E. A. Charlton (City Supt.). Schoharie: 1. A. R. Hunting Springfield Centre. New Lisbon. Red Mills. Springfield Store. Troy. Port Richmond. Hammond. Hermon. Lawrenceville. Saratoga Springs. Schenectady. Schenectady. Gallupville. (C.) THOMAS ORPHAN ASYLUM. To the Hon. VICTOR M. RICE, Superintendent of Public Instruction: Sir-The Trustees of the Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Des titute Indian Children, beg leave to submit to you the following report of the condition of the institution, for the year ending September 30th, 1866: The total number of children under care during the year has been Average for the whole year.. Admissions during the year.. Dismissions Death Remained under care the entire year Remained under care at the close of the year Boys, total for the whole year.. Girls, total for the whole year.. Boys remaining at the close.. 58 51 13 4 1 40 53 32 26 28 25 Girls remaining at the close..... He The child who died was an interesting boy, six years old. had been diseased from his infancy, and at the time of his admission into the asylum was covered with scrofulous sores, and considered to be near his end. But by kind care, and nutritious diet, he gradually gained strength, until prostrated by a severe attack of the dysentery, which prevailed in the institution two years ago. This brought him to the very brink of the grave, and he never fully regained his strength, but was kept alive by careful nursing, until the middle of the past summer. Through the good providence of God toward the institution, this has been the only case of severe sickness during the year. An exemption so remarkable, considering the number of children, and their previous condition, calls for devout gratitude. The financial condition of the institution is as follows, viz: RECEIPTS. rom the State for the support of the children, and liquidation of the debt From appropriation of 1865 for building and repairs From general appropriation. From friends in Philadelphia. $2,500 00 630 00 94 33 920 00 This total of receipts is thirty-nine dollars more than was reported to the Comptroller, and the department at Washington, owing to an item of that amount, received from Board of Teachers, being overlooked in preparing those reports. The debt reported last year was $778.55, whereas it will be seen from the above that debts incurred previous to the commencement of the year have been paid, to the amount of $911.93. This excess above the last year's estimate of debt comes from certain running accounts. Bills for supplies had not been presented, and were found to be larger than had been supposed in making out the previous reports. This error will be avoided in future by the precaution of having a record of every purchase kept by the steward, whether paid or not. A conditional appropriation made in the year 1865, provided for the enlargement of the institution, but the extreme cost of building induced the trustees to delay the work, hoping, that by such delay, much more good could be accomplished with the same amount of funds. The continuance of high prices, and the consequent increase of poverty among the more destitute of the people, had greatly increased the number of applications, and forced the trustees to commence the work of enlargement. They, accordingly, have contracted for a building, which is now in progress, and to be completed before the first of January, 1867, which will enable them to increase the number of children to one hundred, which number will doubtless be made up promptly, as soon as the building is ready. The other improvements contemplated in the appropriation referred to will be completed as rapidly as possible, to the full extent of the provision made for them. Grateful for the liberality of the State toward the now increasing remnants of this Indian people, the trustees feel encouraged by the results of the past, and by the present prospects of the institution, to express the confident hope that the people of the State will be ultimately abundantly satisfied with the results of their beneficence, the continuance of which they beg leave respectfully to solicit. All which is respectfully submitted in behalf of the trustees. WALLACE KING, President. |