The Portland daily press., 1875-12-21
State Reform School.
hepofis OF the Trustees, supei intendenf,
Etc.

From advance sheets of the report of the
Trustees and Superintendent of the Reform
school to the Governor and Council, the follow
ing facts are CLEANED, part of which have
from ume to time been published in the PRESS:
Ine number OF boys In the school (Dec. 1st)
was l4z Ine inmates are graded, being divided
into classes so that ambition, pride, manliness
are appealed toto say nothing of self-interest.
Under this system, which is essentially that of
Superintendent Wentworth, the Trustees with
much pleasure announce that seventy boys
one half of the school-"are trying to be up
right, studious aud orderly" The Trustees say
that the most serious obstacles to perfecting
the grades is the persistent attempts of town
authorities and parents to effect a release of
the boys Two rules have been adopted; first,
the boy must remain in the school two years
before release and he must be in the first
grade.
The Trustees show conclusively that the Re-
form School cannot be made to pay its own
way, giving the very good illustration that no
one would expect that al farmer having one
hundred and sixty acres of land and all the i'm
plements found him could make both ends
meet ii sixty boys were turned upon him to be
supported.
The Trustees conclude that the brick making
department does not pay. The yard is four
miles from market, the spot unattractive and
the work hard and rather degrading for boy.
The manufacture of drain tiles will be contin.
ued, which will necessitate the production Of
100000 brick each season. The manufacture OF
cane seats for chairs has continued. The troub-
lie is to get steady work. 1t is better to have
steady work at small remuneration than inter-
| mittent employment with greater profits Idle
| ness is harmful.
The Trustees report that all the cells have
been removed the past year and the boys are
lodged in large we'll ventilated halls. The bed
ding is new. As stated by the PRESS last sum-
mer, the play grounds have been completely
| changed. Now the boys OF the first class have
| large play ground surrounded by picket
fence, from which they can easily escape; but
the fellows thus put upon their honor maintain
it. The ground of the second class has picket
| fence on one side, while that of the third is
| surrounded by high walls. The Trustees ask
| for an appropriation for the purpose of intro
| ducing gas into the building and to provide
better system of drainage. By a comparison.
L
average cost of supporting each boy exclusive
| of the product of tie school is S134 As, while
| the cost OF boy at our school is but S112 63.
| Maine has run her school the past year on
| $4,000 less than the average of schools Of that
! class.
| The Trustees speak in high terms of Super
intendent Wentworth his wife and assistants.
They say: 'We can bear testimony to the
| general fidelity of all who are now in our EN-.
| ploy. We think there Is a kindly feeling run
ming through the school. The teachers and
| overseers have worked faithfully and under
| great dscouragements, and we extend our
thanks to them all. Our Superintendent and
his wife have aided US in every way in their
power. The year has been very trying for
them, as the house has been in so much confu-
sion during our improvements But there has
been no complaining, but on the other hand o
ready and cheerful zeal'
| SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.
The Superintendent's report shows that SO
boys have been committed and returned, and
there were lag at the beginning of tbs year.
| Of the 45 that have left the institution, q were
discharged, s were allowed to 60 on trial,
have escaped, violated trust, died and We
remanded. The production of the farm l.
at 81, ,42S.12. The following statistics
ing the inmates of the school past AMI s......-,
though not entirely reliable, are approximately
| correct