State offices. November 8, 1883. the south wing fell while in process of construction, an accident resulting in the death of eight workmen. The height of this building from the basement to the top of the flagsaff was 225% feet, while the total length from north to south (exclusive of steps and porticos) was 396 feet, and from east to west, 226 feet. The total appropriations for the enlargement of the Capitol and for the improvement of the park, up to 1904, aggregated about $900,000. Early in the morning of the 27th of February, 1901, a large part of the in terior of the Capitol was, with its contents, destroyed by fire; the central portion and the west wing particularly suffered. The Cepartment to suffer the greatest injury was the Wisconsin Free Library Commission, which lost a considerable library of expens.ve books, numerous traveling libraries and all its records. A building commission, appointed by the legislature of 1903 (chap. 399) was at the time of the fire, taking into consideration the construction of a new and larger Capitol. After the disaster the matter was taken up with vigor, and plans for a new building were submitted to the legislature of 1905, which passed an act (chap. 516) exteneng the powers and duties, and som what reconstrut-× ing the composition, of the commission of 1903. This act was further am,nded by chap. 537. laws of 1907. whereby the cost of the new Capitol was restricted to $6,000,000 including a heating plant and war house located about a half mile to the east of the park. This latter building ani the Capitel are connected by tunnel. The new Capitol, designed by George W. Post & Son of New York City, is now being built in sections-the west wing is nearing completion, and the east wing is well under way; the south and north wings, and the central rotunda connecting the four wings, will follow in due succession, the desire being to interfere as little as possible with the business of the several departments. When completed, the Capitol will occupy the site of the old structure, but will be much larger. The Capitol Park is seven hundred and ninety-two feet square, cornering on the cardinal points of the compass contains fourteen and four-tenths acres, and is handsomely situated on an elevation commanding a view of Lakes Menora and Men ota and the surrounding Four Takes country. The Capitol stands d'agonally in the center of this square, its wings extending to the cardinal points of the compass. 11 The State Board of Control of Reformatory, Charitable and Penal Institutions, established by Chapter 381, Laws of 1905, consists of five members, one of whom shall be a woman, appointed by the governor, subject to the approval of the senate, for a term of five years. The members appointed under the act are to hold office for the term of five years The members are required to devote their entire time to the discharge of their duties and receive a salary of two thousand dollars each, per annum, and al! necessary disbursements in the discharge of their duties. They are authorized to elect a secretary, four clerks and a stenographer. All accounts for disbursements and charges and debts contracted by the stewards of the institutions or the board are authorized by the board. Section 7. Sald board shall act as commissioners in lunacy, with power to investigate and examine into, with or without expert assistance, the question of the insanity and condition of any person committed or confined in any insane asylum or hospital, public or private, or restrained of his liberty by reason of alleged insanity, at any place within this state, and shall take the proper and legal steps for the discharge of any person so committed or restrained, if, in its opinion, such person is not insane, or can be cared for after such discharge without danger to others, and with benefit to such person. Section 8. Said board shall have power to fully investigate all complaints against any of the institutions above named, or against the official conduct or management thereof; to send for books and papers, summon, compel the attendance of, and swear witnesses; and conduct at any time, thorough investigation into the affairs of any such institution, in such manner as it shall deem best. Any letter, communication or complaint addressed to such Board or any member thereof, by any inmate, employe, or subordinate officer in any of said institutions, shall be forthwith forwarded as addressed, without interference therewith, or the breaking of the seal, or the reading thereof by any officer or employe of such institution. Section 9. The duties of such Board shall be: 1. To maintain and govern the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, the Northern Hospital for the Insane, the Wisconsin State Prison, the Wisconsin Industrial School for Boys, the Wisconsin Institution for the Education of the Blind, the Wisconsin Institut on for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, the State Public School for Dependent or Neglected Children, the Home for Feeble-Minded, the State Reformatory, and such other charitable, reformatory and penal institutions as may hereafter be established or maintained by the state. 2. To carefully supervise and direct the management and affairs of said institutions, and faithfully and diligently promote the objects for which the same have been established. 3. To preserve and care for the buildings, ground and all property connected with said institutions. 4. To take and hold in trust for the said several institutions any land conveyed or devised, or money or property given or bequeathed, to be applied for ay purpose connected therewith and faithfully to apply the same as directed by the donor, and faithfully to apply all funds, effects and property which may be received for the use of such institutions. 5. To make, on or before October 1, in each year, full and complete inventories and appraisals of all the property of each of said institutions, which inventories and appraisa's shall be recorded and shall be so classified as to separately show the amount, kind and value of all real and personal property belonging to such institutions. 6. To make such by-laws, rules and regulations, not incompatible with law, as it shall deem convenient or necessary for the government of said institutions and for its own government, and cause the same to be printed. 7. To visit and carefully inspect each of said institutions as often as once in each month, either by the full board or by some member thereof, and ascertain whether all officers, teachers, servants and employes in such institutions are competent and faithful in the discharge of their duties, and all inmates thereof properly cared for and governed, and all accounts, account books and vouchers properly kept, and all the business affairs thereof properly conducted. 8. To fix the number of subordinate officers, teachers, servants and employes in each of said institutions, and prescribe the duties and compensation of each, and to employ the same upon the nomination of the respective superintendents and wardens. 9. To promptly remove or discharge any officer, teacher, servant or employe in any of said institutions who shall be guilty of any malfeasance or misbehavior in office, or of neglect or improper discharge of duty. 10. To annually appoint for the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane and for the Northern Hospital for the Insane, for each, a superintendent, one assistant physician, a matron and a steward, and for the institution for the Education of the Blind and the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, and the Industrial School for Boys, for each, a superintendent, a steward, and all necessary teachers; for the State Prison, a warden and a steward, who shall be the officers of sa'd institutions, respectively and whose duties sha'l be fixed by said board, except as herein otherwise provided. 11. To mainta n and govern the school, prescribe the course of study, and provide the necessary apps "a s and means of ins.ruction for the Institution for the Education of the Blind, and for the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. 12. To prescribe and collect such charges as it may think just, for tuition, and maintenance of pup's, not entitled to the same free of charge, in the Institution for the Education of the Blind and in the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. 13. To fix the period of the academic year, not less than forty weeks and prescr be the school terms in the In titution for the Education of the Blind, and in the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. 14. To confer, in its discretion, upon meritorious papils, such academic and literary degrees as are usually conferred by similar institut on, and grant diplomas accordingly, in the Institution for the Education of the Blind, and in the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. WISCONSIN INSANE IN INSTITUTIONS. December 31, 1908, there were 6,324 insane under public care. Of these 619 were in the State Hospital, 636 in the Northern hospital and 625 in the Milwaukee hospital for the insane; a total of 1,870 in hospitals. There were 4,444 in the 32 county asylums for the chronic insane, making 6,324 confined in asylums and hospitals. WEEKLY COST PER CAPITA FOR INSTITUTIONS FOR THE INSANE. For the Last 10 Years. Average.. 2.28 2.12 2 16 2 47 691 2.38 2 19 3 84 1010101 05 2 12 198 2 15 2.07 1 65 2 62 2 27 2.56 2.01 2 22 1.90 1 82 03 18 4 33 2.31 2.30 2.48 193 2.99 81 67 82 22 $220 $2 39 82 2382 37 82 25 $4 32 82 56 $255 3.10 1 66 1 97 1 81 2.19 1 86 2 23 2 42 3 11 2.56 Brown Chippewa. Columbia. Dane.. COUNTY ASYLUMS FOR THE CHRONIC INSANE. Counties. Dodge. Grant Green.. Iowa Jefferson.. La Crosse. Marathon. Manitowoc. Marmette. Winnebago. Postoffice of the Asylum. Green Bay. Chippewa Falls.. Wyocena.. Verona Juneau. Richland Center. Whitehall.. Superintendents. F. M. Loftus. R. P. Dickinson. L. P. Edwin. STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. OFFICERS. CHAS. GORST, M. D. Superintendent M. K. GREEN, D. AUGUST SUTHOFF, M. D., W. W. D. MERCER, M. D.. MARY B. SAUTHOFF, M. D. A. C. NORDVI. P. D. CRAMER. J. W. DAUBNER. MISS ANNIE I. OLIVER. .Assistants .Assistant Steward The Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, located at Mendota, near Madison, was opened for patients in July, 1820. The original main building, as com. pleted in 1860 was 65x120 feet. Since that time many additions have been made. Two cast and west wings, each 250 feet long, and two transverse wings, each 87 feet long, have been added to the original s ructure. During the last two years a new addition. 154x57 feet, containing congregate dining room, two wards and baths was erected at the end of the old main structure. The hospital buildings, with a frentage of 569 feet, face a magnificent wooded lawn which slo es gently towards Lake Mendota, a quarter of a m'le d's'ant. The hospital will now accommodate comfortably some s'x hundred patients. J. Edward Lee, M. D., was electel the first medicinal s'perintendent on the 22d Cay of June, 1959. John P. Clemens was el ceted in 1860. The first patient arrived July 14 18C9. Dr. Clemens resigned January 1st, 1864, and was |