Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-05-15

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county Oh The first mentioned day. A full at
tendance is requested. my8
HOUSE or CORRECTION An act was passed
at the last session Of the Legislature Of Mary
land authorizing The erection of House of
Correction, al or near the City Of Baltimore,
and approprating $25o,ooo therefor The
utility and practieability of such an institu-
tion all admit, and The members Of the Legis-
la.ure deserve the thanks Of the people Of the
State for the passage Of such bill. By the
terms OF the law the location OF the site for its
erection is given to the Board of Public Works
which is composed Of the Governor, Comp
froller, and Treasurer, who are to be aided by
the Attorney General, and in the selection Of
the location, we presume they are not restrict
ed as much in nearness to the City Of Balti-
more, by distance as by accessibility TO the
point of its location. In making the selection
the Board Of Pnblig Works will, doubtless, be
ina1cneed by several considerations ( The nat
ural advantages, health Of the country, access
Utility, and cheappess OF transportation, &c.
In the counties of Western Maryland, there
are none that possess greater natural advanta-
ges than Montgomery county, and the salubr-
~ of lis climate, is the comment Of all. Rock
vile, the capital, is situated near 500 feet above
tide-water, and during the summer season.,
numbers Of persons from the city spend the hot
months here, because Of the health Of the place,
its beautiful scenery, and its accessibility to
Washington and Baltimore, the one being but
one hessr, and the other two hours distant in
fine And when the branch railroad is made
TO Hanover Switch, as we have no doubt il
will be, long before the House of Correction
is completed, the distance to Baltimore will be
shortened both in time and distance, thus Civ
ing peculiar advantages to this place. which
even now by the Metropolitan Branch furnishes
rapid transit TO Washington, Baltimore, and
the great Valley Of Virginia, No interior town
in the State possesses advantages over Rock
Vile, trains passing here almost hourly, to
the points mentioned, and to the great West.
There is another and cogent reason why
such an institution should be located away
from the city or larger towns. Every one
knows that large class of offenders are from
the cities, here from evil associations, the
incentives to crime are great, and where, TOO,
when an offender shall have served out his
term, he is turned loose to run the same ca
reer of crime. Such would not be the case
were the institution located away from these
haunts Of vice, and as reformation is The great
object TO be accomplished, the question is sub
mitted to the commissioners whether that
would not be more easily done by locating
the institution at or near q rural town--the
offender would not be surrounded by such
eviliRtluences, and when his term of servtude
would have expired, employment could at
once be procured with the farming population
or at some handicraft which would yield him
decent support. And further, farm Of
three or five hundred acres in this locality
could be purchased al less cost than ground at
or near the city.
We wish TO call The attention Of the Board oil
Public Works to the advantages Rockville pos
sesses for the building contemplated, and to
invite them to visit this place and see for them
selves, assuring them Of hearty welcome by
our hospitabe citizens.