The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-01-15

REFORM SCHOOL.
| The Trustees Of the Reform school give en-
| preston to Il Judgment forced upon them by
| observation and experience. and in full har-
mony with the advice Of officers of similar i'll
stitutions in other states. that Il large part of
| the benefits which might be expected from that
| school, are lost in consequence of so faulty an
| arrangement of the interior of the building as
| TO make 1t impossible TO properly separate the
| different grades of boys. As it is now there
| must be an enforced association of bows who
are committed for truaucv or some petty mis-
demeanOr, which by no means argues more
tllan want OF parental care. with youth who are
| to great extent deprayed; as well as an indis-
crlnlnate herdlng OF all classes of crime. Under
such circumstances any methods Of reform must
hr largely counterbalanced by bad Influences
The Trustees ask for an appropriations Of SO
o'0 10 make the changes i'll the building re-
CURED i'll order to overcome the nsuferabIe
difficulties suggested and are thoroughly con
vlhced that unless this can be done the institl-
ton must continue shoTn of a large part of its
power for good. am so profoundly convinced
OF the correctness Of this view, that | trust YOU
VIII give the recommendations of the Trustee,
that favorable consideration which they 50 we'll
deserve.
INSANE HOSPITAL.
The report of the Trustees of the Insane Hos
pital. which has been DELAYED for thorough
examination of the account, of the late Treas
Irtr oi the institution, will he laid before the
Legislature as soon ~ it is placed in my hands.
III" report of the Superintendent shows a STEADY
increase Of the number of the patients. and give,
evidence ot a successful discharge Of the impor-
tant duties resting on him. am informed that
Il proposition will be made to you to 50 amend
the laws relating TO the Hospital. rs TO place
the patients more completely under the protoc-
ton of the laws. This suggestion is not made
on account OF any existing necessity in this
state, but in pursuance of Il general movement
designed to reach all similar institutions in this
country.
The report of the commissioners of Il pro-
posed new Insane Hospital, appointed by virtue
OF resolve of the last Legislature will be found
OF such importance As to claim Your cousitlcratc
attention. Two members OF the commission re-
port IN favor of erecting. on the present Hos
pltal grounds in Augusta, new Hospital. to
accommodate one hundred patients, at an csti-
mated cost Of one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. one member reports in favor Of the
erection, on the Hospital grounds. of two or
three cottages at first and subsequently others
a, they may. be needed, to ~'yorally accom-
modate about twenty patients, nj an estimated
cost OF about five thousand dollars each The
present Hospital building is overcrowdcC, and
additional accommodations are already required.
STATE CHARITIES,
During the past year the State has expended
about fourteen thousand dollars in educating
tltV-fv" deaf and dumb and eleven blind hcne
ticlarles. The cost Of supporting insane State
paupel~ has reached the large sum of thrty-fvc
thousand dollars, and of pauPers in unincol-
porated places six thousand dollars II is
more than probable that IN amendment Of the
law relating to these charities is cNpedirut,
TIE INDIAN TRIBES.
In accordance with treaty stipulation. and the
provisions OF existing laws. more than twelve
thousand dol ars have been expended in ;id of
the remnants Of two Indian tribes still living
within the state, about $500 of which has
been devoted to the Pcnobscot tribe, and So 100
'I 1DIi tIn
devoted to the Penob>cOtS. however, about
$4,000 WAS the interest on the fund belonging to
the tribe held in trust by the State. BY direc-
ton OF an act Of the last Legislature, the pro-
cced> of certain shore rents amounting to over
$4,000, are to be distributed among the NOM
hcr> of the tribe. As probably some heads Of
families entitled 10 receive a large sum, would
| make an improper use of the same it is possible
that the law may need some amendment to
give larger discretion in the disposition Of the
fund.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR Girls.
regret that the late financial disturbances
have as yet prevented the Trustees Of thr Maine
industrial School tor Girls. from securing the
twenty-five thousand dollars required through
private subscriptions, before they could avail
| themselves of the five thousand dollars con-
dilionaly granted by the State to aid in the
establishment and maintenance of the proposed
institution. The school has been located III
iIalOwcl. in consideration Of liberal donation,
! from two benevolent ladies of that city; and it
| |. intended to put III operation as soon a the
| balance Of the private contributions reullirrd
can be secured II is TO Dc hoped that measures
to that end will be llccr~ >tul 1T an early day So
| that the state iuuy be proNi With L School 30
| much needed for class Of girl, leading IN idle
| vagrant or vicious litr. on i'll great danger OF
| falling into habits Of Vice or ninoraIih TO
| secure such Il school the State may WISELY eN-
| tend liberal assistance.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The report of the Superintendent of Common
| schools. which will be Laid before you al an
| early day. presents an encouraging view Of the
| condition and prospects Of the educational i'll
| tercstS Of the state. The increase in school
money arising from the State mll-taN and the
| tax on Savings banks the Improvement in
methods OF teaching. growing largely out Of tile
work Of our National schools and the already
marked influence Of the Free High school S.
tenn adopted by the last Legislature: have ma
| terlally improved the character and efficiency
| Of our public schools, and aroused i new inter
| est in the cause OF education.
FREE HIGH SCHOOLS.
| The Free High School System, especially.
| although i'll practical operation but little more
| than halt OF The past wear. has already achicN-
| ed great success as to sllrpaSs the utmost
| expectations of its Walmcst friends. and to
| promise. within 4 reasonable time. results that
| can but satisfy all of the wisdom of the policy.
| The official reports which have been received
| BY the Department Of Education, siioW that l50
| Free High schools, in 1873 different cities, toWn>
| and plantations. representing every county in
| the State, have been maintained from one to
| three terms each, Since the first OF March last ;
| and that these schools have been supported by
| municipal appropriations to the amount Of Se3,-
J23. and State aid to the amount Of S29,l3 In
| these schools lO,2So pupils have received III
>truction in these branches usual taught III the
common schools, excluding primary studies;
and also in such other directions as are dclnand-
| ed by the increasing industrial and business
| wants of the times. 1t Is especially noteworthy
| that Il large portion OF the youth of both sexes
| reached by these schools, are those who had
| already Withdrawn from the common school
with Il definite education: or whom poverty
or other circumstances had prevented from
| leaving their homes to obtain better oppor-
tunties for education than those offered by the
short winter term Of their district school.
Many youth who will hereafter make most
valuable teachers of our commou schools. are
receiving in the Free High School that broader
| and deeper culture so essential to prepare them
for this high work. The influence on the com
mon schools of such pupils as have attended
the Free High School, Is already proving in the
highest degree beneficial. 50 far as am in
formed, i'll most OF the towns i'll which such
school has been held, new interest has been
awakened i'll the cause of education.
1t was feared BY some that the system would
| be impracicable for small or Sparsely settled
towns; but some of the most successful Free
High Schools maintained during the autumn,
have been in Just such localities In one case,
at least, Sparsely settled plantation has main
tanned a most tourishng school for eleven
weeks by municipal appropriation Of seven
ty-iive dollars, increased by an equal amount
from the State Indeed, thus far the most COM
pletc success of the Free High School system
has been in exclusively farming towns. where
this adjunct of the common school system Is
allording such facilities for education rs can but
serve to increase the attractions of that rural
life which is the source of our national strength
and purity. With 4 continuance of the system
there can be scarcely doubt that within Il
brief period these schools will be established i'll
most of the towns of the State; and will give
such an impetus to our educational Interests a>
nothing else could.
EDrcArIoNAy. ENrESDlrt RES.
The aggregate expenditure Tor the public
schools Of the State, during the past school
year has been $slo0o59G, exclusive of the
amount expended for school buildings and
Free High Schools. OF this sum towns have
directly contributed $G23,6lS, and the State
S314.91s. If to this sum should be added the