American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-01-12
ONO REFORM FARM SCHOOL.
Fourth Annual Report OF the Board OF
Commission OneTs--Abstract.

| mlbsIONorSs-AD Distract.
This School Is located near Lancaster, o. l
The success OF the Ohio Reform Farm
School Tor the past year has been highly
encouraging. and We are thankful for the
literal aid that has been extended to us by
the General Assembly in the furlherance
Of an OF ject which is designed to win the
unfortunate youth Of the State from the
paths OF sin and degradation. and encour.
sge them in spheres OF usefulness and in.
telIieence; sud We now look forward with
the confident hope that the day is not far
distant when the school shall take rank
with the best and most permanent beneyo.
lent institutions Of our country.
Experience taught the Board that il
was very necessary to the successful ad>
minis!ration OF affairs upon the farm, that
the Acting Commissioner should be per
manent resident upon 1t. and devols his
whole time TO its interests. Therefore.
Charles Reemeln, of Cincinnati, who had
been the Acting Commissioner from the
first organization Of the Reform School,
and TO whom the State is more indebted
than to any other person, for bis untiripp
energy and zeal ir maturing plans for its
economical and successful administration
finding it impracticable TO change his
residence, handed in his resignation,
which took effect on the 9th OF February.
1853. 1t was with many regrets that the
Board parted with him, as his counsel and
services had been Of incalculable value 10
them' and 1t is very gratifying for us to
know, that his interest for the success and
welfare Of the Institution continues unaba.
ted.
The number Of boys has steadily in.
creased during the year. At the time of
presenting the last annual report, there
we're thirty three in the Institution. We
now number one hundred and two. With
this ratio of increase We shall soon have
all we can accommo late. 1t will be seen
that more boys are sent from some locali>
ties than others still it is a remarkable
TACT that the boys who are sent here are,
TO a great extent. acquainted before they
meet at the Institution and though thew
are sent from Cleveland, Cincinnati or
Columbus, it is by no means certain that
they are residents Of those cities. They
are emphHIiCally circulating class, float
ing about over the State. We have taken
thus lar all that have applied, who were
tt subjects and properly committed. We
have been highly gratiied with the in.er.
est manifested by courts and officers gen
orally. in getting boys sentenced to the
Farm instead OF Prison, thus showing a
feeling that it isa higher duty to recltim
than to punish. being opposed to pursue
that course which only bardeus the Young
offenders in vice. We thank them for the
many valuable suggestions to officers. and
kind advice to the boys. whenever they
have visited US. We feel, also, under
great obligations TO the citizens of Lancss.
ter for the friendship and good will they
bavs shown to the Institution. They have
not looked upon US with a jealous eve,
but have been willing to lend their inau.
enoe ior our benefit, whenever oircumstan.
ces called for it.
The labor upon the farm has engaged
our largest force most Of the time. IL
would be difficult to give anything like
perfect outline Of all the work that has
been done during the year. 1t has EN-.
6raced almost every variety of farm labor
About fifty acres Of land have been clear
ed.
Farming proves an excellent employ.
ment for the class Of boys under our
charge. Ii very gratifying to see what
a change is produced with most of them
in short space Of time. Many come to
Us with pale faces and tender hands, bav.
ing never been accustomed to labor. By
regular habits. wholesome food, pure air,
and exercise in the open fields, they be
come strong, ruddy and healthful, and i'm
prove correSpoudiugly in character and
morals.
All the boys who have been "honorably
discharged" from the Institution, have. as
lar as We know, done well. with single
@
Several boys who have been away in
search OF homes, being unsuccessful in obs
tanning them, have returned to US. We
have been able thus far TO welcome them
back, but the time is not far in the future,
from present Indications, when boys pre-.
pared to leave the Institution will be oblig-
I'd to 60 not to return, as our aocommoda.
tlons aud appropriations for support will
not admit OF it. Should a few philanthropy
10 persons in differents parts Of the State
interest themselves in obtaining homes for
these boys, We should never be in want Of
places TO send them.
In summing up the benefits resulting
from the efforts of our State to reclaim its
youth. we ought not to omit to
notice an incidental effect, costing the
State nothing while it secures advan tages
scarcely less than the direct effects flowing
from our State Reform School. We al. |
lude to the Industrial School at Cleveland
commenced about thrso years since, in
which several hundred children of the
neglected classes have. to greater or less
extent. been benefited. Also, to the re-
cent determination in Cincinnati, to estab.
Ii'h similar institution in that great city
The number received the first year was. ....... 4s
inc numoer received the second ycnv,,...... "
whole number admitted since tho opening of
the lhstiluuon' 1t0
-
Tho number remaining In the Institution No
Yember lst 1858, 30
The number that have returned VINO were dis.