. The stairs, from ground floor to l\lansard story, run up in the centre of the building. All openings are arched the whole thickness of the wall. The doors have flat circle tops. There is to be a front stmr case from ground to entrance on first floor.

The brick work is completed in a substantial manner, and the frames a11d timbers, except the roof, have been placed in position. The slate for the roof is on the ground. trimmed, punched, and reaay to be put on. The flooring


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is dried and dressed; the door shutters and dormer window frames are complete, and the whole building can and will be, we think, completed within a month, if the weath4!r is llnitable for work.

The improvements made, we think, will commend themselves to the Board, and bear the closest inspection. The committee have given close personal attention tq the work, and feel that every dollar has been judiciously expended.

The furnitu re for the bui lding was selected and purchased by Dr. Johnson, the principal of the Institution. The purchase was made in Cincin nati, the committee paying his traveling expenses. The furniture has been examined and app roved by the Board ; the furniture is made to order; well seasoned black walnut is the material used in its construction, except for the chairs, which are of oak, with " outside-round" rattan bottoms. The mattrasses were all made in the Institution by the pupils, costing noth· ing except for materials.

I n apportioning the i tems of expenditure, it bas been difficult sometimes to separate the items so as to charge the proper amount to each improvement. The freight bills were frequently for items belonging to different improvements, and the laborers and mechanics employed were frequently transferred from one part of the work to another.

The following list of expenditures shows the umount paid out thus far, and approximaLes as nearly as it is possible to do the cost of ~ach separate item in the lis of improvements. For shop building .............................. $2,344 77

" baro and stabl~:ij ..••... . .... ...... ........ .. I ,248 60 " pninting.... .. . . .... . .. ... . . •... ...... ...... 9G8 50 " furnituro... ... ... . .. . ... .. .... .. • ... ...•.. 908 50 " pump and fixtures..... ............ . ........ l b l 55 " att-pl to main building.... . .. . .............. 413 40 " gas fitting aud plumbiug .... ........ ..... ···-·· 1,650 ~ " uatb boilur.... .. . •. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ... . . . . . . 114 70 " tra,·eliog expenses of agent to Cinciouati.. .. l:!3 05 " fllncing Juwuer.......... .. . •. . . . . •. . ... • . . . 114 60 " cibterns...... . . . . • . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . • • . • .. . • . . 103 70 '' grading........ ......... ................... 18 50

generaf repairs........................... . . 27 48-$8,1:;7 69 Unexpended balaoce • . •.• .. . •. . .. • •• . .. . •.• .... 1,842 31

Total. ... . ........ ....................... .. . $10,000 00 ,

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It is believed by the committee that the unexpended balance of $1,842 21 will be sufficient to complete the new building now in course of construction for a workshop. The cost of every item of improvement was carefully estimated. so as not to exceed the amount of the appropriation.

Receipted bills and vouchers for each item of expenditure made by us accompanies this report.

T his, we think, embraces everything of importance in connection with the improvement and repairs, purchase of furniture, the providing for lights, water, &c., so far as we have been able to get the work done, up to the date of this report .

Respectfully submitted, M. H. CRUIKSHANK, W. TAYLOR, J O. H. J OHNSON,

Improvement Committee.


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A. G. STonEr , Trensnrer. In account with Alnbnma Institution for Deaf, Dumb and the Blind :

Dn. To amount of impro,·emcnt fund . ......•. ·.; . .. ....•... ··--· $ 10,000 00

CR.

By !\mounts pnid out on drafts of M. C. Cruikshank, chairman of improvement committee, as per detached statement sub-mitted .••.•............... ··--······ -·.. . ........ . ...... 8,1S7 69

Ball\nce unexpended November 1, 1871. ••••. ·-·-·· ···--· .... $1,842 31

A.. G. STOREY, Tteasurer. Audited, found correct and approved.

G. T. McAFEE, Auditor. GEO. S. WALDEN, Special Auditor.

LIST OF PAP£119 SENT TO T:Hl!: L'\'STITUTION FREE.

1. Mont~omery Daily Advertiser . . ... .• . __ •. Montgomery, Alabama. 2. Rome Dnily Commercial. ...•...... .. .... Rome, Georgia. 3. Southern Argu~ ........... .............. Selma, Al>\bamn. 4. Rome Tri-Weekly Courier .....• • .•.. . . .. Rome, Georgia. 5. Birmingham Sun. ..... . ............... Birminghsm, Alabama. 6. Shelby Guide ... .•..• •• •. ···-·· ... ••••• . Columbiana, " 7. Evergreen Observer. .. ....... .....•.••.. Evergreen. 8. Union Sprin~s Times .•.••.. .. . ··---- .... Uniou Springs, 9. Wilcox Vindicator .. ..............•••••. Camden,

10. Tllllndega \Yntchtower ·· - - -· ............ Talladega, J 1. Alnhamn Reporter...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ·' 12. Mountain Horne ..... ..•.... ····-· · -· · ·· ''

"

13. Mut~R Chronicle ........ .. .. ...... . •• . _.Columbus, Ohio. 14. Deaf:\Inw Admuce . ..... ... .........•.. J acksonville, Ill. 15. PtJJicau ...... ..•.••..••••....•..... .... Baton Rouge, La. 16. Silent World ..•. ........................ Washington, D. C.

The thanks of all connected \vith the Institution are tendered to tbe generous proprietors of the above papers.

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LIST OF PUPIL~.

No.----Nam~---- _:s~Offi~~-~ounty_. - -

1 ~Iima, Maria C ..••••.. .. ... Prattville ......... Au tauga. 2 Wakefield, ::\Iary A ......... . Alexandria ..•••.. Calhoun. :3 W:~kefiold , S. J . ...... ······1 '' ...... " 4 Malear, J o~ephine . ......... Hackneyville ..... ,Tallapoosa. 5 :\blear, Delilah . .•••... .. ... " .•••.. " G Campbell, William J . ...••.. Rockford ....... .. 0oo~a. 7 Elrod, Elvirn E . . . ....... .. . Sulpher Spring .... Calhoun. 8 McCI\~ne, E!n~•'.· ....... .... Ashlo.nd ........ . - ~Clay. 9 McCatuc, Vtrgmta .... ...... " .. . ..... "

10 House. J amc:-1. .....••••. ... . 1Centre ........•. Cherokee. 11 Uhrist,ian, ~lary C .......... Union Town .. .... Perry. J<l•Htorcy, James W .... . ....... Union .• ••. . . ..... Greene. 1:3 Whitman, Georgia ...... .•.. hlarion ........... Po~rry. 14 Moore, L. B .... ............ 1Troy .......... ... Pike. 15 Groom, Ella Z .. ............ 1A.llenton .. ........ Wilcox. 16 Toney, Mary E .............

1Union Springs ....

1Bullock.

17 l'oney, Georgia.. ........... " .... 1 " 18 Toney, Lt\nra . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . " ~ . . . . " 19 ~telld, Jane S . . . , •••••.• • ••• Oak Level. ... .... Cleburne. 20 ,Truek~, ) [artha .. ..... ... ... Prierfield ........ Bibb. 21 Uwe~a, Jenn~e .............. ,Greenville ........ Butler. 2'2 Harnss, Wilhe. .. ••. . • • • • . . . " . • . . . . " <;3 :\!organ, St\rt\h .•. .•• . ....•. . Pine Hill .••••.... Wilcox. :.!! :\torgan, Jane ............... ! " ........

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~5 :.\!organ, A.lgerina. ..•••.•... J " .. . . . . .. "

261\Vataou, !\[artha ...... .... .. White Plains . ..... Calhoun.

27 1l{oberts, 0Kceola ..... _ ...... Columbtana ..... . Shelby. 28 Williams, Smith ............ Gordo ..... . .. .•. . Pickens. 2!) Cowsert, Angeline .. ........ Olney.... . . .. . . . . " 30 Doherty, Francis P .......... ::\Iobile . ......... Mobile. lll iBriscoe, John D ..... .. ....

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Stephenson ........ JackKon. 32

1Payne, G. E. ll . ..... ....... . Dudley ville ...... . Tllllt\poosa.

33 0nnliunl. L. U . .. ........... ::11ontgomery .... .. l!Iontgomery. :u Hugh '!, John T . . ............ Goruo .......... . . Pickens. 35 Uughs, Caroline.... .. .. .... " :. . . . .. .. .. ' 3fi\Vilijon, S. J .. ..•........ ... Rockhltlls . ... .. .. Randolph. 37 Dickey, M E. A ... . . .... .... Rnlph Bmuch .... Uontgomer:;. 3B IGnrdner, Jnmes H......... . " .... " :39 ;.\Iorgtm, George D . .. . .. .... West Point, Gn ... ()bnmbers, IIO 'Dt\nghdrill, Colin J .......... Mobile .......... ~Iobile. 41 Campbell, Zilpl.a\ ............ Louisville ........ Barbour. 4:l BcaMloy, 0nlhouu ..... . ..... . ,Clayton ...... •... ·' 4:1l3cMley, i\Iary A...... . . . . . " ..••.. .... 4~ 1Davtrsou, W. G ............. Abbeville ......... Henry. 45 Dt\l·irson, !sane . ........... ·I " ......... " 4fi Whctllor, Thomus.... .... . . . . '' .. .. . . . . " •17 Lnw~on, J. S ............... Bullock ......... CreuRhnw.

i 4 ~ llrnndt\!{c. II .. J ............. Leon ... . ... . • 4~ Mnrtm, J <>hu H . . . . . . .• __ .. Bell's Landing ... . r.o Long, Louisa J ..... . ...... Pollard .......... . 61 Long, Martha lL... .... .... " ......... ..


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LIST OF PUPIL.<;-Contioued.

No. __ ___:=----' _:st-Offi:_l __ couuty_. --

r,'.! l'ari .. h, ~ophrunia . • . • • . . . . . Onle. r,:l, \l r<'nll•·rs. Hoxy ..•••....... Hockford .... ---· Coo~a. li4 Wrivh t. Elo m .... .... .... .. Lnwrcucoville ..... Humy. ;,., T ims, Holwrt. _ •••.. ......•. tipriug ville ........ 'St. Clair. r,t;,c;.ox, Ht·nry . . . . . . . . . . . ... . ·• " m l'ux, Richard .... ... .. __ .. .. 6'-\'(;ox . Jn.oo . . . . . . • .. . . .. . . . . . . ' • w1n mhrun, Emma ...... . ..... . Uobile ......... . .. Mobile. t:u FiHhcr, ~amh ..............

1 .. .... ...... "

Iii \ld\l'cVl:r, Willie............ " .... .. .. .. " f.·l K no:t, L r•mar ......••...... Talladega ......•.. Talladega. fi:l Fnrr, Edwnrd ............. . 1:! ~unpHou, Lizzie ... . . ..... .. f>., :--; ,mmH ...... ....... . .... .. liti Jln,·i~. ,Jnlin ................ Gadsden .......... E towah . fii lla\ i'l, Alice.... .......... .. .••• •• .... " li"- \\'hilt•, .Fronk ... .. . ......•.. G • \lcCormick, Willinm . ..... . . 7t llrmi~tt· r, )[nrthn .. .. .. .. .. Tnllndega ......... Talladega.


REPORT.

Resolt·ed, That it is not expedient to instruct the blind in the same institution with deaf mutes.

Tbe committee to whom the foregoing resolution wa-1 referred, would present the following as among the rcasons sustaini ng it:

1. Deaf mutes and the blintl differ from each othN, eYen more w idely than either class differs from those having all their senses; these differences, constitutional or incidental, a re such that they cannot be intimately associated without unpleasant results.

2. T he modes of instruction peculiar to each clabs arc entirely unlike and incompatible.

3. ' Vhen both classes are instructed together, the mutes, being usually more numerous than the blind, arc likt•ly t.o engross a still larger proportionate share of the attcnt.ion of the officers.

4. The expetience of institutions for both classes shows that, while the department for mutes prospers, and its Illmates increase with the population, the growth of the blind department is almost invariably retarded.

Your Committee believe that in new States, where the number of bli nd pupils is not sufficient to warrant th(' ('S

tablishment of an institution, it is fa r better to pro\'idc for the instruction of these pupils in some neighboring institution, till such time as the State has some twenty-five or thirty bl ind pupils, and bas established an institution of its own.

Respectfully submitted. A. D. LORI>,

T. II. L ITTLY.,

J. F . TOllLI:\SON',

II. II. Jou~soN, G. L. SllEAD,

Committee.


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Mr. CHURCHMAN moved that the report be adopted and spread upon the minutes of the Convention.

Mr. Lono-I do not know that it is necessary to enter into any discussiou of the reasons assigned in the report for the course that the committee recommend. I t is too tru<', that many of our States have gone forward and established their institutions, without regarding the intinmtions they have received in regard to this subject ; and, in some cases at least, have deeply regretted, when subsequently in the east, or in other parts of the country, they saw well-establ ished institutions, that they had taken the course they did. It is time now that we should speak authoritatively upon such points. I know we cannot expect to control Legislatures in such a manner as to command regard for our utterances; but if we can speak in an advisory manner, and be beard by the publ ic. or by those wbo have the control of these interests, it is certainly desirable to do so.

I have in my mind several institutions with whose history I am familiar, from baving received all thei r reports and read them with care; and I have uo hesitation in saying that, in the case of many institutions, it would have been infiuitely better fo r them if they had not been established for ten or fifteen years after they were. Not reaching above the number of fifteen, seventeen, or twenty pupils, better, much better would it have been, if they had not had an existence at all.

It seems to me that the State of Minnesota had better, by far, have provided for the instruction of its pupils in tl1e Wisconsin I nstitution fo r some years to come, and thus made it more efficient in every respect; the classes larger, tP.e teachers would be more ambitious to excel, with increased power to. act u pon their pupils as they could not upon smaller classes.

After the Institution of Maryland was opened in a fi ne building in Baltimore, if the State of Virginia had beeu pleased to send its blind pupils there for a period of five,

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ten, or fifteen years, it would have been very greatly to the advantage of that class in both States.

I will not enlarge upon the evils connected wilh the commencing of a feeble institution. I think it must be seen at a g lance, that the expense must be very much greater than where there is anything like a reasonable number; and there are likely to be objections awakened in the minds of the people to the whole plan of attempting to educate the blind.

F rom my personal acquaintance with institutions that have been commenced in this man ner, and from the lack of discivl ine and scholarship in every department, whieh seems to be incidental to a feeble existence of this sort, I feel that this matter should be urged upon the public, so far as it is possible for us to exert any mfiuence.

1\Ir. CuuncmrAN-I wish to call attention to one case of this kiuJ that has recently occurred, and that is the case of Louisiana. I n the repl ies which were received to the first circular issued in regard to this Convention, the Superintendent of the L ouisiana I nstitution for the Deuf and Dumb and the Blind informed me that the Lt>gislature of Louisiana haJ separated the two departments, and had taken steps for the o rgauization of a distinct iustitution for the blind. This has been done, too, after the iucurriug of a very heavy expeuse tor buildings. They have a build11•g at Baton Ruoge la rge enough, perhaps, to accomlllodate all the deaf and dumb and blind in the Statr of Louisiuua and severa l of the adjoiuing States. They seem to have at last become aware of the"disadvantages arising from the union of the two institutions, anJ to uave retraced their steps, although t he expense of doing so is very heavy.

Mr. LITTLE-llaving had some experience mpelf in the working of the L ouisiana I nstitution for the Deaf anJ Dumb and the Blind, I have had an opportunity to observe, and have obsrrvcd personally, all of the evils Dr. LorJ has referred to, and more too. I think it is high time that some action in regard to this subject were put upon record,


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and wi thin the reach of those persons who have the regulation of such mat te rs. It ,is high time that. the instit utions for the blind be no longer sacrificed to the interests of t he deaf and dumb.

Mr. AxAxoos- Besides what D r. L ord has said upon the subject of small, feeble im,t itut ions, there is another thing which ought to be taken into consideration. The blind, in a great measure, depend for thmr livel ihood upon two things-work and mu ic. \Ve expect to have very few among them so cul t ivated as t o become good teachers in othe r branches and be able to earn their livelihood in that way. So they depend on t he ir work and music.

To provide a good workshop , fu rnished with all t he necessary machinery and tools, the means su pplied to t he institut ions of some of the States will not suffice ; and the same is true wi th regard to a suitable outfit for a good music department.

How can an institution with an appropriation of from six to ten thousand dollars for a musical department and a work department, expect to prepare good music teachers and mechanics~

I wou ld like fo r this Convent ion to decide upon the propriety of establishing institutions where there is a number of pupils less than twenty-five, and without first having secured t he means necessary to support t hem and make t hem effective. I t would be far better in such cases, as Dr. Lord has said, to have no institutions at a ll, and to let the pupils go to the other instit utions.

Mr. TOMLINSON- As I am p robably more interested in this mat ter of dual institutions than most Superi ntendents pre ent, I wish to make a few remarks upon the subject.

Our Institu tion is probably the la rgest one of the kind in the United Sta tes. I believe, at the last Convention held by the I nstructors of the Deaf and D umb, a similar resolution to this was passed, and yesterday, in conversat ion wi th 1\Ir . .Macintire, Superintendent of the I ndiana I nstitution for the Deaf and Dumb, he requested t hat we

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should get up some such resolution as thil', and pass it, giving some of the reasons stated here.

It scents desirable on the part of all, that thc~c two classes of institutions should be separated. The blind a lways d isdain the deaf and dumb, while the deaf and dumb arc equnlly inclined to look down upon the blind. I t seems to be the case in our Institution ; and it is not at all unfrequent for a blind boy to receive a new phrenological bump from t he fist of a deaf mute. Even if we have diffe rent sleeping rooms a nd diflerent recitation rooms for the two classes, yet if they so much as pass each other anywhere about the p remises, it is never improbable that something of this kind will happen.

T here is another objection to keeping these two dissimilar classes together. It is impossible for the Superintend

ent to do as well by both as he might be able to do by one alone; because, in the first place, his attention i~ divided ; and, in the next place, the two classes, in their require

ments and peculiarities, are very unlike. The <leaf and dumb require more attention than the blind, especially on account of their peculiar language; they are therefore apt to receive more attention, and, as a consequence, the blind are apt to be neglected. There is great danger of overlooking and neglecting the trades and occupatiOns which should be taught to the blind. They should be e:-prcially cared for in this rega rd, because, while the pupils of the other class, when they leave the institution, can go home and at once become tillers of the soil, or engage in uln10st any othar kind of man,ual labor, the blind Ctlll not.

In the North Carolina Institution, the blind pupils ltaYe increased in numbers, and not decreased. I do nut know whether they ""ould have increased more rapidly if they had been separate from the deaf ard dumb, or not; but they have not increased in the same ratio that the deaf and dumb have. I think the rea:>on they ha\'C not increased in a g reater degree, is, that the in titution is pretty well filled, and while the parents of the deaf anJ dun1b •


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are always ready and willing to let them come to the institut ion, the mother of a blind child Vl' ry much regrets to part ""'th him, and the Superintendeut, having a great mnny upplication11 from the deaf and dumb, does not exert himself to bring in the blind, whereas it requires exertion to do so. I think, perhaps, that is the reason.

I have done all in n·.y power to show no partiality, and to look <\tter one class as much as the other; but I have been tdraid sometimes that I am a little rem1ss in this direction.

The question being on the resolution, it was adopted.

In relat ion to indigt>nt pupils,, the General Assembly in F ebruary, 1857, passed the following-act, viz:

"SEc. 10. I n all cases where t he parents of pupils sent to the Institu tion for the education of t he Deaf and Dumb, and the education of the blind, are too poor t o furnish them with good and sufficient clothing, or where said pupils are without pnr ents and unable t o furnish themselves with !nch cloth ing , the .Judge of the County Court of the county from which they are sent shnll certify the same to the principal, who ·shall procure such necessary clothing and chnrge the snme to said county, and pre~ent the account, with the voucher s , to the Auditor of P ublic Accounts, who thert'upon shall draw upon the Coun ty Treasurer for the amount so chnrged to the county ; and the said county shall nnn~;ally nssl'SS and coll~ct, by t.u:, the amount n~:cessary to puy said ord~:r or ord~:rs ; and if snid coun ty shall fail so!.<> do, the Circuit Court i n snid county shall, on. application therefor, compel the snme by mandumus."

A PPilOVED Februmy l :!th , 1H57.

TERMS OF ADMISSION.

INDIG ENT P UPILS-HOW ADMITTED.

As a matte r of convenience to those who may desire to send indigent pupils to the institution, we copy in full the eighth section of tl:le act of the :.!7th of J auuary, 1860, estabhsbing the institution:

" Be it further w acted, Tha t the main object of the inatitution shall be to lifford the means of education to the indigent deaf ax:d dumb and blind


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of tho Statt'. Application for admiRsion ,must be mndt' to th<' Bonrrl of Comtniaaioncrs in writing, nnd mnst state their nnmo. nge, pln<'r of hirlh 1\11(1 pre6ent re~;idence, bow long the applicant hns bl'en n n·Kicl•·nt of this State, tbnt he or sheiK clenf and dumb or blind. that thll applicnnl, or his or her family, nre unable to pny his or her bourcl nncl tuition. This application mu6t be sworn to by the applicant, or by Rome ou<: cognizant of tho fncta, and filed with the board. Whereupon tho bo~trd shnll, if they deem the proof sufficient, en use an order to be entered on the record of their p roceedings, admitting said applicant, a certified copy of wbkh shull be delivered to the applicant or his or her purent, gmiT<linn or f riend, who shall thereupon be admitted as n member of said institution, for the period of time specified in tbe certificate.

PAY PUPILS.

Those who are able to pay their own way are charged two hundred dollars per school year of forty weeks.


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Documents

ELEVENTH ANNUAL HEPORT - Samford University Librarylibrary.samford.edu/digitallibrary/pamphlets/cod-001059.pdf · ELEVENTH ANNUAL HEPORT ... Principal, two male teachers, (no female