Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-20
The STATE Reform Farm schOoI.

The touIt1 AhAuAl AelhothHi 1le DohIu "a
Commissioners for this institution contains
matters Of much interest The success the past
year has been highly encouraging. During the
year she "CuyahOga Building" has been com,
pleted, making five buildings now finished
Necessary our building, ineludings a bake
house, kitchen, barn, etc have been erected.
A shoe shop has bsen established, tailor shop
is in operation, and one class Of boys has been
instructed in the carpenter business. Most of
the boys, huWeYer, have been employed on the
farm. About three acres Of strawberries have
been planted and nearly Eve thousand fruit
trees we're put out last spring, and received
due cultivation during the summer. Eight
thousand grape cuttings were also planted and
are doing well. A fair supply Of vegetables
were produced for table use and three acres of
sweet potatoes and fne field Of melons paid
well for the labor expended.
The number Of boys steadily increased during
the year Nov ], 1888. there were 50; Nov.
I, 1859, there were lO2. The Report says.
Il is a remarkable fact that the boys who
are sent here are, 20 a great extent, acquainted
before they meet at the IDstitutiOn; and, tho
they are sent rom Cleveland, Cincinnati, or
Columbus, it is by no means certain that they
are residents Of those cities. They are en-
phatioally a circulating class, floating about
over the State.
There were but nine escapes during the year,
al but one in the first six months Asd it must
be remembered too that they are "Wild fellows"
when brought to the Farm, which is merely
fenced Of, with roads running through it, just
like any other in the neighbOfhood. Kindness,
employment, instruction, the attractions of a
home and somebody to care for them physical
ly and morally, prove better than walls and
CRATES as restraining aud EelormatOry disci,
pllns. --s-.s
The whole number Of boys admitted since
the opening Of the institution is I4O. Received
during the past year 90. Left the institution
4. during the year 26 Number now at the Farm
lO2 OF these SO came from Cleveland, II
from ZaussvilIs, from Columbus, asd seven
wers transferred from the Penitsntiary Fifty.
SIX were born in Ohio, 8 in New York, in
Pennsylvania, and 5 IN Germany. Forty seven
have American parents, 20 Irish, II German
Two are years of age and the rest from that
up to Is. Eighty-nine had no stated occupa-
ton 81 had used intoxicating liquors 55 had
used tobacco; aud Ga had been truants from
school.
OF the number discharged during the year
nine were sent to their friends, four let out un-
der their own care, one indentured, two are
cadets in the institution, six remained or re-
turned voluntarily, nine escaped, and one was
returned to the Penitentisry.
The boys are kept in school two hours and
half each day, five days in the week, attend
Sabbath School regularly and every evening
report is made of their standing during the
day. A high standard of morals and manners
is required, and those things are taught which
tend to deVelope their better feelings. Two
public meetings are held weekly, when all meet
together for an interchange of thought and
feeling. The religious services are conducted
BY the officers of the institution.
The State Reform Farm School is success.
Long may it prosper and continue to increase
in usefulness.