The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-10-13


erality exhibited by the people of the
State III the support Of schools, 10 my
view We are deficient 10 ono of the best,
and which, ultimately, might be made one
Of tho most economical agencies of educa.
ton that is, public towp libraries &C.
ccssibc to all. If an economical view
and expenditures for such purpose is not,
like most Expenditures for educational
purposes, consumed BY the use, and to be
repeated annually. but it is permanent
aud serviceable for a succession Of gen.
eratons. 1t would furnish means of in.
tellectual enjoyment in families, and
thereby make home more attractive. The
tendency Of such wcll.sclccted libraries,
circulating among the youth Of tho towns,
would be to direct the tastes and habits
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 consist.
ing more Of fact and less of fiction, and
productive of a higher moral and intel
lectual culture than much of the reading
that now attracts the attention of the
young, which dissip ates rather than cult.
Yates and improves the mind. The grad.
ual accumulation Of such library in q
town would scarcely be felt by the in.
habitants, except by its wholesome inhu.
encc and lasting beueiit,to the old as we'll
as the young | think it is to be regret.
ted that towns do not avail themselves of
the enabling act authorizing them to es.
tablish such libraries. Whether any
further legislation on this subject is ad.
visabc at this time submit for your
deliberate consideration.
rejoice to see that the interest of
agriculture, which has always been re.
garded as seconded to none in the State
an interest intimately identified with the
prosperity of the State, aud which must,
ut least tor a long time to come, be .he
business and employment Of the greater
portion Of our pcoplc,s enlistng increased
interest and attention, not only among the
people, but on the part of the Legislature.
Our State is also rich in mineral wealth
yet to be developed, and 10 water power
aifording abundant facilities for manulac.
turing purposes, not yet utilized. These
interests have not been, and should not
be overlooked The Board of Agricul.
ture, Manufactures and Mining. recently
established 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 i'm.
portant industrial interests; aud in this,
| trust the Board will be aided by all
just and proper legislation.
| refer you to the report of the trustees
OF the Reform School, and to the report
of the Superintendent for the history and
operations Of the school for the past two
years, and for information as to its pcs.
ent condition. 1t is evident from these
reports, aud from other sources of infor.
uia'ion' tho. tho oohool IL 10 rro-peroue
condition, aud that under its excellent
management, it is fully answering the
purpose OF its creation as reformatorv
institution, and as an effective agency in
the police of the state. 1t is stated 10
the report of the trustees that, since the
establishment Of the school, several boys
have been sent there convicted of minor
and oltcn lriilipg ofenscs, that are SC
feeble minded and iilotic as to be,in their
opinion, incapable Of committing crime
and incapable Of receiving benefit by con.
tlnung there; and that. as the trustees
have no power to discharge, except for
thorough reformation, and az 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
power to discharge in such caeoo cub.
nit whether such power ought to be grant
ed, except in connection with some other
suitable provision for this class Of unfor.
tunatc 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
machlnery-in their discretion, at an ex.
pense not exceeding fifteen thousand dol.
lars, for the purpose of the manufacture
of chairs; that before any purchase was
made, the building and machinery were
burned and that appropriation of So, 900
remains untouched in the treasury As
to the question whether the purpose con.
templated in the act appropriatiDg that
sum should still be carried out by the
purchase Of certain other property Of like
description, ! refer YOU to the report OF
the Trustees, and also to the report Of he
Superintendent made to them. The pro.
priety 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, to manufacture chairs
entire, instead Of simply weaving in the
cane; and also upoa the ground of max
ing the school more efficient in its reform.
atory character, by teaching the inmates
trade that will afford them means OF
obtaining employment, and gaining a
livelihood, at the critical period Of their
lives when they leave tho institution.
am not sufficiently informed to war,an,
the expression of an opinion on the sub.
iiect, further than to recommend that i,
receive your consideration, and such ac.
ton as your wisdom shall dictate.
The biennial report of the Directors
aud Superintendent of the State Prison,
as to its condition and management, show
the financial affairs Of the Prison in good
condition aud in this respect there seems
to be great Improvement over that Of
former years. At the last session OF the
Legislature, on recommendation Of the
officers Of tho Prison, an act was passed
directing the Directors to construct O
chapel in one OF the buildings, and make
such alteration and repairs Of the old
prison as were necessary for the better
accommodation of the female convicts
therein confined and for these purposes
! they Vpro authori7nl 10 or,rnrri.to o.,