The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-09
INDIANA HOU E OF REFUGE.
The House OF Refuge at P%laiR1eld-
Character OF BuildingS-InteFnal
Arrangements, Discipline, &c.
INnIANAPoLIg. May s. 1868.

INDIANAPOLIS, May 6. 1868.
Yesterday being the time for the
regular meeting of the Board of Con-
troll Of the House of Refuge, at Plain
field I thought it a good opportunity
for seeing the actual workings of the
Institution.
A better selection could not have
been made of a farm than the one
purchased, which is situated about a
mile south of the village of Plainfeld.
Hendricks County. 1t contains 223
acres Of the very best quality Of land,
so of which are in timber, a part of
which Is in the broad bottom of the
White Lick, which runs through the
farm, and the balance upland.
Forty acres of the bottom land
are admirably adapted to corn,
and will be so cultivated this
year Last year the corn in the same
field vas sold standing at $50 per
acre: II acres have been put in oats,
u in potatoes, 4 In garden, 3 10 beans,
&C. OuC ia INT mQEA 1LlBO4N4uN AEa~
lures is the new orchard now being
planted out. This occupies twenty
three acres of ground, and nearly If
teen hundred trees are 10 course of
planting out, including 1,0l0 apple.
200 cherry, 30 standard pears, 10
dwarf pears. One acre of ground i
in course of preparation for a vine
yard; one will be planted to strawber-
ries, and one-fOurth Of an acre each
to gOoseberries, raspberries and cur.
rants.
The farm, when purchased, had no
buildings of any consequence upon it,
and the fences were sadly NJ of re-
pair. The former was really an ad-
vantage, as the State did not have to
pay for fine buildings, which could be
put to no use. Twenty-three acres have
been enclosed in a high picket fence,
In which the buildings are to stand.
Three dwellings have been built Of
brick, two stories high, and intended
to accommodate fifty boys each, with
their instructors and attendants. Two
of these only are fully completed, but
the third Is nearly completed. They
are so arranged as to front the center,
and it is contemplated to increase the
number, as needed, to ten, which will
give a capacity for FIVE hundred
boys. The main building will form
the central link In the chain on the
east front, when built. At present,
one of the houses is used for this
purpose. In addition to this, a large
two-story building has been erected,
also of brick, which are made there,
for "a shop. 1t is only partially occu-
pied fer this purpose now, being used
also for a dining room, chapel, &c. A
milk-hOuse and bakery are adjoining
this building, while a small but very
compact barn stands just outside the
enclosure, on the southeast. The live
stock at present embraces four excel
lent work horses and eight COWS, the
latter furnishing an abundance of
milk, which the boys esteem a great
treat.
From this plateau, upon which the
home buildings are located, a fine
view Of the surrounding country, the
village and the railroad, a mile dis
tant, are obtained. The farm Is, to a
considerable extent, isolated, hOwev-
er, a strip Of woodland Intervening be-
tween the enclosure and the turnpike.
0CNEldA GBAAIEI 0AG AN0A4 OA AlC
place, one of them being in the milk
house. Another, near the North side
of the enclosure. sends forth a very
strong stream. the year round, Of pure
soft water. A fish pond IS to be con-
structed. which can be done with com
paratively small cost and trouble.
The fall is sufficient to allow the use
of a hydraulic ram, by means of which
the buildings may all be supplied with
this spring water.
The inmates now number forty
boys, the youngest being but six
years old, aud called the baby"
The boys seem cheerful and content
ed. O the life Is entirely new to them.
they have enough work to do to
keep them employed, without over
tasking them.
When they move about from place
to place, It Is IN single file, with the
guard at the rear, so that he can see
them all, but 1t is without the lock
step aud they are stationed according
10 their height While they are always
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