The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-03-15
.special cofresp0hdeDce or the Cincinnati TiInes
LETTER FROM COLUMBUS.
Visit TO Reform sehooi-scenes and In
eidenis--0ood Instftufion. .A4t

Visit 20 Reform sehooi-scenes and In
eidenfs--oood Instftunon. .A
The Legislative Committee which
recently paid visit Of inspection TO
the State Reform Farm and School
located in this county, was accom-.
panied BY Hamilton" the sprightly
correspondent of the Cincinnati Tines,
who thus notes his impressions of the
institution:
At the depot the party were met by
the efficient Superintendent or Acting
Commissioner of the School, who had
provided transportation 10 the Farm.
The ride was one not wholly devoid
ofintercst. The road winds around
several bills and passes through two
or three pleasant valleys, made quite
cheerful at this dreary time of the year
BY the large number Of cycrgrccns
growing on either side of it. At this
time Of year the road is rather rough,
and the dyspeptic members were ready
Tor almost any amount OF food, and
as matter OF course--a good, square
fdinner was essential TO ihorough cx.
animation of the Farm, its surrouhd-
ings, wants and success. Under the
atfable Matron, or mother, rs the boys
call her, Mrs. G. E. Howe, tho vorac-
ious appetites Of the members were
more than appeased z 4t aaaH II
A stroll over the grounds, under the
conductorship OF Commissioner Howe
and Advisory Commissioner Foot, of
Cleveland, the Committee proceeded
to inspect the grounds. The farm
contains eleven hundred and seventy
acres, well located and well .watercd.
But small portion OF the land is sus-
.ceptiblc ola high state Of cult vation.
but is being very much improved, and
will in time be one. of the best fruit
farms in the State. They have con.
siderable timber, sufficient to furnish
the farm with fencing material, and
fire for years to come. e' i :
ot AGE OF THE SCHOOL. y.7s.
The school was organized sometime
during the year 1854, and in ten year,
has succeeded in accomplishing NOR,
tangible good, at less expel Sc than an,
} similar institution in the country. =
The whole cost of improvements
buildings, fences, out houses, barns
sheds, including purchase of land, ha.
not yet reached fifty thousand dollars
Your readers may think that a schoo
, gotten up at so small expense, has no
as yet accomplished much. Fact
show otherwise. They'have here a
this time 265 boys, all of whom ar
/ well fed, well clothed, and in home
, far more comfortable than those from
t whence they came. s-
(, Aside from these things, not q yea
passes but some one who came her,
almost hardened and vicious, returns
to society reformed, and enters at ono,
, upon life Of usefulness. Many Of tn,
+ committee were under the impression
that they would find surrounding th
( farm q large wall, or high pickle
Q fence; rooms with grated windows, to
Q gether with guards stationed aroun'
to prevent the boys from escaping
/, They, however, were doomed to com
: plete disappointment. On nearing th
n farm, naught could be seen indicative
s of crime, guilt, or punishment. AL
y wore the appearance of a pleasant in
r lard village, where happiness eve
reigned, and its inhabitants lived i
g peace. The stroll over the farm cor
: vinced the committee, that the sclet
" tion was good one, and that the har
: work essential TO making the Ian
;; productive, was of advantage in givin
is the boys abundance of healthy work
al Large orch lrds have been plante
and are in healthy condition, and wi
,r in Year or two yield quite an incoH
y to the farm. They sold last year 81
le 16S 81 worth OF peaches; this too at
c, time when the crop was almost an el
l. tire failure.
lr WORK SHOPS.
vi TL;s ;mnortont branch has not z