By a law of 1870, $200 per year for three years, were appropriated for purchasing and maintaining a library for the use of the pupils of the Home. The establishment of the Home is based on the idea that the orphans when fifteen years of age, will not longer need its protection; and considering this, the prospect is that the Institution, in a few more years, will have served its purpose, and will then be closed. But it will always be remembered as a proud memento of the tender regard of the people of Wisconsin for the sons and daughters of the gallant Badgers who fell during the late war. Hon. B. F. HOгKINS, the deceased M. C. from the 2d district, was active in authorizing and organizing this Institution, and his efforts in its behalf were from first to last, unremitting and successful. On September 30, 1873, there were 153 children in the Home, and 5 accepted applications, making a total of 158, which is 62 less than on September, 1872. The Legislature of 1872 appropriated $30,000 for the current expenses of the year; in 1873 there were $20,000 appropriated, and the current expenses of the coming year are put at $20,000. In 1871 the Home received $23,000 in bonds and $554.97 accrued interest, after paying all the expenses in securing this magnificent bequest; which was the Home's share of nearly one hundred thousand dollars left by HORATIO WARD, deceased, an eminent American banker, who died in London, England, to the various Homes that have been formed throughout the loyal States for the orphans by the late war for the restoration of the Union. The philanthropic testator expressed his desire as to the disposition of this fund as follows: "I judge that the interest only, for a time, will be used, and that the bequest will be so managed as to give the orphans, as they become of age, a sum of money to fit them out in iife, and thus gradually extinguish the fund." The Legislature of 1872 enacted a law to the effect that the board of trustees of the Home shall be the legal guardians of all children of the Home who have no legal guardian, with authority to receive their back pay, etc. The trustees may, from time to time, with the consent of the Governor, bind any child that is an inmate of the Home, for such time and for such purpose as such trustees shall deem proper. WISCONSIN STATE PRISON. By law, enacted in 1851, Messrs. JOHN BULLEN, JOHN TAYLOR and A. W. WORTH were appointed commissioners to determine the best point in Wisconsin for the location of a State Prison. They examined Madison, Portland, Genesee, Horicon, Kaukauna and Waupun, and on the 4th of July, 1851, a majority of the commissioners, Messrs. BULLEN and TAYLOR, decided to locate at Waupun, Mr. WORTH dissenting in favor of Madison. SEYMOUR WILCOX, Esq., of Waupun, donated twenty acres of land as a site for the prison buildings. On the 21st of July, 1851, a contract was made with JAMES K. SMITH for the construction of a main upright part of a temporary prison for $4,600. The commissioners estimated the sum necessary to continue the erection of a State Prison, and pay indebtedness, at $25,000, and also recommended the purchase, for $800, of an additional twenty acres for the prison site, which recommendation, up to the present time, does not appear to have been acted on. HENRY BROWN was the first State Prison Commissioner, and the first an nual report is dated December 31, 1852. From April 1 to December 31, 1852, 31 convicts were imprisoned. In 1852, the Commissioner recommended the construction of a permanent stone wing to cost $12,624.00, and put the value of personal property belonging to the prison at $4,181.71. From April 1, to December 1, 1853, 64 convicts were imprisoned. On July 12, 1853, the Legislature directed the Commissioner to let the contract for the mason work upon the south wing of the prison, and on the 14th of December, 1853, ANDREW PROUDFIT contracted to complete the work by December 26, 1854. In May, 1870, the workshops of the prison, 300,000 feet of lumber, considerable cordwood and other property, were destroyed by fire; but the loss has been fully repaired, and the shops are now in much better condition than they were before the fire, and are supplied with improved machinery throughout. STATISTICAL TABLES SHOWING the various characteristics and relations of prisoners received since the organization of the Prison-said statistics dating back to the reception of each prisoner. Whole number of convicts received since April 1, 1851. Number remaining September 30, 1872 Received during the year Convicts imprisoned for life Number remaining September 30, 1873 1,799 186 81 36 180 |