The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-19

Abstract a Report a ths Western House of
Refuge.
Tho sixth annual report Of the Managers Of the West
ern House Of Refuge laid before the Assembly ON
Wednesday.
The report commences with description Of the farm
and buildings which said TO bs productive a. to the
former and handsome and convenient Is TO the latter
The addition 10 the buildings for which appropra-
ton was made At the last session Of the Legislature are
progressing rapidly and will add much to the comfort
and facilities Of tho institution.
The boys vsrously engaged, in making cane chat
seats chdrens shoes and willow baskets, and are
employed ON the farm and in the tsilors' shop They
are all digent contentsd and happy Three hours snda
half each day are devoted to school studies and SUN
Gent time Is allowed for recreation.
The whole cost OF the institution will not much ex-
coed $l10 when the additions now In progress are
completed. was opened August II, lS49 The on
ers of the Institution are enumerated Fred +.
Backus being President and John Greg LIST Vice Pres
dent.
past year. and but OF sickness have been
ported The farm has yielded fair RETURN although
no. productive as it has sometimes BEEN owing TO the
The number e asa the Refuge on as 5
January 1900 n was dssisnsd to accom-
| modate but It Is thought the completion Of the
additional buildings in process Of erection will pro-
The provisions made for the instruction Of the boys
thought to be the most efficient Of thorough
reformation The duties Of the principal teacher are,
however, said to be arduous and additional assistant
The amount received and to be received for the labor
Of the boys for the year Is over 0O0 This may b
considered a,ge sum when 1t Is remembered that the
average age the boys Is only about thirteen years.
The Introduction OF gas into the building Ia reeon-
mepded as matter OF economy, as we'll as desirable
improvement 1t Is the more indispensable, inasmuch
the evenings devoted to instruction. proper
and necessary means of guarding against escapes and
good lights are OF course needed in the schooro0m.
The legislature 10 invited to appoint committee, who
shall visit the institution, examine its condition, and
| review its manag ement
| The Superiptendents report shows that the number
Of boys received into the institution since lbs opening
| has been 496.
Number Of inmates at date Of last report ... 2o5,
Number received during The year ............. loI
Whole rumber during 1854 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ass
lndentured and discharged lO3
In the house on jan /, 1855. aSs
| OF the l6l new inmates, there were received from
Monroe county, D.; from Erie, 49, st. Lawrence, II;
ana eaes Ontario and
Cbaut' uque and Law pgs,an, ach and six other
ties each. Six we're returned after intenture dis
The average age Of the inmates is Is years. months
and 26 days In the list We find that 20 are Is years
The psrentaee OF the children is as folio ws-Ameri
cans, %; i:reisneri, 30 coored, The commitments
ol e and ohsr 10 burglary
| OF the inmates admitted during the year 80 had
fathers living 81 had no mothers, 81 had lost both pa
During 1854, forty have been ndentured to various
trades; ave have be.n sent to whaling voyages,
and ffty discharged to parents or guardians.
There have been many eight escapes during the
s in Of IN. The
boards and scaodns have been necessarily left around
the grounds aordiDg facilities Of escape which do not
The value Of the farm products, aggregated, is
Out Of the money left by visiters at the gates,
The library fund has received. ...........$ 104 56
balance last ~ 90
Expended for books, papers, &c........:... 107 70
An interesting sketch Of the events occ arrng at the
institution du,ing the rs given in extracts from
a journal nspt Sy the g, s The tone 2.
in the House. and Of tn. prosperous and happy condi
tion OF it, affairs One extract, January 9th is pecu
harly painful to read, bot at the time Is strik
ing proof Of the benefits Of nsttuon which rescues
child zen Of tender from the evil influences which
too often surround them In their childhood. The jour-
nal rays This quarterly visiting cay, and many
Of the children had the opportunities Of seeing their
parents and friends TO some it would be well II they
unter the date Of July find that on glorious In
dependence Day. labor required Of the children
and general glor fcston permitted Extra food
was served out, and the journal says, Peanuts and
crackers we're distributed among the boys which they
very interesting collection Of letters appended to
the report from boys who have left the Institution, and
from persons who have taken children thererom; the
tone Of which proves satisfactorily the beneficial results
which in a majority OF cases. flow from the operation Of
the law ~hch provides this reformatory asyum for Vi
cious and neglected children:
The teachers report shows that there have been re-
ceyed into the school during the year, 100 scholars.
OF these when they entered, 10 ignorant Of the
alphabet; rs could read and spell monosylab 81
could read imIerec'y, ~ to,eraby, and we'll 115
could not VIZ te their names, and 40 could wrta.
The whole plumber in school January ], 1885, was
263; Of whom 90 ud read and spell in syllable 10
In thar one 6S could read readily rs accurately,
and 16 understandn9ly so study written arithmetic,
ia mental ariihuetc, SO geography IL grammar, 2ob
practice penmanship.
One hundred fifty eight books have been added to
the library during the year. exercises in veal music
uader regular teacher, have been commenced and
thought to be very beneficial In subduing the grosser
PASSIONS and touching the finer scpsibes OF nature
The prosperity Of the school has been impeded by the
crowded condition Of the school rooms; difficulty which
will be obviated by the completion Of the building
In which . larger ap, rtmept is provided.
The Treasurer's report shows the folio wing sum-
mary
balance in bank January I, 1854. $3.50 e5
Cash for board Of boy ............. ........ 100
Cash for labor OF boys ................ 1887 90
Drafts the State Treasurer ......... 5000 90
Total. .s26,140 10
Current expenses for year .............. 26,11 10