visiting the children placed in homes by certain private institutions. At least one more agent should be employed. In the report of the State Board of Visitors referred to, the following recommendation is made: "In view of the great importance of the State Agency work, that the present agency force more than has its hands full, and that undesirable waits are sometimes a necessity in the work, we would respectfully recommend that the next legislature make provision for an additional agent." Following is last year's record of the work of four of our state agents: Mr. Jager: Visited 243 children; made 120 special visits; investigated 107 applicants; total 470 Mr Swanson: Visited 165 children; made 246 special visits; investigated 123 applicants; total 534 Mr. Harpman: Visited 292 children; made 114 special visits; investigated 115 applicants; total 521 Miss Barkhoefer: 618 Visited 157 children; made 138 special visits; investigated 102 applicants; total 447 397 1,922 481 This is an average of 214 children visited and 112 applications investigated by each agent. Most of the children were visited once during the year. About 15 per cent or 32 children for each agent were visited more often. They are distributed all over Minnesota and a few in adjoining states at an average distance of 163 miles. Results Individual records of all the children dealt with have been kept, including information obtained by our state agents who have visited the children in their homes and places of employment. While the story of a human life cannot be fully told until that life is ended, yet success or failure in life, in fulfilling the ordinary obligations of living as a member of society can be approximately stated. An extended study of the first 4,000 children received has been made. In the analysis of these records the social test was applied. Children who have developed into men and women of good character and are fulfilling the requirements of good citizenship, or as minor wards are developing normally meeting the requirements of good homes and giving promise of success, are designated as doing well; those who have been less successful or who are not developing so satisfactorily but who have become or give promise of becoming at least selfsupporting, respectable citizens, are designated as doing fairly well; and those who are regarded in the communities in which they live as undesirable citizens or who do not give promise of becoming useful are classified as doing poorly. Of this group of 4,000 children, 2,407 are boys and 1,593 are girls. Of the boys, omitting 147 who have died, 1506-67 per cent were doing well, 502-22 per cent, fairly well, and 252-11 per cent poorly. Those who have reached selfsupporting age were found engaged in 92 different occupations. Many have taken advanced training, attended business school, taken normal or college training, in some instances technical training, and have become successful business and professional men. While agriculture in its various branches has claimed the largest number-885-the legal profession, teaching, dentistry, civil engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, banking, merchandising, accounting, in fact practically all vocations are well represented. Of the girls 70 per cent were doing well, 18 per cent fairly well, and 12 per cent poorly. Two hundred and ninety-five were married and as wives only 9 per cent were doing poorly. Many have risen to high positions. The unmarried girls who are supporting themselves were engaged in such occupations as are open to women, and in most cases the line of work taken up was to the credit of the girls. One is a postmistress, two are sisters of charity, others are teachers, stenographers, saleswomen, nurses, dressmakers, telephone operators, milliner. By far the largest percentage of failures is among the day laborers. It is a significant fact that 20 per cent of the boys who have no regular occupation, the untrained day laborers, and that 34 per cent of the girls who have married such men, have done poorly. Respectfully submitted, L. F. HAMMEL, R. P. WARD, GALEN A. MERRILL, Superintendent. TABLE NO. 1. Board of Managers. ABSTRACT OF FARM ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDING JULY 31, 1915. ABSTRACT OF FARM ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDING JULY 31, 1916. |