of books, and that on no pretext whatever shall one cent of it be used for any other object. Entertaining this view, I have ceased to exercise the discretionary authority, now vested in the Superintendent, to allow a diversion of the money; and have determined not to grant hereafter any permission of that kind. The provision of law conferring that power should be repealed; and each district, before it shall have the right to draw from the supervisor the money apportioned to it for a library, should be required to raise an equal sum for the same object. All library moneys, remaining in the hands of the supervisors on the first Tuesday of March in each year, should be reported and be re-apportioned like other school moneys.

"The system should be so regulated by law that it will be impracticable for the districts to gain possession or control of the money except to pay for books. The returns show that the instances are rare in which even the ceremony of asking consent to divert the funds has been complied with. The advantage of the proposed plan would be to enable those districts that have cherished and maintained their libraries to continue that course, while it would prevent neglectful districts from profiting, in other respects, by parsimony in this. It would, in effect, say to each district that the proffered share of money may be used, on the prescribed conditions, for the single object of supporting a library, but on no conditions for any other object; and would strip the system of the subterfuges under which the funds have heretofore been misapplied. This, in my opinion, is what should be said and done."

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

Within the calendar year 1870, institutes were held, as provided by the statute, in fifty-six counties of the State. Nearly all of them were in session two weeks, and in every case they were organized for the whole 'county.

The number of teachers in attendance exceeded that of any former year, and amounted in the aggregate to ten thousand three hundred and ninety-seven. Three thousand four hundred and four were males, and six thousand nine hundred and ninety-three, females.

The average attendance at each institute was also larger than ever before; and the average attendance for each county was larger than in any preceding year, except 1863, when fifty-five institutes were held in only forty-seven counties, and in several of them a double registration occurred.

More than eighty per cent of the entire number, employed as teachers for the full legal term in the counties where institutes were held, attended them. This demonstrates their peculiar adaptation to reach the great mass of teachers throughout the State, and a ready disposition to appropriate the benefits they are designed to bestow.

INDIAN SCHOOLS.

Since the year 1856, this Department has been charged with the duty of providing instruction for the Indian children living upon reservations within the borders of this State. In all the years since that time, liberal appropriations have been made by the Legislature to promote education and civilization among this people. By the reports of the several local Superintendents of Indian schools, and by personal observations made upon the occasion of official visits to the reservations, I am convinced that the bounty of the State has not been expended in vain. All accounts agree in representing the condition of the Indians, and especially of those who have availed themselves of the educational facilities afforded by the government, as being much better than it was before schools were established among them.

The first report upon Indian schools was made in 1857, and, at that time, the number of Indian children between the ages of four and twenty-one years, living upon the several reservations, was stated as one thousand six hundred and fifty-eight, of whom but a small proportion were attending school. The whole number between five and twenty-one, reported in 1870, was one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, of whom nine hundred and fifty-seven attended school some portion of the year. The average daily attendance was five hundred and forty-nine. Twenty-six schools, the same number as in the preceding year, were in operation, and the average length of terms was a little over thirty-two weeks. The expense of maintaining them was about the same as during the previous year.

The usual statistical information will be found in table No. 10, in the appendix.

The following statement shows the receipts and payments by the State, on account of Indian schools, during the fiscal year:

Education of Indian youth

General expenses, not apportioned to reservations.

420 94

56 34

$6,837 98

5,481 36

Total

$12,319 34

THOMAS ASYLUM FOR ORPHAN AND DESTITUTE INDIAN

CHILDREN.

This asylum, located upon the Cattaraugus Reservation, near the village of Versailles, has heretofore been commended to your consideration, and I bespeak for it a continuance of your favor. It has done and is still doing a good work, and is, I believe, prudently and