In many instances, boys are permitted the freedom of coming and going, and even to transact business. Corporal punishment is only resorted to in extreme cases, and is always with the rod. Here, those condemned to this mode of discipline, are left to solitary confinement, until they are willing to make proper confession of their wrong doing, and promise of amendment. A constant care is observed to prevent escapes by running away, but numerous escapes have taken place notwithstanding. The boy who escapes, and is returned, loses credit on his good conduct, the effect of which is to protract the time of his detention.
Credit is given for merit, and good boys work themselves out in shortened time.
No specified time is fixed in the commitment. The time is left to the superintendent, and depends very much on the conduct of the boy. The State pays five dollars each for the return of runaway boys. In addition to school education and manual labor on the farm, mechanical branches are also taught. The institution has a shoe and boot manufacturing establishment, a brush factory, a tailor shop, a cane-seat making department, and a telegraph office.