The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-01-25
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Ofths Board of Control cfths House o.
Correction for Juvsnile Offenders, for
the fiscal year ending November, II, '5s.
To the Secretary of State Of the State Of
Michigan:
In compliance with an Act entitled "An
Act to establish House of Correction for
Juvenile offenders" approved February 10,
1855, the undersigned Board Of Control,
make the following report of the condition
of the Institution, its expenditures and
business for the year ending November ~,
1858.
We herewith annex the reports of the
Treasurer, Superintendent, Teacher, and
Chaplain-which are faithful exhibits of
each of their several Departments. We
take pleasure in bearing testimony to the
faithfulncss and efficiency of the Supcrin-
tendent and other officers.
During the past year the boys have made
decided progress in education, as well as
in manners and morals; but especially in
education. Under the management of Mr..
Crosby, the school will challenge compari.
son with any of its grade in the State
With scarcely an exception, the boys are
rapidly acquiring an education that will fit
them for future usefulness.
The business revulsion of the fall Of 1857;
broke up our shoe manufacturing, for which
we had Just erected commodious shop
After advertising, and personal effort for
.ova,ol ,,,ookb, xy;tho,k EpJsno, N nou cop
tractor, the Board were forced to the alter
native Of abandoning the boot and shoe
manufacture, or conduct il on account Of
the Institution. The latter was not thought
expeiient, and the work was stopped.
The boys were without work for the most
part of the past year, with the exception
of little gardening, making their own
clothes, and preparing fuel. From necessi-
ty, the school hours have been increased, to
fill up the time.
Early the past summer the Board enter
ed into contract with Messrs. Woodhouse,
Butler & Baker, to employ forty boys in a
chair-shop. The necessary buildings and
appliances were not got ready to start the
chair-shop till last month, (October.) 1t is
now in full operation, and bids fair to be
iemunerative to tho contractors, and Of
great service to the Institution, in learning
the boys useful trade, at which they can
support themselves when discharged.
The Treasurer reports the years expen-
diture at $4,000 90. When the Institu.
ton came into our hands, few months
since, it stood in the midst Of logs and
stumpa, surrounded by rail fence, without
furniture, outhouses, or shops, and almost
inaccessible for want of roads. To render
the Institution accessible, clear off and grub
part of the grounds, build good fences, fur
nish the rooms in the Institution, and erect
outhouses and shops, has added largely to
the expenditure of money last year and this;
but such outlay can no more be callod .ex-
penses Of conducting the Institution, than
the erection of the main buildings. Du-
ring the past year, the expenditure for Sim
proyemcnt and repairs" has been $6,776 9l.
This sum was expended as follows, to wit:
In erecting brick chair shop, 25
by so feet, two stories high, Sl,637 so
In erecting brick boiler room
for above, and well, 663 90
In enlarging tho yard, and build
ing yard fence, l6l AZ
In erecting board fence around
the barn, l64 70
In grubbing seven acres north
of front yard, and plowing
the same, 574 %
In erecting eighty eight and ono
half rods of picket fence
around the front yard, 523 92
In laying plank walk from tho
main entrance TO the road, l67 02
In making turnpike in front of
grounds of the Institution, 56S 10
In payment Of balance due S.
r. Green, at the commence
ment of the year, for erection
of shoe shop, (now used for
paint shop,) 533 90
In painting and granting join
er's work Of main building, col 90
In clearing and plowing land, lO3 90
In grading the front yard, 4S3 &C
In building house for hogs, 25 90
In making plank walks in the
yard, 75 90
In procuring bell and fixtures, 100 90
In grading for fence, 81 IS
In painting the house, 25 90
In building wagon house, 75 90
In lumber for various purposes SO 90
buildings, $50 90
For purposes not enumerated, 400 20
Making total for the perma-
nent improvements for 1858,
Of S6,776 9l
In the buildings Of the Institution are
seventy six dormitories. The present mum.
ber of inmates is fifty-eight; and as soon as
we receive eighteen more, tho house will
be full. There never have been any suita-
bic rooms or arrangements for the reception
of girls. During 1857, three girls were
sent, need TO the House Of Correction from
Detroit. One of these was pardoned; the
other two have been indentured by the
Board in good families during the past year,
and we are happy to say both appear to
conduct themselves in manner becoming
their sex, and bid fair for responsibility
and usefulness.
By order Of the Board,
JAMES TURNER,
III