Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-22

might be offered, and report to the next legsla-
ture. Under this resolve, Hon. Benjamin Kings
bury, Jr, Of Portland Hon. E. r. French Of
Chesterville, and Samuel Garnsey, Esq, of Ban
gor, were appointed commissioners. The call OF
the commissioners elected three proposals to fur
nish locations for the school, neither of which
was deemed practicable l quote from the adj
dress of the Governor to the legislature of 1872:
81 desire to urge the importance of immediate
action upon the subject of Industrial School for
Girls. The State cannot afford to allow those
| girls who are being lured by temptation into
vicious habits, to become enemies to the State and
themselves, and instruments Of destruction to all
the higher interests Of society, without making an
effort to save them.
"The results of these institutions, where they
have been established, prove that many of these
unfortunate persons can be rescued from the awful
gulf that is opening before them, and fitted for
lives of virtue and industry. OF three hundred
and ten girls who have been discharged from the
Industrial School for Girls in Lancaster, Masssa.
chusetts, in the last ten years, whose characters
are known two hundred and sixty are living
honestly and reputably. The current of their
lives has been changed, and, instead Of being
pests in society, they have learned to support
themselves respectfully, and many of them have
charge Of homes which they have learned, in
the school, to make comfortable and happy
large appropriation to be expended in build
doubtedly the best. Buildings with sufficient
grounds that will accommodate from fifteen to
twenty five persons will be sufficient for the present
and others can be added as occasion may require
The Commissioners submitted their report to this
legislature, from which quote as follows "The
State is the guardian of its citizens, the conserva
tor Of its morals the protector of their rights, the
grantor of their privileges and its obligation is to
secure the greatest good to the greater whole. 1t
cannot discharge this trust wisely without a
full study of the sources of its material and moral
power, and Jealous care of the springs of social
life on which its civil being depends" . estates
beginning to realize that it is cheaper and wiser
to reform than to continually incarcerate.
The application of humane and christian princi
pies to the restraint of the wayward and neglect
ed, becomes OF ten-fold more importance when
the young are subjects of prison discipline The
State does not want to rear criminals to perpetuate
crime; it desires good citizens instead, who shall
be to it a source of wealth and power. Hence the
poor-house is not q suitable home for neglected
and homeless children; the work and Jail
are not fitting places for bad boys and girls
these, too often, only schools Of vice, and the
cold charity of the world as they see it through
the CRATES and bars of prison walls blunts the
sibilites of the soul and deadens the moral facul-
ties. If we ever expect mankind to be made bet
ter under the influence we may exert, it must be
by appealing to the best and noblest passions Of
the soul, not to the basest. There is toucbstone
to every heart, if we only soop to find it, latent
force in every soul instinct with life, when the
power of love warns i'll into being. The re-
suit of such beneficent measures in criminal legs
latlon remains no longer in doubt, the experiment
has proved everywhere a complete success More
than IS per cent of those sent to houses of refuge
reform and industrial schools, and kindred institu
tions, returned to society fitted to become
full and acceptable members thereof, instead of
cursing it with the repetition of grosser crimes"
With this report was submitted a bill for incorpor
alton and resolve providing for an appropriation
by the State when certain sum should be raised
by private subscription. The act of incorporation
was passed, but the resolve was defeated.
In November following, the corporatop met
and accepted the act Of incorporation, adopted
form of government, and elected Board OF Man
ayers. Thus the Maine Industrial School for Girls
was organized, but it was without funds and en-
tirely destitute Of the means of support.
In his annual address to the legislature of 1873,
the Governor announced that "a benevolent lady
in Halowell, who is interested in this subject, Of
fers to the State a donation of real and personal
estate valued at ten thousand dollars, on condition
that there be established in the city of Hallowel
by public or private benefactons, or both combin-
ed AN industrial school for girls belonging in this
State, for the purpose of training them up in in
dustIy and virtue. Another lady in the same city
proposes TO donate lot of land valued at two
thousand dollars on the same conditions"
At this session of the legislature, bill provid-
ing for the terms of admission to the School, and
its general government, and a resolve appropriat-
ing 5000 when $40, 900 should have been raised
by private donations, were passed. Subsequently,
the Board Of Managers made an appeal to the
pubic Tor Contributions 10 make up tHe remaining
IS 900 required by the resolve, and Hon. F. K.
French was appointed financial agent. ExGov.
Coburn subscribed $500 and lady in Bridgton
sent five dollars, but the financial crisis of this
year rendered the further prosecution of the work
impracticable. Governor Dingley called the at
tention of the legislature OF 1874 to the subject,
and said;
81 regret that the late financial disturbances
have as yet prevented the Trustees of the Maine
Industrial School for Girls from securing the
Il lo1lo
subscriptions, before they could avail themselves
of the five thousand dollars condtionally granted
by the State to al in the establishment and main
tenance Of the proposed institution. The school
has been located in Halowell, in consideration Of
liberal donations from two benevolent ladies of
that city; and it is intended to put it in operation
a. the private contribution required can be
secured. II is TO be hoped that measures to this
end will be successful at early day, so that the
State may be provided with school SO much
needed for clats of girls leading an idle, vagrant
or vicious life, in great danger Of falling into
habits of vice immortality. To secure such a
school the Stste may wisely extend liberal assist
ance" This Legislature passed resolve appro-
priating $4,000 to be paid when the Sl2, 800
already subscribed should be made available.
The board was thus placed in possession of means
sufficient TO commence active operatonf.
Mrs. Dummer had previously given the Board
the refusal of her entire estate consisting of about
thiity-two acres for $4,000 less the amount
of her subscription which $4,000. The ac-
ceptance of this offer secured the possession of an
excellent tract of land, well adapted to the pur-
poses OF the school, with comfortable house and
outbuidings, in one of the finest locations in the
State.
In March 1874, +. IL. Fassett Of Portland was
engaged to prepare plans and specifications and
the building committee, consisting Of Hon. II. X.
Baker, Hon. John l.. Stevens and Simon Page,
ESD, was authorised to advertise for proposals for
building. On the 23d day of April the contract
for building was awarded to Foster Il Dutton of
Bethel, for Sl2, ,475, that sum being the lowest of
seven proposals that were received. The building
was completed so far the contractors were con-
cerned about the first of November. The cost of
blinds, wood house and other necessary eXpendi-
lures not included in the contract, amounts to
81 500
An appeal was made to the public for donations
to furnish the girls rooms, and responses have
been received as follows;
James III. McMullen Biddeford, $500
Mrs j. C. Brooks Boston Highlands, $500
Ladies of New Jerusalem Society, Portland, 25.OO
Methodist Society, Hsllowell, 300
Congregationalist Society, Hallowell, 300
Mr.. Ammi Davenport, Gardiner, 300
First Parish (Unitarian), Portland, 200
Park Street Church Society, Portland, 300
Mrs. Judd, Augusta, 200
Pine Street Church and Society, Lewiston, 300