Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-10-16
on this subject is desirable at this time |
submit for your deliberate consideration.

on this subject is desirable at this time l
submit for your deliberate consideration.
AGRICULTURAL.
rejoice TO see that the interest of agri-
culture, which has always been regarded as
second TO none in the State; an interest in
timately identified with the prosperity OF
the State, and which must, at least for a
long time TO come, be the business and EN-.
ployment of the greater portion of our peo-
pie, is cnisting increased interest aud at.
tention, not only among the people, but on
the part of the Legislature. Our State Is
also rich in mineral wealth veto be devel-
oped. and in water-power, ailording album
dant facilities for manufacturing purposes,
not yet utilized. These interests have not
been, and should not be overlooked. The
Board of Agriculture, Manufactures aud
Mining, recently established by the Legis-
lature, it is hoped, will do much by the APP
plicatiOn of science to practical experience,
and by other means to promote aud devel-
OPP these important industrial interests
and in this, | trust the Board will be aided
by all just and proper legislation.
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
refer you to the report of the trustees
of the Reform School, and to the report ui
the Superintendent, for the history aud OPP
erations of the school for the past two
years, and for information as 10 its present
condition. 1t is evident from these reports
and from other sources of information, that
the school is in prosperous condition, and
that under its excellent management, ii is
fully answering the purposes OF its crea
ton rs a rciurmatuTN institution, aud a. AN
Iaf
1t is stated in the report of the trustees that,
since the establishment of the school, sew
eral bows have been seut there COM iCleu OF
minor. aud often trtling offences, that are
50 feeble minded and idiOtic as to be, in
their opinion, incapable of committing
crime, aud Incapable of receiving benefit
by continuing there and that as the truss
tees have no power TO discharge, except
for thorough reformation, and as there can
be no reform where no capacity TO do
wrong exists, they cannot discharge them.
They ask that the law be SO amended AS to
give the Trustees and Superintendent pow
er to discharge in such cases. l submit
whether such power ought to be granted,
except in connection with some other suit
able provision for this class of unfortunate
persons. 1t appears that the Legislature,
at its last session, authorized the Trustees
to purchase certain property named IN the
act-a lot with building and machinery
IN their ulScfetlOU, AZ an expense nOl eN-
ceeding fifteen thousand dollars, for the
purpose of the manufacture of chairs that
before any purchase was made, the build
ing and machinery were burned, aud that
appropriation of $4,000 remains untOuch-
ed in the treasury. As to the question
whether the purpose contemplated in the
act app Opriating that sum should still be
carried out by the purchase of certain 9th
er property of like description, refer you
to the report of the Trustees, and also to the
report ofthe Superintendent made TO them.
The proprietv Of making such purchase is
urged by the Superintendent upon grounds
of economy and profit to the State, by en-
abling the institution, by the labor of the
boys, the inmates, 10 manufacture chairs
entire, instead of simply weaving in the
cine; and also upon the ground of making
the school more efficient in its reformatOry
character, by teaching the inmates a trade
that will afford them means of obtaining
employment and gaining livelihood, at
the critical period of their lives when they
leave the institution. | am not sufficient
ly informed to warrant the expression of
an opinion on the subject, further than to
recommend that 1t receive your considera-
ton, and such action as your wisdom shall
dictate.