Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-10-14


suggested in their report. to which hav
hot had access, and will, no doubt, receiv
such consideration on your part as it de
serves.
Notwithstanding tie commendable lib
erality exhibited by the people of ttr
State in the support of schools, IN my view
we are deficient in one Of the best, ant
which, ultimately, might be made one o
the most economical agencies Of education
this is, public town libraries accessible t
all. In an economical view an cxpendi
ture for such purpose is not. like mos
expenditures for educational purposes, con
sumed by the use, and to be repeated an.
nually, but itispermauent and serviceabe
for succession of generations. Ii would
furnish means of intellectual enjoyment in
families, and thereby make home more at.
tractive. The tendency of such well-se.
lected library. circulating among the youth
of the town, would be to direct the tastes
of the young to substantial. solid and use
full reading, and enable them to treasure
up knowledge valuable IN after life. 1t
would furnish class of reading consisting
more of fact and less Of fiction. and pro-
ductive Of higher moral and intellectual
culture than much of the reading that now
attracts the attention of the young, which
dissipates rather than cultivates aud i'm
proves the mind. The gradual accumula-
tion of such library in town would scarce
ly be felt by the inhabitants, except by
its wholesome Influence and lasting benefit
to the old as well as the young l think
it is to be regretted that towns do not avail
themselves Of the enabling act authorizing
them TO establish such libraries. Wheth-
er any further legislation on this subject is
advisable at this time ] submit for your
deliberate consideration.
l rejoice to see that the interest of ag.
riculture, which has always been regarded
as second to none in the State; an inter-
est intimately identified with the prosper
ity of the State and which must, at least
FOR long time to come, be the business
and employment of the greater portion of
our people, is enlisting increased interest
and attention, net only among the people,
but on the Part of the legislature Our
State is also rich in mineral wealth yet to
be developed, and in water power, afford.
ing abundant facilities for manufacturing
purposes, not YET utilized. These inter.
ests have not been, and should not be,
overlooked. The board of agriculture.
and mining, recently estab-
lished by the Legislature, it is hoped, will
do much by the application Of science to
practical experience, and by other means
to promote and develop these important
industrial interests; and in this l trust
the board will be aided by all just and
proper legislation.
l refer you to the report of the trus.
tees of the reform school, and to the re.
port of the superintendent, for the history
and operations of the school for the past
two years, and for information as to its
present condition. 1t is evident from
these reports and from other sources of
that the school is in pros.
porous condition, and that under its excel.
lent management, it is fully answering the
purpose of its creation as refOrmatory
institution, and as an effective agency in
the police of the State. 1t is Stated in
the report of the trustees that, since the
of the school, several boys
have been sent there convicted of minor
and often triAipg offences that are so
feeble minded and idiotic as to be in their
opinion incapable of committing crime
md incapable Of receiving benefit by con.
inuing there; and that, as the trustrees
,ave nc power to discharge except for
horoug b reformation, and as there can be
10 reform, where no capacity to do wrong
Exists they cannot discharge them. They
lsk that the law be SO amended as to give
he trustees and superintendent power to
discharge in such cases. submit wheth.
.r such power ought to be granted, except
n connection with some other suitable
provisions for this class of unfortunate
persons. 1t appears that the legislature,
1t its last session, authorized the trustees
% purchase certain property named in the
lct-a lot with building and machinery
q their discretion, at an expense not ex.
feeding fifteen thousand dollars for the
purpose of the manufacture of chairs
hat before any purchase was made, the
building and machinery were burned, and
hat appropriation of $4,000 remains
Untouched in the treasury. As to the
question whether the purpose contemplate
I'd in the act appropriatiug that sum should
IT'LL be carried out by the purchase of Ger.
ain other property Of like description l
refer to the report Of the trustees, and
also to the report of the superintendent
made to them The propriety of making
such purchase is urged by the superluten.
lent upon grounds of economy and profit
% the State. by enabling the institution,
BY the labor of the boys, the inmates. to
manufacture chairs entire, instead of smp.
y weaving in the cane; and also upon
he ground of making the school more eff.
icient in its reformatory character, by
eaching the inmates trade that will af.
ord them means Of obtaining employment
ind gaining a livelihood, at the critical
period of their lives when they leave the
| am not sufficiently inform
I'd to warrant the expression of an opin.
on on the subject, further than to recon.
mend that it receive your consideration,
and such action as your wisdom shall die.
tate.
The biennial report of the d;rectors and