The equipment of the Colony should be supplemented by a steam disinfecting plant. It will furnish an economical and sanitary method of sterilizing bedding, clothing and household goods, and should be installed at once.

An additional root cellar is needed for the proper storage of root crops. The present cellar cost $1,000, and holds 7,000 bushels. The large population requires much vegetable food, and for its storage another root cellar is required, and should be larger than the first.

The development of the Colony calls for more stock and additional teams, as well as farm implements to operate the new farm lands put under cultivation. At the present time teams have to be hired at a heavy expense.

More machinery is necessary for the dispatch of laundry work. Another washer and an extractor should be set up.

The Colony was established for the humane, scientific and curative treatment of epilepsy. To carry on scientific work requires a scientific equipment. Electricity, it is hoped, will be an effective agency in the control of epilepsy. An appropriation should be made for an electric machine and X-ray outfit. The Board recommends the following appropriations, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to this institution:

For new buildings, making additional provision for the reception of the dependent epileptics of the State now in almshouses and other institutions, $60,000; for grading and making roads and walks, $6,000; for a steam disinfecting plant, $1,500; for fire alarm system, $1,000; for an additional root cellar, $1,200; for additional farm teams and equipment, farm stock and implements, $4,500; for additional machinery for the laundry, $750; for X-ray apparatus and electric machine, $400; for storm-water

drains around the Village Green dormitory buildings, $2,000; for sheds and machinery at brickyard, $300; for balance to accept lowest bid for construction of four cottages for employes, $1,450, in addition to $4,000, appropriated by chapter 330, Laws of 1901; for new cottage for employe with sufficient room to provide. accommodations for official visitors to the Colony detained over night, $2,500; making the special appropriations approved of, $81,600; maintenance appropriation, $135,000; making the total appropriation, $216,600.

NEW YORK STATE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS' HOME, BATH, STEUBEN COUNTY.

[Established 1878.]

This institution has capacity for 1,650 inmates. The number of members October 1, 1900, was 1,603, exclusive of 366 enrolled but absent; the admissions during the year were 978; total for the year, 2,947. There were 747 discharged and dropped out during the year; 124 died and 405 were absent, thus leaving at the close of the year 1,671 actually in the institution.

The average number present during the year was 1,596, and the average weekly cost of support, including the value of home and farm products consumed, $2.67; excluding the value of home and farm products consumed, $2.55.

The total receipts of the institution for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1901, were: Cash balance of the previous year, $85,640.67; from special appropriations, $50,932.74; from deficiency appropriations, $20,000; from unexpended appropriations of former years, $2,530.50; from general appropriations, $190,000; from all other sources, $770.66; total, $349,874.57.

The ordinary expenditures were: For salaries of officers, wages and labor, $64,773.05; for provisions, $76,636.85; for household

stores, $7,514.29; for clothing, $21,549.90; for fuel and light, $17,964.73; for hospital and medical supplies, $4,135.80; for transportation and traveling expenses, $822.43; for shop, farm and garden supplies, $8,089.65; for ordinary repairs, $2,062.09; for expenses of trustees, $771.55; for remittance to State Treasurer, $770.66; for all other ordinary expenses, $8,210.16; total, $213,301.16.

The extraordinary expenditures were: $77,199.03, of which $58,958 was for buildings and improvements, $9,092.60 for extraordinary repairs, and $9,148.43 reverted to the State treasury, making the aggregate expenditures for the year, $290,500.19, and leaving a cash balance of $59,374.38.

Of the ordinary expenditures during the year, 30.5 per cent. was for salaries, wages and labor; 36 per cent. for provisions; 3.5 per cent. for household stores; 10.1 per cent. for clothing; 8.4 per cent. for fuel and light; 2 per cent. for hospital and medical supplies; 4 of 1 per cent. for transportation and traveling expenses; 3.8 per cent. for shop, farm and garden supplies; 1 per cent. for ordinary repairs; 4 of 1 per cent. for expenses of trustees; 3.9 per cent. for all other ordinary purposes.

Chapter 644, Laws of 1901 (appropriation bill), appropriated for support and maintenance, and for the transportation of applicants for admission, $225,000.

In addition to this chapter 645, Laws of 1901 (supply bill), appropriated for the deficiency on account of maintenance for the year ending September 30, 1901, $20,000, and reappropriated an unexpended balance of $1,278.87, which remained from $20,000 appropriated for the construction of the assembly hall by chapter 461, Laws of 1899, the said $1,278.87 to be used for the completion of the work on the assembly hall.

Chapter 709, Laws of 1901, appropriated the following amounts: For reconstruction and repair of the electric plant, $10,000; for reconstruction and repair of the steam plant, $5,000; and in addition the unexpended balance of appropriation made by chapter 395, Laws of 1900, $9,132.72; for reconstruction of boiler house and dynamo rooms, $15,000; for equipment of kitchen and annex, $250; for finishing 3 cottages, including cesspools, electric fixtures and walks, $1,600; for installing 3 kitchen ranges, $200; for general repairs to sanitary equipment, $950; for repairs to barracks 4 and 5 and hospital annex, $1,200; for general repairs to other buildings, $3,000; for filling and grading, $3,000; for reimbursing maintenance account, $2,530.50; for addition to headquarters building, $1,600; total, $50,473.24.

At the close of the fiscal year all the work provided for by chapter 709, Laws of 1901, had been contracted for, including the reconstruction and repair of the electric plant, and the reconstruction of the steam plant.

This Home is greatly overcrowded at the present time. It is supposed to have accommodations for 1,650 members, but it has been reported that already 2,134 members have been admitted to the Home. A number of these are away on furlough, but the maximum number for whom accommodations are provided has long been greatly exceeded; consequently members having no room in the dormitories are compelled to sleep in the basements. As a general rule the use of basements for dormitories or other living purposes is detrimental to health. In the Home at Bath this general principle is sustained by the fact that many of the basements are damp and ill-ventilated.

The members of the Home are now well fed, receive proper medical attendance, and have pleasant surroundings with oppor

tunities for amusement. If in addition to these things there was ample barrack room, so that none of the members would have to sleep in basements, it could be said that the provision for these old soldiers is admirable. The Home maintains a band of music for the entertainment of the veterans, and has a library containing a large number of books sufficiently diversified in character to meet the wants of the men. With books, daily papers, magazines and various games, an amusement hall ready for other sources of enjoyment, the Home makes provision for the rational entertainment of its members.

The greatest need of the Home, after additional barrack room, is a suitably equipped hospital. The erection of such a building will enable the present hospital to be used for a barrack wherein the incurable class of cases can be domiciled. This will relieve the congested condition which prevails in the barracks, and will give opportunity for a better building with a more adequate equipment for the large number of sick which may be expected.

The State must continue to make provision for dependent veterans for many years to come. The time will probably not arrive when a home of this character will be no longer needed; but should such time come, the entire plant will continue in beneficent service for other uses of the State. Its equipment should be made satisfactory in order that the veterans whose strength and valor were devoted to patriotic service in the days of young manhood may not lack anything essential to comfort in their declining years.

The cemetery at the Home is now nearly filled, and it is necessary to prepare an adjoining tract of land for this purpose.