Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-09-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
The state Reform Schoo

me- to present to the Legislature information of the de-
STATE Reorn School at west6oro The ire Occurred
morning OF the 18th day of August, from i'll
the Of the school, Daniel Credan The circunl-
stances of the disaster are fully detailed in the Report Of
the Trustees dated the 23d day August COM
munication of the Hon Simon Brown, Chairman of the
Board, which have the honor to transmit herewith.
$4,000, - y INV nv . eS''-"'e' a. '0'O'
sttutiun TO tue boys OF the School their good
duct and praseworhy exertons its property and
towns and TO tbe atbores Of The citv of R5ston 9I
the prompt efficient and greatly needed assistance
dered by of police officers, under the diree-
OF the boys numbering 572, only two escaped during
the fire. A puition about 80 transferred to very
this transfer the police officers rendered essential and
important service part Of the boys about p IN nun
Der were sent on the same night to the jail at Concord
Most of them have been received again at Westboro
Those sent to Fitchburg still remain $500
in the enlargement made i'll 552 and 1855 aud small part
plan of the premises showing the portions destroyed
and those which remain in condition for present occupa-
ton.
In conference with the Board of Trustees and the Su
repair OF that part premises which could be made
tenantabe at small expense and an arrangement with
the authorities Of Worcester county for the present use
of the Jail at Ftchburg The officers OF the institution
falling to make an acceptable contract for the use OF the
Jail lease OF building in Westboro belonging to Mr.
Vnton has been entered into by the Trustees for the
term of one year, at a cost of $780,
This will afford comfortable accommodations for all the
pupils not provided for in the school, except six or eight
necessarily made without authority OF law and the
attention of the Legislature is called to the subject and
also the necessity providing for such expenses
have thus far been incurred | transmit communica-
ton of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trus
tees, setting forth the arrangements which have been
made, and the present condition OF the remaining build
nss letter Of the Attorney General upon the present
legal condition of the boys and the authority by which
they should be held and governed
1t is my duty % call the attention OF the Legislature to
the ssty OF early action upon the subject thus
fortunately presented and also to present some consider
managed up to the present time,
During the twelve years since its establishment, 2i0O
boys have received pupils and of this number 557
remained in the school at the close of the year ending
apprenticed to proper occupations Of the number thus
discharged, very large proportion it is believed have
been Thoroughly reformed and promise useful career as
citizens OF this commonwealth.
circumstances those selection and
reception OF the pupils of this Institution that all will
maintain reputable characters This scarcely be
tcpated of the graduates of any educational establish
melt. The school at Westboro suffers in common with
other institutions but far greater degree, ocourse,
from the of its materials, and the mpossbty of
citation Of the individual happiness that springs rom
life of recttude Enough has been done, however, to
by want Of instruction and parental authority
may be thoroughly reclaimed, and by patient and wise
good character engrafted stock of such various
reasonable pPobabty, Of healthy and satisfactory re.
suit This is another verfcation of the words of the
great master Of nature:
We are never at the worst
When we can say, this is the worst
The advantages the of such reformation is two
dom duly estmated-the contribution to the public
wealth Of honest industrious, enterprsing and intel
term passed in tine institution in acquiring information
and established moral Character is to be included in
the useful part of career much the time spent in
invention or manufacture of machiuery. And at the
time, and by the same means it protects society
for the same period from crimes against property liberty
and life.
These double advantages which the state and its
people derive from the successful operation OF school
like that established at Westboro and ifn such schools
be doubtful it must also be said that when
attained it greatly enhances corresponding advantages
In this respect, the state has been well compensated
for all its and expenditure of money. That there
must be admitted and the disaster of the present
offers opportunity for their correction which cannot
wisely be neglected Its defects do not present them
selves much in inspection of the school itself as in
al rn 2, re R is upon pony wG az cas ANA
practicable follow out each of these but in some in
stances its untoward results may be noticed in the cond
ton of other institutions.
have caused careful inquiry to be made in of the
institutions of the commonwealth during the past year.
with view to ascertain what influence this school pro-
aaees upon is criminal p9pnlatoh Inc result eref
conyics in the state Prison not much less than tenth
portion, necessary result of the attempt at
formation would still be far from discouraging the Ell
nile offenders But it it is be charged, in my
Judgment to defects in the system upon which it is or
ganzed and not upon the management of the school, In
this respect am led to believe it has been without seri
fault Nearly thirty of the most intelligent citizens
have been since its establishment, connected with the
government OF the school SO far as am informed; no
person thought to be qualified for the work, has declined
service when called upon to renderit The periodical ex
aminat0Ds and reports of this body OF trustees nave
been thorough and have iOm time 70 time suggested de-
fects under which the school labored They have EN-
pioyed in every Instance competent aud faithful oncers
and teachers
approved April IT, 1886 instructng Commissioners TO pro-
cure an eligible site, by git or purchase, for manual
labor school, for the employment instruction. and REFORM
alton of Juvenile ofenders;" and not exceeding
thousand dOars apprO prated the purpose,
The resolve was passed upon petitions legislature
numerously signed by judicial officers and other persons
representing the leading interests of the state
Inc able commissioners appointed unuer resolve
aided at the outset in their difficult and respon
sibe task by the wise and practical suggestions Of dis
tngushed citizen the late Honorable Theodore Lyman,
who had given much attention to this subject ana who
accompanied his suggestions by donation of ten thou
sand dollars upon the single condition That the state
should contribute equal sum, if the commissioners
were of opinion that so much could be wisely expended
for this purpose
of seventy-twO thousand and five hundred dollars The
name Of e % aoHr was a0s ug oa 70 b ee
stated by those representing this institution that But Tor
LYMAN the State Reform School could not fave
tablished he may, therefore, justly be honoed as rs
founder and the Legislature, in selecting title, would
probably have connected his name with the institution,
but for the remonsrance OF those representing
his family feared that the Incorporation OF the name
of individual with its title might possibly lessen the
interest of the in its welfare and tend to with
drawa of that support and supervision indispensable to
lts eXstenee IL was upon TINS susSeSuoh therefore,
MIR. Lyman had rendered other important services to
this, his native state.
Inherung an ample fortune from his father, who left
an honorable reputation as one OF the founders Oh inc
commercial prosperity of Massachusetts, he devoted
able additions to the literature of the country
fruits early travel and contributed to its historical
States time Of its publication of the most i'm
portant and learned works upon that subject He Off
ciated for several of the city Of Bostoni
interested himself and contributed literally to her public
charities, and to all the benevolent enterprises OF the
state held responsible positions in its military organiza-
ton gave attention to the subject of agriculture was
active of the State horticultural Society, to
which he made donation of $4,000; he was long CON
nected with the government of the Farm school on
Thopsons Island; and served as president OF the asso
citation for the improvement of prison discipline from 1877
to the period ohis death During the whole of his career
in his early studies and in Europe and mayor
of city of Boston, he great interest on sub
ects of crime and criminals the discipline of PRISONS the
possible reclamation Of Offenders and their restoration
especially of those young in crime and in years. to the
pursuits of youthful and honorable citizenship II to
the practical profound studies, the PATRIOTIC benevo
lent and nature of such man. that Massachu-
the American continent for the employment instruc
ton and reformation ofjuvenie offenders
This light honor in the history of the state or Of
the founder of the school But 1t Is still more to the
out exaggeratlon that every exhibited in that
stuon since its establishment has been oceasoned by
palpabe departure from the enlnenty wise ana prac
tca suggestions made by him for its direction and gov
ernment an,
1t will be useful, in view of its present condition TO re-
call these suggestions, as they are presented IN reply TO
of the school which printed in the documents Of the
House OF Representatives for the year lS4l.
lst He recommended that the buildings should have
iron stone starcases wide passages ana easy anu oD
of escape in case of fire, especially irom the
little visited Furnished that they cannot be set IRE
TO, as The ncenddry propensity as gerry strong IN some
That age of admission boys over fourteen years
should not be admitted Boys of that age ne says, are
vicious course, they become hardened and being bad
are very m to make when Dh unSe @
teen years. should be in cases boys that nave shown
ton in The school might etard if prevent the reform
ofOthers and receive benefit themselves where the
reformation he should be admitted because the prob
ability is greater that he will do harm TO Others than that
against admission except where the offence maniiests