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040 - The Minnesota State Agricultural Society The Minnesota Soldiers' Home Other State Institutions Minne · History of Minnesota and Tales of the Frontier, Part 1

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  Speaker 1: Section forty of the History of Minnesota and Tales of
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  Speaker 1: the Frontier, Part one. This is a LibriVox recording. All
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
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  Speaker 1: or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. The History
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  Speaker 1: of Minnesota and Tales of the Frontier, Part one by
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  Speaker 1: Charles E. Flandraw, Section forty. The Minnesota State Agricultural Society,
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  Speaker 1: the Minnesota Soldiers Home. Other state institutions, Minnesota Institute for Defectives,
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  Speaker 1: State School for Dependent and Neglected Children, the Minnesota State
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  Speaker 1: Agricultural Society. This society dates its corporate existence from the
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  Speaker 1: year eighteen sixty eight, although for many years previous to
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  Speaker 1: that date, even back to the territorial days, a society
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  Speaker 1: had been in existence. Covering the main features of this organization,
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  Speaker 1: in eighteen sixty seven, the state recognized this society by
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  Speaker 1: appropriate gadding one thousand dollars for its encouragement. Its object
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  Speaker 1: was the promotion of agriculture, horticulture, and the mechanic arts.
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  Speaker 1: The society held annual fairs in different localities in the state,
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  Speaker 1: with varying success until eighteen eighty five, when the Cony
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  Speaker 1: of Ramsay offered to convey to the State of Minnesota
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  Speaker 1: forever two hundred acres of land adjoining the city limits
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  Speaker 1: of Saint Paul, for the purpose of holding annual exhibitions
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  Speaker 1: thereon under the management of the Society of all matters
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  Speaker 1: pertaining to agriculture, human art, industry, or skill. The State
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  Speaker 1: met this munificent donation with the same liberal spirit that
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  Speaker 1: characterized the offer, and appropriated one hundred thousand dollars for
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  Speaker 1: permanent improvements. The Board of Managers proceeded immediately to erect
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  Speaker 1: the necessary buildings for the first exhibition, but found the
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  Speaker 1: appropriation inadequate by about thirty two thousand dollars, which was
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  Speaker 1: readily supplied by public spirited citizens of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
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  Speaker 1: The State, being again appealed to an eighteen eighty seven,
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  Speaker 1: made a further appropriation of fifty thousand dollars. In eighteen
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  Speaker 1: eighty seven, the Society was reorganized by Act of the Legislature,
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  Speaker 1: and its membership designated and made to consist of the
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  Speaker 1: following persons. First, three delegates from each of the county
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  Speaker 1: and district agricultural societies. Second honorary life members prominent by
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  Speaker 1: reason of eminent services in agriculture, or in the arts
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  Speaker 1: and sciences connected therewith, or of long and faithful services
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  Speaker 1: in the society, or of benefits conferred upon it. Third,
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  Speaker 1: the president's ex officio of the Horticultural Society, the Amber
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  Speaker 1: Kaine Society, the State Dairymen's Association, the Southern Minnesota Fair Association,
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  Speaker 1: the State Poultry Association, the State Beekeepers Association, and the
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  Speaker 1: President and Secretary of the Farmer's Alliance. Fourth, the president
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  Speaker 1: of any society having for its object to the promotion
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  Speaker 1: of any branch of eggs, agriculture, stock raising or improving,
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  Speaker 1: or mechanics relating to agriculture. By the selection of membership,
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  Speaker 1: it will be seen that the society is composed of
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  Speaker 1: the leading agriculturalists of the state. It holds annual meetings
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  Speaker 1: in Saint Paul for the transaction of its business. The
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  Speaker 1: state appropriates four thousand dollars annually to aid in the
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  Speaker 1: payment of premiums to exhibitors. The Society is in a
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  Speaker 1: prosperous condition and holds annual fares in the month of
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  Speaker 1: September on its grounds, which have been extensively improved. Each year.
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  Speaker 1: There is a marked increase in the magnitude and variety
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  Speaker 1: of exhibits, an extended interest in attendance. Its financial statement
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  Speaker 1: for the year eighteen ninety eight was receipts sixty two thousand,
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  Speaker 1: five hundred twenty three dollars and seventy cents, expenditures fifty
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  Speaker 1: six thousand, eight hundred fifty dollars and eighty three cents.
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  Speaker 1: It has just closed its fare for the year eighteen
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  Speaker 1: ninety nine, which, in extent and perfection of its exhibits
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  Speaker 1: and financial results, surpassed any of its previous attempts. There
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  Speaker 1: are in the state the following named societies, all more
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  Speaker 1: or less connected with agriculture, and all in flourishing condition.
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  Speaker 1: The State Horticultural Society, the State Forestry Association, the Dairymen's Association,
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  Speaker 1: the State Butter and Cheesemakers Association, the State Farmers Institute,
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  Speaker 1: the State Poultry Association, the State Beekeepers Association, and perhaps others.
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  Speaker 1: These associations have done much in the promotion of the
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  Speaker 1: agricultural interests of the state, and by their intelligent guidance,
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  Speaker 1: will no doubt soon make it the leading agricultural state
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  Speaker 1: in the Union. The Minnesota Soldiers Home. In the year
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  Speaker 1: eighteen eighty seven, it became apparent that the Civil War
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  Speaker 1: and the Minnesota Indian War had left a large number
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  Speaker 1: of soldiers of the state independent circumstances from old age,
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  Speaker 1: wounds and other disabling causes. The state recognized its obligation
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  Speaker 1: to these men determined to provide a home for their
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  Speaker 1: comfort and maintenance. By an Act of the Legislature passed
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  Speaker 1: March second of that year, provision was made for the
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  Speaker 1: purchase of a site and the erection of suitable buildings
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  Speaker 1: for that purpose. The act provided for bids for the
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  Speaker 1: purpose of a site and also authorized the acceptance of
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  Speaker 1: donations for that purpose. Minneapolis responded handsomely by offering fifty
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  Speaker 1: one acres of its beautiful Minnihaha Park as a donation.
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  Speaker 1: It was accepted and as one of the most beautiful
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  Speaker 1: and picturesque locations that could have been found in the state,
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  Speaker 1: being near the Mississippi River in the Falls of Minnehaha.
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  Speaker 1: The beginning of the home was small, one old house
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  Speaker 1: being used for the first six months, and then from
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  Speaker 1: year to year, handsome and commodious brick houses were erected
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  Speaker 1: until the home became adequate to accommodate all those who
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  Speaker 1: were entitled to its hospitality. The conditions of admission are
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  Speaker 1: residence in Minnesota, service in the Mexican War or in
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  Speaker 1: some Minnesota organization in the civil or Indian Wars, honorable discharge,
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  Speaker 1: and indigent circumstances. As there are no accommodations for the
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  Speaker 1: wives and families of the old soldiers and sailors at
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  Speaker 1: the home, provision is made for relief being furnished to
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  Speaker 1: married soldiers at their own homes, so as to prevent
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  Speaker 1: the separation of families. There were in the home at
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  Speaker 1: the date of the last report August third, eighteen ninety nine,
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  Speaker 1: three hundred sixty two beneficiaries. The home is conducted by
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  Speaker 1: a board of trustees consisting of seven members, whose election
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  Speaker 1: is so arranged that they serve for six years. This
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  Speaker 1: beneficent establishment is to be commended as an evidence of
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  Speaker 1: the generosity and patriotism of the state. Other state institutions.
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  Speaker 1: I have been somewhat explicit in mentioning the institutions of
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  Speaker 1: the state which are connected with its prominent and permanent
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  Speaker 1: industry agriculture, but it must not be supposed it is
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  Speaker 1: not provided for many other interests that require regulation and control.
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  Speaker 1: To constitute a perfectly organized state government. There are besides
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  Speaker 1: those I have mentioned, four normal schools located at Winona, Mancato,
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  Speaker 1: Saint Cloud, and Moorhead, all devoted to the education of teachers,
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  Speaker 1: state high and graded schools scattered all over the state,
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  Speaker 1: a state Board of Corrections and charities, and state hospitals
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  Speaker 1: for the insane, of which there are three located as follows,
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  Speaker 1: one at Saint Peter, one at Rochester, and one at
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  Speaker 1: Fergus Falls, and a fourth in contemplation. According to the
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  Speaker 1: latest report, these hospitals contained three thousand, three hundred two
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  Speaker 1: patients as follows Saint Peter one thousand, forty five, Rochester
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  Speaker 1: one thousand, one hundred ninety six and Fergus Falls one thousand,
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  Speaker 1: sixty one. For a small new stage, this showing would
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  Speaker 1: seem alarming and indicate that a very large percentage of
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  Speaker 1: the population was insane and that the rest were preparing
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  Speaker 1: to become so. The truth is that a case of
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  Speaker 1: insanity originating in Minnesota is quite as exceptional and rare
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  Speaker 1: as other diseases, and can usually be accounted for by
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  Speaker 1: some self abuse of the patient. The population is drawn
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  Speaker 1: from such diverse sources, and the intermarriages are crossed upon
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  Speaker 1: so many different nationalities that hereditary insanity ought to be
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  Speaker 1: almost unknown. The climate and the general pursuits of the
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  Speaker 1: people all militate against the prevalence of the malady. The
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  Speaker 1: explanation of the existence of the numerous cases is, as
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  Speaker 1: I am informed by the very highest authority on the subject,
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  Speaker 1: that in nearly all European countries it has become the
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  Speaker 1: habit of families afflicted with insanity to export their unfortunates
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  Speaker 1: to America as soon as any symptoms appear, and thus
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  Speaker 1: provide for them for the rest of their lives. I
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  Speaker 1: cannot say that the governments, whence these people emigrate, to
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  Speaker 1: participate in the fraud. But it is not reasonable to
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  Speaker 1: suppose that they would interpose any serious objections, even should
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  Speaker 1: they have knowledge of nalities of the patients found in
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  Speaker 1: these hospitals. With the American element given by the census
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  Speaker 1: of the state proves my statement, and an inquiry of
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  Speaker 1: the medical authorities of these institutions will place the question
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  Speaker 1: beyond any doubt. Minnesota institutes for defectives. There are also
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  Speaker 1: state schools for the deaf, dumb, blind, and the feeble minded.
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  Speaker 1: These institutions are all located at Ferbell in Rice County,
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  Speaker 1: and each has a very handsome, commodious and in every
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  Speaker 1: way suitable building where these unfortunates are instructed in every
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  Speaker 1: branch of learning and industry of which they are capable.
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  Speaker 1: During the last two years there have been enrolled two
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  Speaker 1: hundred and seventy five deaf and dumb children in the
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  Speaker 1: school especially devoted to them, where they receive the best
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  Speaker 1: education that science and experience can provide. The school has
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  Speaker 1: already been instrumental in preparing hundreds of deaf and youth
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  Speaker 1: to be useful and intelligent citizens of the state, and
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  Speaker 1: year by year a few are graduated well prepared to
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  Speaker 1: take the places beside the hearing and speaking youth who
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  Speaker 1: leave the public schools. About one third of the time
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  Speaker 1: is devoted to manual training. The school for the blind
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  Speaker 1: is entirely separate from that of the deaf and dumb,
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  Speaker 1: and is equipped with all the appliances of a modern
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  Speaker 1: special school of this character. It makes a specialty of
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  Speaker 1: musical instruction and industrial training such as broom making, hammock weaving,
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  Speaker 1: beadwork and sewing. The course of study embraces a period
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  Speaker 1: of seven years, beginning with the kindergarten and ending with
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  Speaker 1: the ordinary studies of English classes in the high schools.
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  Speaker 1: The school is free to all blind children in the
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  Speaker 1: state between the ages of eight and twenty six, to
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  Speaker 1: whom board care and tuition are furnished. The average number
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  Speaker 1: of pupils at this school for the past few years
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  Speaker 1: is between seventy and one hundred. There is also a
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  Speaker 1: State school for dependent and neglected children. This school is
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  Speaker 1: located in Owatana in Steele County and is one of
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  Speaker 1: the most valuable of all the many establishments which the
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  Speaker 1: state has provided for the encouragement of good citizenship. There
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  Speaker 1: are eleven buildings which comprise all the agencies that tend
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  Speaker 1: to make abandoned children useful citizens and rescue them from
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  Speaker 1: a life of vagrancy and crime. The object of this
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  Speaker 1: institution is to provide a temporary home and school for
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  Speaker 1: the dependent and neglected children of the state. No child
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  Speaker 1: in Minnesota need go without a home if the officers
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  Speaker 1: of the several counties do their duty. There is not
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  Speaker 1: a semblance of any degrading or criminal feature in the
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  Speaker 1: manner of obtaining admittance to this school. Under the law,
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  Speaker 1: it is the duty of every county commissioner when he
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  Speaker 1: finds any child dependent or in danger of becoming so
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  Speaker 1: to take steps to send him to this school. The
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  Speaker 1: process of admission wisely guards against the separation of parent
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  Speaker 1: and child, but keeps in view the ultimate good of
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  Speaker 1: the latter. Once admitted, it becomes the child of the state,
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  Speaker 1: all other authority over it being canceled. Every child old
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  Speaker 1: enough to work has some fitting task assigned to it,
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  Speaker 1: to the end of training it mentally, morally, and physically
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  Speaker 1: for useful citizenship. They are sent from the school into
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  Speaker 1: families wanting them, but this does not deprive them of
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  Speaker 1: the watchful care of the state, which through its agents
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  Speaker 1: visits them in their adopted homes and sees that they
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  Speaker 1: are well cared for. On January first, eighteen ninety nine,
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  Speaker 1: there had been received into the school from seventy two counties,
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  Speaker 1: one thousand, eight hundred twenty four children, of whom one thousand,
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  Speaker 1: one hundred thirty one were boys and six hundred ninety
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  Speaker 1: three were girls. Of these, two hundred thirty three were
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  Speaker 1: then in the school, the others having been placed in
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  Speaker 1: good homes. It is known that eighty three percent of
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  Speaker 1: these children develop into young men and women of good character.
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  Speaker 1: End of Section forty Recording by Jessica Louise Saint Paul, Minnesota,