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better instruction is the one thing needful to their efficiency. The Normal Schools are doing good service in this behalf to the extent of their capacitv. Since the discontinuance of the Teachers Institutes, great majority of the teachers of common schools have had no opportunity for obtaining instruction in the art of teaching The renewal of Institutes is respectfully suggested for your consideration. SAVINGS BANKS. No new Savings banks have been organized the past year. Since August 1875 four of the sixty in four savings banks in the State have become solvent and been placed in the hands of receivers, and three others have suspended payment. One of these latter, the Waterville Savings Bank, has sumed payment by the action of the depositors. No arrangement has vet been ccepted by the depositors of the two other banks. The amount of deposits and profits of the sixty banks doing business, was. on the sixth of November last, $27,818,764 70, a decrease during the year of 4,549.58, including $1,029,963 95 of deposits placed in the hands of receivers. The number of depositors decreased during the year 10,705. The present number is 90,621, and the deposits average $306 00 to each depositor. The Winthrop Savings Bank was taken posses sion of by receivers before the day fixed by law for making returns to the State Treasurer for the six months then nearly expired, and the receivers refused to pay the tax for that period. A suit to recover this tax was brought by the State Treasurer, and prosecuted by the Attorney General to final judgment by the Law Court to the effect that the tax is upon the franchise of savings banks, and the Winthrop bank having ceased to exist be fore the return for taxation was due from it, nothing remained upon which to assess tax, and the claim of the State was therefore not valid one. Applications growing out of this decision will probably be made to the Legislature by several banks for the refunding of taxes alleged to have been improperly paid. The Commissioners appointed for the purpose under resolve of the last legislature, have prepared draft of general relating to savsings bank which will be reported to you. A prin cipal feature of the proposed law is the substitution of tax of ne-half of one per cent. for the present tax of one per cent. The present rate of taxation, considered relatively to the tax upon other franchises and property cannot be regarded discriminating otherwise than in favor of the banks. The only question is whether expe dient, as tending to maintain and deposits, to reduce the rate. It the Legislature shall favor the affirmative of the question trust that of the reduction made will not exceed one fouit one per cent. THE INSANE HOSPITAL The past year has been made notable in the history of the Insane Hospital by the construction of works for supplying the institution with water. The source of the supply is an artificial pond. cavated in that part of the farm east of the highway, and 80 situated as to be fed by springs, and to receive the drainage of an extensive A substantial reservoir has been built on the summit of a bill near the pond, of the capacity of 385, 000 gallons. The water is raised from the pond to the reservoir by steam power, and conveyed thence through iron mains to the hospital, and distributed by system of pipes through the main building. and to the various offices and farm buildings where it is needed. The water con ducted through two filters, one at the outflow from the pond, and one at the outtle from the reservoir, and is perfectly clear and pure where it is drawn for use. Water may be forced at need directly from the pond to the hospital. It is believed that the supply will be ample at all seasons for and uses all exigencies. While is a matter of the first necessity to the proper conduct of such an institution that there should be abundance of water for culinary, cleans. ing and sanitary purposes, and for farm uses, every consideration of humanity and of prudence imperatively demands that the lives of the many inmates of the hospital, and the valuable property of the State should have the fullest protection sible from the dangers of fire. The trustees well done their plain duty in making this indispensable provision. The works cost twelve thou sand dollars, and have been paid for from the hos pital fund. The inception and execution of this enterprise are highly creditable to all concerned in it. The amount of the crops raised upon the farm indicates that its productive has been creased to a marked extent. This improvement undoubtedly due in good part to the fertilization of the soil with the sewage of the hospital, upon system which was devised by an officer of the hos. pital, and has been three years in effect. The State Board of Health of made this system and its operations the subject of inves tigation, and their annual report for 1876 they describe it and give it their commendation most the only system which has stood the test of experience this country." The trustees propose to provide at once for the thorough ventilation of those wards of the hospi which are deficient in this respect. The reports for the present year, and former years, of the officers connected with the hospital, make evident that the capacity of the hospital barely suffices for the present number patients. and suggest the propriety of seasonably providing recommodation for the increase of applications for admission which will attend the growth of the population of the State. The trustees make no request for an appropriation, and, am infort med by them that they expect able soon to make reduction of the rate charged for the support of patients. The public always been peculiarly sensitive with regard to the treatment of patients at such institutions, and therefore every care should be taken to inspire the community with confidence in the management of the hospital. The frequent inspections by the visiting committee are valuable means to that end. Whenever any appear between the obser or opinions of the trustees and those of the committee, the attention of the Legislature called directly to the amination of the matters in question. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS The leading object of this institution is "to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts in such manner as the Legislature of the State may prescribe, order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life. Whatever latitude of instruction the terms of the foundation may seem permit, it must be ident to all acquainted with the sentiment of the State, that the vailing opinion is, that the college should first be faithful to its leading object. and so arrange and limit the course of instruction that its pupils upon completing their course may be prepared enter at once upon the practice of some industrial pursuit. The want of facilities for practical instruction has caused the course of study in aches relating to the mechanic arts especially to be necessa. rily of general and theoretical character. The trustees propose, in order to fulfil more directly the object of the college, and to meet the popular expectation, to establish workshops of instruction in the various mechanical trades connected with the working of wood and metals by means of which students may, by combining the training of hand and eye in actual service at the forge, bench and lathe, with the instruction of school become intelligent and skilled mechanics. This system has long been in successful operation in Russia, and meets with the enthusiastic approval of the best educators who have examined it. has already been adopted by one of the foremost schools in this country. most heartily approve the recommendation of the Trustees, and I urge you to give it the favora ble consideration it merit The sum estimated to be required to adapt the barn on the college premises and not now
