planted by the city have been allowed to die for want of care. There are no walks to furnish, egress and ingress in winter, and, as a whole, the grounds present a most dilapidated appearance, which reflects disgrace on the State. Your committee would urgently recommend a sufficient appropriation to carry out the most needed improvements, and, in order to present the matter in a comprehensive manner, we have procured estimates of the cost of carrying out the work which, it seems to us, there is an imperative necessity should be done without delay. Our estimate is as follows:

The only appropriation made for the buildings and grounds of this institution at the last session of the Legislature was the sum of forty thousand dollars for the construction of a Mechanical Arts College building. This money still remains unexpended, the Regents having but recently let the contract for this building. As the matters pertaining to this branch of the University come more directly under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Mining and Mechanic Arts College, we have not investigated the matter as thoroughly as we otherwise would. Notwithstanding the fact that no appropriation was made for that purpose we found that considerable work had been done in the way of substantial and permanent improvement of the grounds. The details of this improvement are set forth in the report of the Board of Regents for the years eighteen hundred and seventy-five-seven, and to which we respectfully refer. Your committee found that this work had been paid for out of funds saved by close economy in other departments, and for which the executive committee deserve great credit.

In the opinion of your committee the University's greatest need is an adequate water supply. The last Legislature passed an Act to enable the Regents of the University and the Trustees of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind to acquire for the State the title to springs and other sources of supply in the vicinity of the University. During the last two years the proper surveys have been made and all the preliminary steps taken for that purpose. The Act referred to makes no appropriation for utilizing the water supply after its control has been secured. To meet this necessity the Board of Regents ask for an appropriation at the hands of this Legislature of twenty-two thousand dollars, to be used for constructing reservoirs, laying mains, and supply pipes, and for other expenses necessarily incident to the proper collection and distribution of the water.

Your committee, after a full examination of the matter, recommend that this appropriation be made.

On the thirteenth of last December, Henry D. Bacon, Esq. addressed a communication to the Board of Regents, in which he offered to donate to the University a valuable library of several thousand volumes, together with a collection of works of art, sculpture, and painting, valued at fifty thousand dollars, and also offered to give the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars in money, provided that the State would appropriate a like sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, and the aggregate amount be used in constructing the first subdivision of a building to be used as a library and art gallery. The committee are unanimously of the opinion that this appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars should be made. It will not only give to the University a much needed building but it will encourage other donations and endowments from wealthy and public spirited citizens.

The Regents ask for other appropriations, to wit: Twenty-five thousand dollars, to be used in constructing a wooden building for an auditorium and gymnasium; ten thousand dollars for the improvement of the grounds and the construction of roads; ten thousand dollars for the construction of an observatory and the mounting of instruments. The committee feel that however desirable these things may be, there is no pressing necessity for them, and in the present condition of the State cannot recommend an appropriation for this purpose.

THE DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND ASYLUM.

The Legislature at its last session made an appropriation of one hundred and ten thousand dollars for the construction of buildings for this institution, and providing that the buildings so erected should accommodate not less than one hundred and thirty pupils, and that the system, when completed, should furnish accommodations for at least two hundred and fifty pupils, and should not cost more than one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.

The Board of Trustees adopted what is known as the segregated plan, for reasons which are fully set out in the biennial report of the Directors for the two years ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven. Your committee entirely approves the system adopted, as furnishing the best facilities for education, more comfort to the pupils, a better protection against fire, and for its sanitary advantages.

On the twenty-sixth of April, eighteen hundred and seventyseven, the Directors entered into a contract with W. E. Boone for the construction of two buildings of the system, to be used for homes for the pupils, including rooms for study, etc. These buildings are each three stories high, with a basement, are built of hollow brick, granite, and Santa Clara sandstone. They are very substantial, and as nearly as possible fireproof. The total cost of the buildings, including architects' fees and superintendence, is ninety thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars, leaving a balance unexpended of the appropriation of nineteen thousand six hundred and seventyfive dollars. Your committee finds that, in letting the contract for the construction of these buildings, Directors adhered strictly to the letter of the law in all respects save one. We find that the contract contains no clause providing that eight hours shall constitute a day's

work. We have taken the testimony of competent builders and find, that according to the plans adopted, the buildings have been constructed at a very moderate price. There was a clause in the contract to the effect that in case the buildings were not completed by the first day of November, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, the contractor should forfeit the sum of one hundred and forty-two dollars and seventy-five cents per day for each day that the buildings remained uncompleted. This forfeiture would amount to about fourteen thousand dollars. This Legislature has seen fit, by an Act, to relieve the contractors of this penalty, and your committee has, therefore, no recommendation to make in reference to this particular case, but we think that, as a principle, in justice to the State and to competing contractors, the letter of the contract should be insisted on in all cases.

The two buildings referred to will furnish ample accommodations for the one hundred and thirty pupils, as provided by the Act of last session. The Directors, however, desire to carry the system to a further extent, and ask for the following additional appropriations:

For an additional home, fifty-one thousand five hundred dollars; for a refectory, kitchen, dining-room, etc, thirty-three thousand five hundred dollars; for an educational building, sixty-five thousand five hundred dollars; for a residence for the Principal, five thousand dollars; for furnishing the two new homes, ten thousand dollars. And the Directors claim that the increase in the number of applications render these additional accommodations absolutely and immediately necessary.

At

Your committee has given these demands long and earnest consideration. They are anxious that proper facilities should be furnished for the care and education of the unfortunate people who are now and who may hereafter become inmates of this Institution. the same time, we are, in a manner, intrusted with the responsibility of seeing that this duty is performed with as little expense as possible to the State. During the last two years there has been one hundred pupils in attendance at this asylum. They have all occupied and been cared for in a wooden building. There are now two first class fireproof buildings added to the Institution, with a capacity for accommodating one hundred and thirty pupils. Your committee, therefore, conclude that with the addition of a building for a refectory, etc., with certain additions to the furniture and other accommodations, the Institution can be conducted for the next two years far more comfortably than it has been for the last two years. We would, therefore, recommend appropriations to the following amounts and for the following purposes, and no other:

Mr. Schussler, a well known water engineer, and were running a tunnel into the hill back of the Institution with the hope of tapping a fountain which would furnish the asylum with a sufficient supply. There has been already expended on this tunnel about a thousand dollars, with no satisfactory result, and the whole operation is considered, by your committee, to be a very doubtful experiment, and one that should not be further prosecuted at this time. We would, therefore, recommend that the appropriation for water supply, after paying any indebtedness that has already accrued, should be devoted to some plan which promises better results than the one just referred

to.

The grounds belonging to the asylum are well kept. There is but little ornamentation, the most of the area being devoted to grain and hay, which is consumed by the animals which are kept at the Institution.

It is, perhaps, not within the province of this committee to report on the management of the Institution, but we will take the liberty to say that it presents a high state of efficiency, and reflects great credit on the Principal and the Board of Directors.

THE INSANE ASYLUM AT STOCKTON.

Since the last session of the Legislature the only improvements added to this institution have been the relaying of the floors in the center building, the replastering and painting of some of the rooms, and the construction of new water-works. All of these improvements were very much needed, and a full description of them is contained in the biennial report of the Trustees and Directors for the two years ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven. Your committee finds that in the erection of the water-works, at a cost of three thousand four hundred and fifty-two dollars and eighty cents, the letter of the statute, in regard to contracts for State institutions, was not complied with. But your committee also finds that this non-compliance with the law was through a misapprehension of its provisions and not a willful violation of duty. We also find that the work was thoroughly advertised, that there was a healthy competition for the contract, and that the improvement was made for a very reasonable price. There was no appropriation made for this kind of work by the last Legislature, and the expense of the improvements was paid out of a balance remaining in another fund.

Your committee finds that there is great and immediate necessity for additional buildings at this institution. In the bad wards there are one hundred and fifty patients confined in low brick buildings, whose floors are asphaltum and are about a foot below the surface of the ground, making it almost a matter of impossibility to secure cleanliness, sanitary conditions, or the least degree of comfort for the occupants. Common humanity demands that better quarters should be immediately provided for these people. There are also about one hundred and fifty patients housed in an old wooden building which has become unsafe through the rotting of its timbers, and which is hourly exposed to fire. In case of the latter catastrophe, it would be an impossibility to save more than fifty per cent. of the inmates. The Trustees have prepared and submitted to your committee plans and estimates of building designed to accomniodate three hundred patients, which, if constructed, will relieve the old wards and dis

pense with the necessity of using the wooden building above referred to. The proposed new building, although complete in itself, is so designed as to become part of a system in case the future needs of the State in this direction should demand additional accommodations. The estimated cost of the building which it is proposed to erect now is as follows:

Mechanical labor.

Contingent works..

Additions, alterations, and modifications, and brick wall around airing court.. Total

There is also a great necessity for better sewerage for the buildings, and drainage for the grounds. Some of the walks and roadways need graveling, in order to render them passable in wet weather. Your committee, after a full and thorough investigation into all the circumstances connected with the institution, would respectfully recommend the following appropriations:

For the construction of a new brick building, to accommodate not less than 300 patients $85,000 For sewerage, drainage, etc., complete, and for graveling and improving the walks and roadways 10,000 Total $95,000

THE NAPA STATE ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.

This institution has occupied a prominent position before every Legislature during the past six years, and its history is familiar to nearly every citizen of the State. The Legislature at the last session found the building unfinished and heavily in debt for materials and labor. At that time a new Board of Trustees was appointed, and an appropriation of four hundred and ninety-four thousand dollars for the payment of legal and equitable claims against the State, incurred for work done and materials furnished in the construction and completion of the structure and supplying water therefor. The condi tion of the building itself, the financial condition of the institution, and the work done by the new Board of Trustees since they entered on their trust, is fully shown by the Directors' biennial report, to which your committee respectfully refers. The Trustees appointed an expert to measure and compute the amount of work and material for which each contractor was entitled to pay, and the result is fully stated in the report referred to. The Trustees audited and paid all claims on the basis of the report of the expert, save one, that of Messrs. Wright and Sanders, amounting to eight thousand seven hun dred and ninety-four dollars. The various contracts called for pay ment in gold coin and at certain specified times. There was no

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money in the treasury to pay these claims when they became due by terms of the contracts, and when the money came to be actually paid it was paid partly in silver coin instead of in gold. The Trustees, while admitting that these parties had equitable claims-first, for interest on their money from the time it was due until it was actually paid; and, second, for the difference in value between the gold coin called for in the contract and the silver coin in which they were paid--had a doubt as to whether they were authorized, under the Act of the last session, to pay such claims. They, therefore, agreed with the claimants to present the facts to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds of the Senate and the Committee on Buildings and Grounds of the Assembly, sitting in joint session, and accept their opinion in the premises. They also agreed to submit the claim of Messrs. Wright and Sanders, as reported on by the expert to the same joint committee. Your committee sat in joint session with the committee of the Senate, and after a full investigation came to the conclusion that the claims should be paid.

Your committee also finds that of the appropriation made at the last session there remains, unexpended, the sum of forty-five thousand dollars, and that no money has as yet been expended towards providing the water supply as specified in the Act of eighteen hundred and seventy-six and seven. The Trustees have fixed on a plan for this purpose, which involves the condemnation of water rights and right of way for mains, etc., and the building of reservoirs. It is the only plan, in the estimation of your committee, which promises a full and never-failing supply of water for the institution. The estimated cost is twenty-eight thousand dollars.

Since the institution has been in operation it has been wholly lighted with coal oil, a proceeding which has been rendered necessary by the absence of any source from which gas could be obtained. It is unnecessary for us to explain how dangerous this practice is in an institution devoted to the confinement of insane persons. One of the imperative necessities of the Napa Asylum is a system of gasworks which shall furnish illumination for the entire building. The Trustees have already entered into a contract for the construction of such works, at a cost of seven thousand five hundred dollars.

We also find that there are some improvements to the grounds which should be completed as soon as possible. The grounds are now open on one side and should be inclosed at once, in order that the fields may be used for pasturage and other agricultural purposes. In the immediate vicinity of the building the grounds need grading. On one side of the building the surface of the ground is nearly as high as the tops of the basement windows, and must be cut down in order to allow of the full use of the basement story.

The Napa State Asylum for the Insane is a magnificent building, and has cost the State something more than a million and a quarter of dollars. We consider it altogether too magnificent for the purposes for which it was intended, and that its price is too high for the amount of accommodation it gives. We find that the patients are cared for in a style too good for charitable institutions. If they were crowded as the patients at Stockton are the Napa building would accommodate, with comparative comfort, a thousand persons. We therefore heartily join with the Hospital Committee in the recommendation that arrangements shall be made to receive, during the next two years, all the patients from the State, except those from a