Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-15
THE REFORM SCHOOL.

the governor 10 Guy INC arsenal Dulld-
ings and grounds at vergennes, at a
stipulated price, is provoking considera-
bic comment by the press. We have
undertaken to obtain reliable informa-
ton on the subject. and believe the fol-
lowing 10 embrace, substantially, the
facts in relation to the matter: At the
special session Of the legislature, held
for the purpose Of providing set Of Re-
form school buildings to take the place
Of those recently burned, law was pass
ed which authorized the governorto pur-
chase the old arsenal grounds with the
buildings standing thereon, in Ver-
genues. at price not TO exceed SILL
900 and tho governor was also directed
10 purchase such lands as we're deemed
necessary for the uses Of the institution,
at cost not to exceed $4,000. There
is farm Of 1903 acres that adjoins the
arsenal grounds, which is offered for less
than $4,000. and which the legislature
expected would be purchased for the use
Of the School. The legislature, as will
be remembered, went to vergennes. look
ed over the arsenal buildings and grounds
and also the adjoining farm. The men,
bers Of the House voted almost three TO
one to accept the offers made BY the
Yergenncs people, and to remove the Re-
form institution TO that place. The Sen
ate was not so enthusiastic in the new
project, and the vote was carried in that
body by only two majority.
During the early part of February.
the governor invited the trustees of the
Reform school to meet him at vergennes,
that the purchase might be made and
steps taken to put the buildings in a
condition to receive the inmates Of the
school. The trustees with the governor
made thorough examination of the lO3
acre farm in the first place, to decide
whether it was best to purchase that or
not. The land appeared to be of a clay.
ey nature, the surface very uneven and
the soil pretty nearly exhausted. ltap-
peared to be badly run out-so much so
that some Of il was not considered worth
moving. The hay, of which there
were four or five tons in the barn, was
Of the poorest quality-the grass being
Of wild and why nature. The barns
arc worthless, except for fire wood, and
the fences in dilapidated condition.
We understand that the governor and
trustees consider the farm so run down
as'not 10 be worth. by a considerable,
the price asked for it.
The arsenal property consists of %
acres Of land, the building called officers
quarters. arsenal, gun house. small horse
barn, blaeksmith's shop. two small farm
houses and few other worthless build.
ings, all Of which were built in 1928.
The arsenal building is made of stone,
Is 3lxS0 feet, two stories high on the
front and three on the back side it can
be used as a workshop or storehouse
The officers quarters is a building Of
stone, about 30x35 feet, two stories high
and cut mp into small, irregular rooms
wooden building Of about the same
size is connected with this. The farm,
houses can perhaps be used for ihe quar-
tiers Of the girls, should any be sent t
the institution. 1t was stated before tn,
Legislature that the arsenal grounds pro
duced 40 tons of hay annually. but tn,
governor and trustees, after a thorough
investigation Of the matter, came to tn,
conclusion that less than fifteen tons hat
been cut in each Of the two last years
An appreeiable discount II is needles
to add that the governor and his advis
ers came TO the conclusion, after thei
thorough examination. that the state ha,
made a great mistake in promising
through tho legislature, to pay 81 ,00
for the old buildings and run down Ian
at Vergennes.
. In looking up the title of the arsena
property, it was discovered that the mar
Dyer. who offers it for sale, has no It'll
in it. The L. S. government sold it a
auction. and will give deed of it whe
the party who bid it off pays for it. Nh
Dyer has not yet paid for it, but expect
to be able to do so when the governo
buys it for the State. 1t is rumorer
that the governor will not buy the 10
acre farm anyway, and would not pur
chase the arsenal property if he was No
forced to do 50 by the act of the legisla
ture.
If the above is true and it shout
prove that inc purchase was very ba
one, the joke will be serious one {,
the legislature as we'll as the State. I'll
general assembly rode down there, wei
on to the grounds. received the hospita
ity Of the good city of Vergennes, an
went back eager to close up the bargai
and set up the Reform school, all f
$4,000.
We imagine that when this proper
is bought, the old buildings are to
down. repaired and arranged, L
grounds are fitted up, the land is broug
20 decent state Of fertilization and I
bills are all paid. it will be found til
the speculation of the legislature Of s.
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