The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-04-18

to the Reform School last week, for tbs
purpose Of Witnessing the operation Of &
new steam engine, just put into one OF the
workshops, aud while there made q TEA
notes Of what - san and ical.v,, -.A4 T..
many OF these things were Of much interest
to us, we give them to our readers, trust
ing that they may be Of interest to them
also.
NUMBER At TIE SCHOOL.
There are at the present time in the In
stitutiOn 2G3 boys. The greatest number
ever in the school at any one time was Pa,
which was in January last Tire measure
bly, crowded condition Of the inmates may
be realized when we mention that the build
ings were intended 20 accommodate but
l52. The average age Of the boys 10 the
school is between Is and II years.
DAILY ROUTINE OBJ DUTY.
The boys rise az this season OF the year
at s. O'Clock in the morning Zach hoy
makes bis own bed Immediately after get
ting dressed The boys then go tO4he yard
aud from there to the bath room. where
they wash preparatory for breakfast, 10
which they repair ut once after washing
Get breakfast and 20 into school at O.
O'Clock, where they remain until s. Have
- minutes for recreation, and then 20 into
the workshops, where they remain until 10 :
O'Clock, and then have recess ct 10 min
utes They then 90 back into tie shops
and work until r. They then wash and
have dinner and play until O'Clock; work
from one TO p; recess Of 10 minutes; 20
again 10 workshops and labor until I, un-
less the task assigned them be sooner
done. ia hos completes the task allotted
him before ( O'Clock, be- can 90 at once to
the play ground, thus forming a stimulus
10 them 10 be industrious The boys play
until 20 minutes past four, aud then wash
and prepare for supper Get supper, and
% into school room al ., where they rr-
main until + O'Clock. They then have sing
ing and prayers. and are conducted to their
dormitories for the night. each boy taking
his respective room. No work is done by Tie
boys on Saturday afternoon They hathe
aud change their under garments
Co0sISs. wAsHING. Ac.
The cooking and washing is an perform
ed by the boys, the former under lhe super
vision of Mr. Edward Lee. who also has
charge of the dining rooms, and the lat
ter under charge Of the Matron The cook
n9 il done by steam, and the water Tor
washing is heated by the same agency.
The steam for this purpose is Generated by
the boiler attached 20 the workshops. and
conducted to the cool, and wash rooms by
at underground pipe.
FOOD.
The following are the article q. food fur
nished the boys from day To day. Break
fast, Wheat Bread, butter, potatoes and col
fee. milk and sugar being given with the
latter Dinner Fresh meat potatoes and
wheat bread; once n week boiled beans or
soup are furnished for dinner Supper
Wheat bread. butter and water; sometimes
molasses or apple sauce is substituted Tor
butter
AMOUNT OF ARTICLES CONSUMED FOR FOOD.
Two barrels Of Hour five bushels OF pota-
toes, ninety pounds OF fresh meat, and 20
pounds Of butter or eight gallons Ofmolass-
es, besides, beans, garden vegetables, cot
fee sugar. SC, are consumed daily.
THE BOYS AT DINNER.
The boys are all marched in order to the
dining room, each II under charge Of "A
chief. The tables are arranged so that
each one will accommodate II boys The
chief is seated at the head OF the table. Be
fore proceeding to partake offoOd the chief
reports whether his II are at his table, and
If not who is absent, the cause of their all
sence, &c. II their whereabouts are known
to the officers no attention IS paid to their
ii not known the absentee is
looked after. The boys then bow their
heads, and in unison ask Gods blessing in
the following language: "Onr father who
art in heaven. we thank thee that thou dOst
give unto us our daily food from time to
time, according 10 our needs. We pray
that thou viii grant unto us; whatever else
is for our good: may We become obedient
and good children strength to DO thy will
IN all things; may We be kept from all evil
thoughts, words and deeds, and our sins be
forgiven unto us, through Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen" After the blessing. the chief
at each table serves his lot Of boys, and IS
held responsible for their good conduct.
LABOR.
The boys are now mostly employed IN the
Of chair seats and backs.
These are the only articles manufactured
TOR sale The clothing and boots and shoes
worn by the boys are all manufactured in
the Institution 10y some OF the inmates, and
the farm work is all done by the larger
boys, an oycrseer being employed in each
case TO see that the work is properly done,
and that the boys conduct themselves in an
orderly manner.
THE WORKSHOPS.
There are five workshops connected with
the Institution. three OF which are in 4
building detached from the main building.
The largest one OF the workshops is in
charge OF Capt. James Ii. Baker, practi-
cal mechanic. In this shop 100 boys are
employed in the manufacture OF cane seats
and backs, for the Detroit Chair Factory,
Mr.. r. II. COnant. manager. Mr. COnant
furnishes all the material used and the
bows do the labor. From three to five hun
bred seats and back frames are eaned in
this room daily. some Of TIE boys become
very deNterous in this work, being able to
seat a cane bottom as quickly As - min
utes. and doing il readily in an hour. How
ever swiftly boy may be able to DO his
work, great care Is observed that he IS new
er overtaskcd. in fact his task is made com
parativcly light, the swiitest being required
only to till four common seals per day.
Another shop engaged in the same kind