The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-02-12
FROM INDIANAPOLIS.
The House of Refuge.
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 6th, 1875.

FRIEND DOASE - Having little time
! will give YOU. for the benefit Of your
readers. little sketch OF one Of our i'm
portant State institutions, namely, the
House OF Refuge for juvenile offenders.
at Plainneld. Indiana. Ii Is situated
near the 4. ii. g. Indianapolis II. r.,
fifteen miles from indianapolis, on
farm Of 220 acres, White Lick creek
running through il. The farm has about
40 acres of splendid bottom land. the
rest is very poor land. The building
site issvery fine, located on the bluff, out
of which flows several fine springs OF
soft water, affoi ding an abundant supply
for the institution, which is thrown ny
into the buildings by hydraulic rams,
The bows are divided into families OF
which there are now six, in five different
buildings, one large building having
two families, each family having from
40 TO so BOYS, of whom there are now
about 200 in the institution. Over each
family j. a House Father and wife, wnen
a married man. and an assistant called
an Elder Brother. The whole institu-
tion Is presided over and governed by Z
Superintendent aud Matron, to whom
times. and the latter OF whom, especially y
fills the place of rlotner, TO whom al
their wants and grievances can be freely
commenhed. One half of the boys II
each family are in school part OF th'
ldav. while the remainder are at worl
under the supervision of the Hous'
Father or Elder Brother. During tn
farming season most Of the boys worl
or the farm or ia the garden and greer
house. or in tie chair shop. A few ar
.employcd in the tailor and sho
shops. and several about general work
THE means used for reformation ar
lwork-->o rs TO establish industriou
habits. education 10 enlarge the mind
land religion 10 reach the heart. Man,
of the bows are Young criminals, an'
most of them out of the very wor-
surroundings the work of governing
reforming and training them. surely
not an easy one. During the past yeal
two additional buildings have bee
crected, with money appropriated q
course by the State aud the labor OF III
BOYS. and room will be ready by III
. first of January. for $50 boys; this Wi
soon be filled III the rate at which boy
lsre brisg admitted or committed. Til
hui dings Al present on ihe premises nj
the main buildings. .argc house col
tanning the resideace Of tie >uperinteI
dent and subordinate officers. the oflic
dining room for all the hoys. kiiche
land chapel: six family bUildirgs. or
large shop, besides tic necessary OF
i. .ibui.dinrs. sc. lhc managers wal
J. more land. and of course the ;egislatul
shall make an appropriation to bu
more land. at about $50 pcracr No
il seems to me. that If such an iBstitl
ti0n must he carried on we had bett,
divide and buy lahd where We can q
IL Tor onc-tinh the amount abos
named. and where we could build {,
onc-half what it will cost here. and ais
run the institution for q great deal lei
lmuncy than il could be run for her
Furthermore, think there is already
monopoly. and ! think we had bett'
have them divided So one would watc
: the other | give this "a my opinio
only. There might be great deal sal
in favor of division, but | deem ii III
necessary at present. Being tired,
will come TO close by remarking, how
! ever. that having had an occasion
= examine the institution last Tuesday |
ni one of the coinnittee Oh reformation
!, institutions hence this description {
d this institution. More hereafter.
A. j. G..