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From the counties of Crawford, Elk, Forest, Ful-ness, attention and cleanliness, show them to be of ton, Greene, M'Kean, Pike and Warren, no applica. tions were recieved prior to December 1, 1865.

These tables exhibit a great disparity between the applications from the Eastern and Western parts of the Commonwealth, a portion of which is said to be owing to the fact, that a greater proportion of un-married men entered the army from the latter than from the former. But it is probably chiefly caused by the greater prevalence of destitution in the large towns of Eastern Pennsylvania, and also to the fact, that the existence of the plan itself has been less extensively made known in the West.

It will also be seen, that from a few of the counties no assignments to the schools have yet been made. This result is entirely caused by the fact that, after repeated attempts, no schools could be secured in or near those counties. During the winter, however, it is expected that schools will be opened in every quarter of the State. It should be observed also that even in the counties near to the schools now in operation, there are not a few orphans yet unaccommodated, for want of room.

Of the orphans ordered to be admitted, 920 are boys, and 662 girls. The average age of all is 92 years; of those in the advanced schools it is 114

years, and of those in the institutions for the more juvenile, 7 years.

Of those ordered to the schools, the time of 34 will expire in 1866, and that of 101 in 1867, by arrival at sixteen within those years respectively.

There are now on file 26 applications for the admission of children who were under four years of age at the date of the application, but who will be admissible in the year 1866.

Only four of the whole number of orphans admitted to the schools, have died during the year.

Of the whole number, whose applications have been allowed, the fathers of 308 died in camp or hospital; 227 were killed in battle; 86 died in rebel prison; 39 died at home; and 7 have been so long missing as to be presumed dead;-in all 727, and showing that the State thus far provides, on an average, for two of the chidren of each of the brave defendiers of the Union whose families require aid.

Of these fathers, 245 were Methodist; 97 Lutherans; 77 Presbyterians; 51 Episcopalians: 40 Baptists: 37 German Reformed; 35 Roman Catholics; 11 United Brethren; 8 Christians; 7 of the Church of God; 6 of the Evangelical Association; 5 Friends; 3 Universalists; 2 Albright Methodists; 3 Disciples of Christ; 1 Moravian; 1 Independent; 33 are generally designated as Protestants, and of 61 the religious denomination is not given.

Of the whole number of applicants 44 are reported to be whole orphans, having lost their mothers also.

The orphans thus presented in the aggregate, compare quite favorably with the average of children.In appearance, health, conduct and intellect, they are quite equal to those of the same ages who attend the Common Schools, though somewhat inferior, in actual acquirement, to the regularly attending pupils of those schools. But, compared with an equal number, composed as well of those who do not as of those who do attend those schools, it is believed they will not suffer in the comparison, even in point of acquirement. When first brought together in their schools, it is admitted that a portion of them are very ignorant, very rude, very filthy and very ragged; but these are precisely the evils the State seeks to remove; and a very few months, with kind- |

the same impressible and improvable humanity as that of the more favored sons and daughters of living parents. There is, therefore, in their capabilities, as there unquestionably is in there bereaved condition, everything to demand, and not a single consideration to discourage presistence in the existing effort for their benefit.

THE SCHOOLS.

These are of two grades,-for the more juvenile and for the older and more advanced.

The orphans from four to about eight years of age, according to physical and mental development, have been, for want of means and time to establish separate institutions for themselves, placed in the Orphan Homes and Asylums already in existence in the cities and larger towns. These are managed by benevolent persons, mostly ladies, and several of them under the charge of one or other of the Christian churches. As nearly all these have received aid from the State, and there is no private interest involved in their success, they are enabled to keep our soldiers' orphans at a less compensation than could established by the State. The allowance now paid be afforded in private institutions, or even in schools is at the rate of $100 a year for each soldier's orphan received, in full for boarding, clothing, tuition, and

all other charges.

Among the foremost to admit these orphans was the Northern Home for Friendless Children, in Philadelphia. Its board of managers, of which Mrs. E. H. Hutter is the efficient and indefatigable Pres't, at once and at considerable expense, provided a sepa rate building for these children, of whom it has now 145 on the list; and all these institutions have done their utmost to further this good work.

Still, while according full credit to these institutions and duly sensible of the relief afforded by their acceptance of these children, I am not fully satisfied with the arrangement. The children, it is true, have everything, in the way of care, food, raiment and instruction, which the circumstances admit of. But they have not, and while in these institutions cannot have, the pure air, the free scope, and the plentiful milk and vegetable diet of the country. Hence the existing arrangement has always been regarded as temporary, and to last only till something better adapted to the wants of the children could be effected.

An experiment in this direction has been tried at the school at Loysville, in Perry county,—an institution to which only orphans of the more juvenile class are sent. Though attended with somewhat greater cost than that of Homes and Asylums in the large towns, the result has, thus far, been quite satisfactory, as a test of the comparative advantages of a rural and city location for these schools.

Providence, through the kind heart of a benevolent citizen of the State, seems to have opened the way for the desired change. Dr. A. G. Egbert, of Mercer county, has recently given a farm of two hundred acres of suitable land in that county, on which he will erect buildings, to cost not less than $100,000, and to accommodate not less than four hundred friendless children, those of our deceased soldiers to have the preference; the institution to be managed by a board resident in the vicinity, but to be under the auspices of the Northern Home of Philadelphia. It is expected that large additions in Western Pennsylvania will be made to the same object; in fact, another liberal genteman of that region already offers $50,000 to the enterprise. If a similar institution can be established in the Eastern part of the State, as there is every reason to suppose there

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It should be stated that in all the institutions With the restoration of peace, the difficulties enmarked as of no particular denomination, there is countered in securing schools of this grade are disapnevertheless regular religious instruction and wor-pearing, and there is now no doubt of carrying this ship.

The schools for the more advanced pupils are slowly but effectually approaching the character designed for them, when the present plan was devised. There are now eight, and there soon will be four more of them in operation. They all have, or soon will have, completed building accommodations for from 100 to 150 pupils, each; and by the 1st of April next, each will have at least 20 acres of land for cultivation by its inmates. The number of teachers in each is not less than four, and other employees are, or will be in their service in time to afford the kind of industrial and other instruction requisite to effect the objects in view in that direction.

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part of the plan into full effect, in a few months.
The cost per pupil in these schools for everything
but clothing, is $150 a year; and at first there was
extreme difficulty in having them taken even at that
price. Probably, when prices return to a peace
standard, and the work of the puoils in the domestic
affairs and on the land in the production of a portion
of their own food comes to be realized, this price
may be diminished; but during the coming year, little
if any decrease can be promised.

The following table exibits the locations, names of Principals, religious character and the number of orphans of both sexes on the list, of each of these more advanced schools, on the 1st of Dec., 1865:

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Mount Joy.

Orangeville

Juniata..
Lancaster
.do.
Columbia

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THE TRAINING.

G. F. M'Farland.
S. Preston ·

J. R. Carothers..
H. D. Walker
Lucian Cort.
Henry Webber
A. L. Guss...
C. W. Deans

hood requires, as its primary want.

all these afford, than by hard task lessons and long school hours. The latter, however, are not to be In the Homes and Asylums for the more juvenile, entirely ignored; they are only to be made secondcomparatively little in the way of educational pro-ary to that kind of training which this period of childgress, so called, can be effected. Removal from outside corrupting influences, sound moral and religious principle and example, wholesome food, sufficient clothing, cleanliness, pure air and abundant exercise, are the main wants of childhood, at this age. Of course school instruction is to be given and is pro. vided for,commencing at a fit period according to individual development, and pressed with increasing attention and continuance from year to year, till at the age of eight, or nine, or even ten, respectively, the juveniles shall be prepared for and transferred to the more advanced schools. But, while in their own primary schools, more is expected to be effected in their education, by their membership in a well regulated family, by oral instruction, by explanation of the objects around them, and by that symmetrical development of body, mind and conscience which

In the more advanced schools, the course of education contemplated is not yet fully in operation. As much and as thorough instruction, however, is given in the school room as in the best boarding schools, so far as the advancement of the pupils permits; and they are improving as satisfactorily as was, or could be expected. Their physical health and development are promoted by a general participation in the domestic employments of the school, and by methodical exercise. In most of them, the boys are drilled in military movements, with good results; and this will hereafter be enforced in all. Their moral and religious culture is provided for by proper home training, family worship, Sabbath school exercises and regular attendance on public worship in the churches of the vicinity.

When all the schools shall be in operation with their full complement of pupils, it is intended thatPhysical training shall be made a regular daily portion of school duty, in addition to the exercise afforded by the labors incident to the domestic occupations of the institution. Calesthenic exercises for the girls, and military drill for the boys, will be mainly relied on for this purpose.

wholesome and sufficient supply been withheld.— This is a matter exceedingly difficult to be regulated or watched, by even frequent visitations; much less is it possible, were it proper, to arrive at the truth by questioning the pupils. There is a test that cannot lead to false conclusions. When children, on all occasions, are found to be in good health, clean, ruddy and happy, they cannot have been starved or even stinted in their food, much less fed on unwholesome or innutritious diet. And this test has been borne by every school and institution in my care.

The general rule required to be observed is, that the children shall have three regular meals a day, consisting of light food with coffee or tea, or milk or soup, for breakfast and supper, and a solid dinner of animal food and a variety of vegetables, with bread, either of wheat or corn, for dinner.

CLOTHING.

The intellectual conrse shall be thorough as far as it goes, and practical; that is, not practical in the low sense of regarding acquired knowledge as the mere means of securing money or position, but practical, in the sense of causing all knowledge to be the means of rendering its possessor a good and intelligent man, a useful and reliable citizen and a sincere Christian. If these schools be continued, it is hoped to make them the means of introducing a method of instruction not yet found in the books, but the result of many years close observance of schools and of youth, and believed to be in nearer The clothing arrangements have also been troubleaccord with the nature and wants of mind in child- some, but are now taking a systematic form. hood and youth, than any now in practice. It is be In the institutions for the more juvenile, where the lieved that learning and labor may be made to pro- clothing is provided by their managers out of the ceed consistently and pleasantly together, and that general allowance paid for each pupil, there is littlethough neither can ever cease to be essentially a difficulty, and no care on the part of the agent of task, yet that much of the repulsiveness of both the State, except to see that the children are commay be removed, and that the properly educated, fortably clad, according to the season youth may leave school with well trained hands as well as well stored mind, and thus be prepared to do as well as to know,-aye, and to dare to do for himself what is proper, and to dare to know and avow for himself what is right,-in his life. It is not necesary, even if there were space, here, to develop the method alluded to; but to avoid misconstruction, it is proper to add, that these orphans shall be subjected to no hazardous or doubtful experiments, and that the course contemplated will not be inconsistent with, but greatly promotive of the noble efforts now in progress for the improvment of the teacher's profession.

In the schools for the larger orphans, however, there has been very considerable difficulty. Arriv ing, as many of the children do, with a very scanty, and some without even a decent covering, it was indispensable to authorize the principals, at once and by home purchase and make, to provide for such wants. This has added very considerably to the outlay in this department. But this state of affairs can only exist once in the history of each school; for, except at the first opening, there will always be a supply of old or surplus garments on hand, from which such cases of destitution can be supplied till regularly provided for.

At present, the under-garments for both sexes, the summer every day clothing for the boys, and all other garments, except the parade and every day winter suits for the boys, and the bonnets, hoods and cloaks for the girls, are made at the schools, of materials purchased, in quantity, by the principals.As much of he making as they are yet capable of is done by the female pupils, and the rest by the widows of soldiers when applied for by them.-Hereafter this practice will be continued, and as much of the work as possible be left to the female orphans, both as a mitter of instruction and economy.

The moral and religious culture of the children, as remarked, has been promoted by assigning them to schools of similar denominational character with that of the deceased father. This, however, can only be effected to a limited extent, owing to distance from schools of the desired denomination. To obviate this obstacle, a list is now being procared of the clergy of all denominations resident near each school, and a circular will be sent to each of them, giving the names of all the children, in the proper school, whose fathers were of his church, and desiring that he will regularly visit them in the school, and adopt proper means, by Sabbath school and other instruction, to have them trained up in The parade and every day winter suits of the boys, the creed of the parent. Ordinary moral culture (the former composed of dark blue jackets and cadet will continue to be provided for, as now by, the selec-gray pants, and latter of light blue kersey jackets and tion of nene but principals and teachers of unblem- pants,) and the cloaks, bonnets and better dresses ished character and fitness for this important portion of the girls, are uniform in all the schools. The of the teacher's work. effect is good, both in appearance and on the character of the schools. The practice is also economical.

FOOD.

There has been more trouble in relation to the diet of these children, than to any other matter connceted with the schools. Several complaints have been made, and though some irregularities were found to exist, especially at first,-more as to the form and manner of the meals, however, than to the quantity or quality of the victuals,-yet most were four 1 to be without just cause, while such as bad any foundation have been promptly corrected. The quantity necessary for a large school and the high prices of provisions, have, of course, compelled parties to be careful and economical in expenditure; but it is confidently believed that, in no case, has a

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The parade and water werking suits of the boys, and the cleaks of the girls have been made as Lancaster, of materials prchased by wholesale, under my own eye. At first an attempt was more to have these articles suppded by contract; but the price demanded was so large, and the chance of obtaining good and well made articles so slight, that the present mode was adopted. This of course adds considerable to my duties; but I am satisfied that, taking the less price and the better quality and make of the garments into account, a saving, equal to eve-balf of the cost, has been effected.

In this relation it is to be added, that the cost of clothing each pupil the first will be at least one-third more than any subsequent year. The parade suit should last two and probably may three years,for though the first wearer may out-grow it, yet it can be transferred to a smaller boy, or used for every day purposes; and two suits of every day winter clothing will, one year with the other, last three years. So of the girls:-A full supply the first year will run far into the next, and the better dresses be made to last for some time for every day purposes, when unfit for their original use.

The parade suit of a boy of medium size, including cap, costs $11. The winter working suit of kersey, including a grey felt hat, costs $7; and a girl's cloak, of good and handsome wool and cotton fabric, (black) costs $5.

Upon the made-up value of these garments, when not made in the schools, a tax of six per cent. is demanded by the United States authorities. This is to be added to the estimated cost just given.

As nearly as can be estimated, the whole cost of clothing a boy, including shoes and stockings, during the first year, has been about $35, and that of a girl $30. During the second year a boy can be comfortably clad for about $24, and a girl for $20,-the garments being, in all cases, neat, of good material and comfortable. When the girls shall have acquir. ed a knowledge of sewing and mending, the domestic arrangements be in complete working condition, and the sewing machine introduced into all the schools, the clothing expenses can be very materially reduced.

The following table shows the cost of clothing in the more advanced schools, the day on which the first orphan was admitted and the largest number on the roll of each; (exclusive of the cost of parade and winter working suits, and caps and hats for the boys, and of cloaks, straw hats, and hoods, and materials for better dresses and of winter every day dresses and winter skirts for the girls ;) all of the excepted articles having been paid for 'out of the sums charged to general clothing account for materials, making, caps, hats, &c., and elsewhere stated: Schools. When opened. Largest no. Cost Clo'g. M'Allisterville.. Nov. 3, 1864.... 132..... $1,640 81* Dec. 6, 1864.. 1,10 270 Dec. 20, 1864. 1,220 40 Jan. 3, 1865. 2,551 07 1,144 18 164 17†

Paradise.. Mount Joy.. Orangeville..

105.

81.

122.

Quakertown..

Jan. 18, 1865.

83.

N. Sewickly.

Apr. 27, 1865

98

Harford..... Nov. 6, 1865.. Cassville.. .... Nov. 6, 1865.

33.

54.

VISITATION, OFFICE WORK, &C.

45 30 3 32

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do Home for F'dless Jan. 1, 1865.
do Soldiers' Or. Home Jan. 1, 1865.
Church Home

Loysville
Lancaster Children's Home.
St. John's Or. Asylum, Phila..
Orphan Asylum

do

St. Vincent's Home

do.. do.

1532

Sept. 25, 1865.

1

May 8, 1865

2

Dee. 5, 1864.

10

Sept. 9, 1865

2

July 15, 1865.

1

1

Aug. 3, 1865 Catholic Home July 15, 1865. York Children's Home.... May 18, 1865.. May Emaus Or. House, Dauphin co.... 6, 1665 The office work of the Superintendency has been very considerable. In addition to preparing and keeping the books,-consisting of descriptive and general School Registers, and Roll Book of the pupils in each institution, preparing the blank forms for application and admission, and examining the returned applications and issuing the orders for admission,-there have been 840 official letters written, of which copies have been kept, in reply to applications for information or advice, exclusive of double that number of which no copies have been kept, and of circulars, &c. In addition to this the account of the expenditure of the fund was also to be kept, and the purchases on the general clothing account and the making up and delivering of the garments, to be attended to.

THE COST FOR THE PAST YEAR.

eral, will show, in considerable detail, the cost of The annexed account, settled by the Auditor Genthis enterprise to the first of December, 1865, the whole expense being paid to that day, except about $500 of unsettled accounts. The whole amounts to $103,817 64, leaving an unexpended balance of which will defray all expenses till the first of Janu$21,270 42, (of which $20,000 is undrawn,) and ary, 1866, as was estimated when the Legislature made the appropriation of $75,000 in March, 1865. &c., is, according to contract. $150 a year for the The actual cost, per pupil, for tuition, boarding, more advanced, exclusive of clothing, and $100 for the more juvenile, except at the Loysville school, in Perry county, where it is $130, and the Emaus Orphan House, at Middletown, Dauphin county, where it is $175, including clothing. The cost of clothing each pupil in the schools for the more advanced, cannot be exactly stated, owing to the different dates at which they entered, and the different supplies furnished to each; but it is, as nearly as can be estimated, $35 for the boys and $30 for the girls, as was before stated.

ESTIMATE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

It is desirable that the year of this trust shall terminate, like other public expenditures, on the last day of November. This estimate is therefore made on that basis. It is also made on the supposition that the plan will be sustained by sufficient appropriations; and accordingly the schools now in operation will be continued and others yet necessary will be established, unless otherwise directed by the proper authority.

Judging from the rate at which applications are now coming in and from the number of counties that have not yet, or have only recently begun to move in the matter, it is a moderate calculation to say that there will be 3,000 orphans in the schools and institutions on the 1st day of December, 1866. Of these onehalf will be of each class; for, though the whole num

ber of the more juvenile now admitted is much less than that of the more advanced, yet this disparity is really owing to a greater want of school accommodation for the former than the latter. Again, it is not supposed that these 3,000 will be in the schools the whole, but only that such will be the maximum at the end of the year. In addition to this, it is hoped that, by economy in the item of clothing and some reduction in the cost of keeping, the total expense per year of each of the more advanced pupils may be reduced to $170, including clothing. This with $100 for each of the more juvenile, gives an average of $130. Finally, assuming that the average number on the rolls the whole year will be 2,500 and the average cost $130, the total expense for 12 months will be $325,000, from which, if the unexpended balance now on hand be deducted, an appropriation of say $303,750, will be required and is recommended.

Inquiry may be made as to the duration of this system. It is probable that the maximum number of orphans to be maintained and educated will be reached in 1866, and that it will remain stationary during 1867, and 1868, as the number of discharges in each of those three years will probably be about equal to the number of the more juvenile class who will then attain the age of four and be admitted. In 1869, the number will begin to decrease and will rapidly fall off, by arrival at the age of 16 and by binding out, till 1884, when the schools will close for want of inmates. It may be added that, taking $300,000 as the maximum of actual cost, the average of annual expense will be $150,000.

In framing this report, a practical business presentation of the subject seemed the most proper.Appeals to Executive favor, Legislative liberality, or public support were deemed unnecessary. The Chief Magistrate, with whom the idea of this great benefaction originated and who has never failed to promote it, needs no appeal in its behalf. The representatives of the people who have twice indorsed the plan, will not now abandon it. A people who are reaping all the advantages for which the fathers of these orphans died, ought not to deny them support from an overflowing treasury and in the midst of general prosperety.

Respectfully submitted,

LANCASTER, Dec. 1, 1865.

THO. H. BURROWES,
Sup't Solds. Orphans.

EXPENDITURES.

Accountant asks credit for the following payments, from June 16, 1864, till December 1, 1865: For stationery and blank books, as per bills and receipts....

sence, &c...

For printing forms, circulars, leaves of ab-
For advertising, &c

For postage and telegrams.
For freight and express.

For traveling expenses from June 16, 1864, till
Dec. 1, 1865..
For transferring pupils..
For funeral of orphan....

For materials for clothing, viz: for boys' parade
For salaries for one year and a half..

and winter working suits, and girls' cloaks, better and every day winter dresses & skirts For making boys' parade and every day winter suits, and girls' cloaks........

For boys' dress caps and every day hats, and girl's straw hats and hoods...

For boarding, tuition, &c., of 132 solds' orphans at M'Allisterville, for various periods to Dec. 1, 1865, at the rate of $150 a year each...... For clothing for the same, furnished by the principal, at do....

For tuition, boarding, &c., of 105 orphans, as For clothing, as above, at do.. above, at Paradise school.....

For tuition, boarding, &c., for 81 orphans, as above, at Mount Joy (formerly Strasburg) school

For clothing, as above, at do. For boarding and tuition, &c., of 122 orphans, as above, at Orangeville school...... For clothing, as above, at do.. For boarding, tuition, &c., of 83 orphans, as above, at Quakertown school. For clothing, as above, at do.. For boarding, tuition, &c., of 98 orphans, as above, at North Sewickley school.... For boarding, tuition, &c., of 64 orphans, as For clothing, as above, at do..

above, at Cassville school..

For clothing, as above, at do..
For boarding. tuition, &c., of 33 orphans, as

above, at Harford school. For clothing, as above, at do.

For boarding, tuition, clothing, &c., of 145 or

phans, at $100 a year each, at the Northern Home in Philadelphia...

For boarding, &c. of 54 orphans, as above, at Bridesburg Home

$171 60

568 50 465 52

253 25

51 31

451 81

193 25

20 50

5,088 00

9,624 62

1,813 62

1,387 67

13,524 72

1,640 81

7,648 43 1,120 70

5,752 04 1,220 40

11,362 92

2,551 07

7,205 74

1,144 18 5,266 19 164 17

500 14 3 32 174 48 45 30

~,929 57

2,850 82

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For boarding, &c., as above, 2 orphans, at St. Vincent's Home, Philadelphia

For boarding. &c., three orphans, as above, at Catholic Home, Philadelphia..

For boarding, &c., 52 orphans, as above, at Pittsburgh and Allegheny Orphan Asylum.. For boarding, &c., 2 orphans, as above. at Pittsburgh and Allegheny Home for the Friendless For boarding, &c., 2 orphans, as above, at Soldiers' Orphan Home of Allegheny, &c. ... For boarding, &c., three orphans, as above, at Church Home, near Pittsburgh..

For boarding, &c., 40 orphans, as above, at Lancaster Children's Home.

34 51

114 24 2,045 20

183 34 1,483 33

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51 34

66

5. From a Teacher in Philadelphia.. Mar. 17. From Pennsylvania Railroad Co.... June 3. From State Treasurer..

85 06 3.00

2,773 89

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20,000 00

Oct. 12. From do

25,000 00

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5,000 00

For boarding, &c., 11 orphans, as above, at Emaus Orphan House, Middletown....

643 71

105,088 06

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Deduet payments as below..

Deo] 1, 1865. Balance in hand of Accountant... $1,870 42

103,817 64

103,817 64

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