Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-12
The ReaOrm School.

For some time there have been
floating through the papers OF the
State charges against the manage
ment OF the above institution, origi'
nally made by the Eldora Ledge
and seconded and amplified by the
Dubuque Herald. While, without
investigation, it WIS impossible to de
termine the truth or falsity of these
statements, they nevertheless appear
ed to be born of malice on the part
Of the Eldora paper and the manner
of their treatment by the Herald
plainly showed a partisan purpose,
in keeping with the character of that
paper. Now that these serious accu
sations have had full ventilation
through the papers of the State, the
time has come for the other side to
be heard. The character ofthe state
ments made by respectable partie
who have visited the Reform School
stagger belief in, if they do not en-
tirely refutes the charges of neglect
and inhumanity made against the Su
perintendent, and vindicate his good
name.
One of these parties who has re-
Gently inspected the Reform School,
is Mr.. VIM. Crosley, of Dubuque,
who is vouched for by the papers OF
that city perfectly reliable man and
competent witness. Mr.. Crosley Wis
tied the school in the absence of the
Superintendent, and made thorough
and detailed survey of it, conversing
with the inmates, and trying to ar
rive at correct knowledge of the
manner in which it is conducted
The substance Of his report is thus
given in the Times:
Our informant says he went through
all the dormitories and made careful
inspection Of the beds; found them
clean and comfortable,-much better
than he expected to find in penal
institution. All had. one good, we'll
filled straw tick each, and some of
them two; each had clean sheets and
six blankets for covering instead Of
one as had been reported. Are there
not thousand homes in Iowa, posi-
bly, ten times that number, where the
luxury of such beds is unknown? He
also inspected the food, finding it
good, clean, wholesome in every par
and better than he supposed
was dispensed in such an institution,
and it was plentiful. All the rooms
were neat and tidy; there were no ev-
licences of neglect anywhere, among
the inmates or in or about any of the
many rooms they occupy for various
purposes. The lads appeared to be
as cheerful and contented as those
he had seen hundred times at the
district schools of the country, and
on not SINGLE face did he detect the
hint of abuse or neglect
They were happy, rollicking, play
full lot, just such a picture as you
would always expect to see where
several scores of boys were kept to-
gether. He also visited their school
rooms while school was in session,
and had he not known that he was in
the State Reform School, Mr.. Crosley
assures us that he should have sup
posed he was in any one of the
orderly and well conducted public
schools of Iowa. Here, as every
where, the boys wore cheerful faces
and seemed contentcd.
He singled out two boys who were
sent there from Dubuque, one of
them almost man grown, and talked
freely with them, being alone. They
declared that they were well treated,
were comfortable, had good beds,
enough bedding, clothing, and plenty
to eat. They were particularly asked
they had anything to COM
plain of SO far rs Supt. McCarty's
was concerned, or that
Of any one else in authority. The
reply was No; nothing. The oldest
one then asked Mr.. Crosley to 60 and
see his mother here in the city, and
assure her that she need have no
anxiety whatever about him; that he
was as well off in every respect rs he
deserved, and that the stories about
he management were untrue.
Spring-like weather to-day. |