Legislators, can we arrest your attention? Read this-read the reports of other institutions-judge whether you cannot discriminate amongst the institutions craving your aid. Some demands on the heart and purse of a State are imperative. We assume, the care of the blind, who must be educated now or perish intellectually, and it may be spiritually, is imperative.

Is it not evident that time is momentous to this Institution? Put us not off then, for a more convenient season, but defer some other claims, sterling, it is true, but not so pressing and indispensable.

We close our fiscal year with part of our appropriation for current expenses on hand. All debts paid.

The sum of $20,000, the appropriation per annum, for current expenses, if we had more house room, would educate and care for more pupils. The expenses will not increase in ratio with numbers, as the Institution must keep and has kept a corps of employees. With some more helpers much more could be done, the number thereof not increasing with the services which might be given in educating increased numbers of pupils. It would be economy in that sense to enlarge the Institution.

If any cause exists at Jacksonville to prevent the expenditure of more money here on buildings, we call for investigation. The water supply has been named as an objection; if that is not obviated then we, as officers of the State, say to you, knowing your duty, why not act promptly? By all means educate the blind somewhere, if not at Jacksonville. Fire has raged where the mighty lake and the ocean rolled in sight. Man must provide the means to adapt the water to its purpose, as an extinguisher. Cannot this be done in many localities now suffering for want of water? Cannot the State as well do it where so many of its benevolent institutions now exist as elsewhere.

With the highest respect for the Legislature, we court investigation into the acts of all the trustees, past and present, of this Institution. No extravagance, no defalcation, no incurring of debt or excess of expenditure over appropriations has been allowed. Our hearts are in this work, therefore we have spoken out plainly. If the Legislature cannot or will not appropriate money enough to build all that the character of Illinois and her duty to her blind children would demand, then suppose that the appropriation be to build a moderate center-for a complete structure in future-the center to cost, say $75,000, or erect another wing at the cost of $50,000, leaving a space for a center building. Either of these plans would aid the Trustees to provide for more of the blind entitled to education.

As no chapel or large room for public exhibition now exists in the Institution, this necessary part would be deferred if the foregoing modified plan is adopted.

The Legislature should act by all means-enlarge or remove the Institution.

Jacksonville is healthy. The Institution for the Blind originated as a favorite of the early residents of this town. It is here popular; the people are generous in their appreciation of the Institution. We do not advise the removal.

The city of Jacksonville, in our opinion, founded on data furnished officially to us by them, is in good earnest as to the building of efficient water works, having made large appropriations and having expended about $1,700, fixed her plan of works and constructed a portion thereof. The city has contracted for the completion of said works by the first of July, A. D. 1873, and confidently looks for them to be then complete.

The Trustees are happy in being able to commend the officers and employees of this Institution for their efficiency.

The pupils deserve our approval for their general good deportment and progress in their proper studies and pursuits.

We refer for additional facts and more details to the Report of the Superintendent of this Institution.

MAT. STACY,

WM. A. GRIMSHAW,

E. B. HAWLEY,

Trustees.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Board of Trustees:

GENTLEMEN :—In accordance with custom, if not required by positive enactment, I present to you a brief Biennial Report of the Illinois Institution for the Education of the Blind.

This is the Twelfth Biennial Report which I have had the honor and pleasure of laying before you, having been called to preside over this Institution October 1, 1850-now twenty-two years of service.

Brevity is a virtue I highly esteem, and endeavor to practice, or I should be tempted to yield to my feelings and enlarge upon the pleasure I have experienced, during these many years, from the generous and constant support, valuable aid and counsel of all the Trustees, in the fulfillment of the arduous and responsible duties of my position.

I can do no less than refer with pride and gratification to the fact that during all that time this Institution has been free from all annoyances from debt; no bills due have remained unpaid a single day, and in but two instances have we been obliged to borrow means, or anticipate appropriations, thanks to the liberality of the Legislature, and the prudence of the Trustees.

In the full tide of prosperity, when the Institution was fulfilling the designs of its founders, in April, 1869, the building occupied by the Institution took fire in the attic from a defective flue, and was destroyed.

From various causes, the most prominent of which was a deficient supply of water, the Legislature declined to make appropriations for rebuilding, and we have been necessitated to accommodate ourselves to the situation, and do what was possible with the means in our power. On mature consideration, it was decided to be most conducive to the welfare of the Blind to receive as many as the buildings could accommodate without injury to health, and give such instruction in literature, music, aud handicraft, as the limited space at our command would permit. We have pursued this policy, we hope, with much benefit to our pupils, although it has not been unattended with difficulties, the space occupied by our school not being one-third of what is absolutely necessary for the efficient instruction of the Blind of the State.

During the two years just passed, since my last report, the various classes in the school have given gratifying evidence of progress in their studies. The elementary class, under the care of Miss Alice Rhoads and Miss Greenleaf, numbers among its members some bright little minds, that bid fair, with care and attention, to improve rapidly and do credit to themselves and the faithfulness and efficiency of their teach

ers.

In the intermediate class, Miss Maginnis, by faithful drill, still further prepares the pupils to enter upon new and advanced studies.

The advanced class, under the able instruction of Prof. Loomis, is larger this year than ever before, and the majority of the pupils younger than those heretofore promoted. Under his tuition and watchful care we hope the true meaning of education will be to a large extent realized-the leading out of dormant faculties, rather than crowding the memory with non-essential technicalities. The amount of time necessary for thorough instruction of the Blind in any branch being so great, almost all instruction being of necessity oral, we are limited somewhat in the variety of subjects pursued. Our first class, however, devotes itself to the study of English Grammar and Rhetoric, History, Natural Philosophy, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry.

In Music-one of the greatest boons kind Providence has vouchsafed to the Blind-our pupils are being trained satisfactorily. Under the well known ability of Prof. Wimmerstedt, as a teacher, some are attaining a good degree of skill in the management of the voice, while others are devoting themselves assiduously to overcoming the mechanical dif ficulties of the piano, with such advantages as the limited nature of our apartments enable us to furnish them, the want of space being felt most seriously in our musical department. Our orchestra, too, under the instruction and leadership of Miss Alice Rhoads, has won many laurels for steady advancement.

The Handicraft Department, in charge of Mr. George C. Guthrie, is confined in rooms so small for the purpose that we labor under many disadvantages in teaching the various trades available to the Blind, and therefore cannot engage in all that might be of benefit. The shop formerly appropriated to this purpose we are obliged now to use in great measure for dormitories.

Having no rooms in which to receive new pupils, I have sedulously refrained from bringing the Institution before public notice, so as not to excite hopes of education in the Blind to be dashed by an inability to receive them when they should apply.

The Legislature has been appealed to, since the fire, for appropriations for rebuilding, and with its accustomed interest in the education of the Blind, has been ready to respond immediately and favorably, but for the deficient supply of water.

Last year the dearth of water became so excessive, and the necessity of a sufficient supply so great, that Superintendent Gillett and the Trustees of that Institution, with their usual ability and energy, devised and erected water-works at small cost, which furnished a full supply of pure water, and this Institution is now indebted to their liberality for a portion of its present supply.

The city of Jacksonville is now prosecuting with great energy the erection of extensive water-works-one hundred thousand dollars having been voted by the city for the purpose, and a considerable portion already expended. Engineers of the highest rank endorse the method pursued, and Jacksonville, a prairie town, will soon be supplied with a sufficiency of the best water-water better than that of most of the rivers of the west.

Thus the great objection to rebuilding is removed, and the Legislature will probably appropriate sufficient funds to enable this Institution to rebuild, and continue the even tenor of its way, receiving and educating all of this class which arouses the sympathy of every heart.