tion that the director of the State library supply the institutions with books through the system of traveling libraries. Accordingly the last Legislature appropriated the necessary funds to carry out the recommendation.

The Commissioner of Education facilitated the accomplishment of the object by his hearty coöperation, as well as those of his assistants who were charged with the application of the proposition.

The plan adopted provides for the loan of 1,700 books twice a year for six months, exchanges being made in November and May. After obtaining the views of the superintendents of the institutions and a careful consideration of the library authori ties, these 1,700 books were apportioned to the different institutions as follows:

Western House of Refuge for Women at Albion, 100; New York State School for the Blind, Batavia, 100; New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Bath, 300; New York State Reformatory for Women, Bedford, 100; New York State Training School for Girls at Hudson, 100; Thomas Indian School at Iroquois, 50; New York State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women, Newark, 200; New York State Woman's Relief Corps Home, Oxford, 50; State Industrial School, Rochester, 250; Rome State Custodial Asylum, Rome, 150; Craig Colony for Epileptics, Sonyea, 150; Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, Syracuse, 100; New York State Hospital for the care of Crippled and Deformed Children at West Haverstraw, 50.

The libraries have been sent to all these institutions excepting Batavia, Bath and Sonyea, these three having asked to have delayed shipment until arrangement at the institutions could be perfected. Oak bookcases of the traveling library system are sent when desired.

The selection of books for each institution is made by the Division of Educational Extension, and is based on the lists of suggestions received from the several institutions.

Six months of the application of the system of traveling libraries for institutions is passed, and it has been sufficient to demonstrate the practicability of the scheme and to prove the value of it to be far reaching.

WESTERN HOUSE OF REFUGE FOR WOMEN,

Capacity of institution, 154.

Average population for the fiscal year, 185.88.

Net per capita cost of maintenance, $195.57.
Total net cost of maintenance, $36,352.49.

Area of grounds, 97 acres.

Number of buildings (completed), 15.

Appropriated for improvements and betterments by the Legis

lature of 1905, $56,305.94.

The movement of population during the year was as follows:

Number of girls returned from parole.

Number of infants born.

Number of inmates paroled and discharged

Released by court..

Transferred to insane asylum....

Returned to care of parents on account of disturbed brain.

Number died.....

Remaining October 1, 1905...

6

7

81

1

2

1

4

205

Contracts were let during the year for two new cottages and an assembly hall, for which appropriations were made by the Legislature of 1905, and it is expected that the buildings will be completed this coming spring. New bath tubs and lavatories have been put in the cottages, with hot water tank in the reception house and in the laundry. Painting has been done in Cottage No. 1 and parts of other cottages. A carpet weaving room has been installed. Repairs have been made to the elevator in reception house, and the old stone fillings in sewer beds have been replaced with new coke and sand. A new bridge has been built over the creek on the south side of the grounds, and a new gate constructed to accommodate contractors. New windows have been arranged in all of the buildings to accommodate the gardener in putting in ice. Cellars have been whitewashed and repairs made to the interior walls of cottages and the administration building. The population of the institution has increased rapidly during the year, causing some crowding at the present time. This condition, however, will be relieved with the opening of the new cottages now under construction.

The following bills of fare for the closing week of the fiscal year, submitted by the superintendent at the request of the Department, give a fair idea of the range of diet at this institution: