The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-15


duced TO 5000. ! had hoped that we should
uOt be called upon to construct any more
buildings for this institution, yet the in
creased attendance. and the new but wiso,
policy Of teaching all tho pupils rome trade.
nav necessitate the erection OF the shop.
asked for by the beard. II any addition
could be made to the shops already built il
would be economy to do 80, rather than TO
build anew. Recommend the appropriation
for this purpose, however, az / have conf
dence in the judgment OF the board on the
subject. The other items asked for by the
Trustees are all necessary and should be pro-
vided for EA
The total expenditures for 1874 were
s45. 1888 or this sum there was expended
for furniture 81. 401 for buildings. 81 S27 .32S
new coil, si25; new pump, s5s4.so, and
new boiler, ~, 325l6. f
Personal property, a. per inventory, being
i'm excess OF tho year 1879. SIC, 53i.1l
The report of the Board aud officers is
very full and complete in its details Of the
management and workings OF this most
beneficent State charity.
STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
This institution was opened in May, 1874.
and there had been received at the close %
the fiscal year 159 children. The present
number IL 162. The current expenses from
it's opening to Sept. 80 were S7,62l ~. l be-
lieve if the idea of the law founding this
State charity, namely, "that it shall be
temporary home for neglected and dependent
children from our poor houses, where they
shall be cared for and educated until homes
can be found for them" is faithfully adhered
| to in it's management, that this institution
will in it's results accomplish as much, il not
more. real good than any other yet founded
by the State, IL 1t succeeds IN transforming.
these children from pGupcrs to producers.
from dependent to independent citizens, it
will be not simply charity. but an economy,
: of which we shall be justly proud. have
! full faith, from the success attending 1t so
far, that it will prove all that its originators>
and promoters anticipated. Nine children
have already been placed in good homes
The construction account, as shown by the
report of the Board, has exceeded the appro-
! priations So. 500, for whicn, together with the
sum of So, 900 for laying the gas main from
; the works to the premises, they ask an appro-
J priatIon. The school has been open so short
time that no very close estimate can be
made Of It's wants for the future, but the
Board think $25, 900 will be required for gen.
eral expenses for 1875. This estimate is mado
0 for 16n children, the full capacity OF the pres
ent buildings. They also ask for 50, 900 IN
1875 for the purchase of cows and stock,
furniture. tfee-planting, fencing and grading.
n library, horses, harness. and sloigh.
0 The returns from the several counties for
0 1874 report 46S dependent children under six
: teen years OF age, most Of them in the poor
0 houses of the State, 331 Of whom are entitled
2 to admission to the school. If these are all
to be admitted-and they certainly should be
Q the number Of cottages should be Increased.
4 1t is not probable that room will need to be
o provided for all those entitled to admission,
y as it is to be hoped that the number going
I out to homes will constantly increase, 80 that
it does not seem necessary at pies ent to build
I for $50 children. Yet provision should be
: made for many more than can be accommo-
dated at present. Should you deem it best to
direct the erection of two or more cottages, the
4 win nf no Y1ain h1tilf nnnta mi N
shops and schools, will require to be raised
t another story one for school purposes and
one for employees dormitory.
D The Board of Control submit in their report
estimates IN detail of the cost of construction
OF these additional buildings, to which / call
your attention. The estimate for general ex
penses for 1876 will depend upon the number
/ of inmates, and this will depend upon your
, decision as to buildings. 1t must be remem-
} bered that the inmates Of this institution
have heretofore been supported In the poor
, houses of the State. 70 that while it increases
the appropriations from the State Treasury,
, 1t is saving the County Treasures probably
an equal amount / commend this institu-
} ton, its aims and wants, it's purposes and
prospects, to your earnest consideration. IT
1T can be Kept and maintained as q sort of
halfway house between the poor-house and
the haven of a home, and not az permanent
residence for neglected children it will re-
turn an hundred fold all the time and money
eApenueu upon IL.
THE REFORM SCHOOL,
Tho reports of this institution for the past
two years show marked and decided i'm
provement in every part of its management,
whether as n school or Workshop a home or
place Of confinement. in its financial affairs,
AVID on every side there arc many evidences
Of progress. 1t has grown less prison-like and
is really becoming Re form school. A quota
ton from the report Of its officers for 1878
and 1874, regarding the unsighty and un-
necessary fence surrounding it, is indica-
tive Of how and why it has thus improved.
The Legislature OF 1878 declined to arpropri-
ate anything for the building of the fence or
WALL and the report for 1878 says that any
person must come to the conclusion that
for a portion OF those cOmmi ted here we
must either have impossible walls or an i'm
mense increase Of overseers and watchmen,
To prevent escapes" The report for 1874
says of the wall or fence: Admitting it's
restraining uses in the past or present, yet
we have q large number of boys who can be
restrained as efectusliy without it, and With
more humanizing effect"
OF the appropriation OF $4,000 for current
expenses for 1874 only 500. 200 was expended,
and the balance was returned TO the State
Treasury, while the inventory of property on
hand shows gain for 1874 Of 3S, 335 49, The
average number in the school for 1873 was
I'll for IA, 222. The average time of deten-
ton in '73 Was two years and seven months :;
In ~, TWO years and i've months. The aver
age age of boys received in 13 was 10 years
y months; in IA. - years 81 months. The
receipts for boys labor for 1874 were Sill
S26 .06.
The Board Of Control call attention TO sev-
eral changes in the law regarding commit
ments to the school, which they deem of i'm
portance, namely. that thu sSe at which bows
may be received be changed from ten to eight
years that the limit Of detention be changed
from twen.y-one to eighteen and that power
may be given them, under proper regulations,
to admit boys without the stain Of conviction
and record OF the Same to annoy them in
their subsequent life. / am convinced that
the limit OF detention should be changed II
q boy entering this school at ten or twelve can
not be fitted to go out into the world by the
time he is eighteen, it would seem that he
ought not to be the companion of one or two
hundred young lsds. Then, too. it seems to
me that boy at eighteen should have a chance
Tor himself TO zee what no liz made of.
Law and custom have regarded chldren of
eight as not being responsible for crime yet
In our larger cities many boys OF this age do
commit serious crimes AID very many are well
known to police officers. a. surely growing up
| to be paupers and criminals.
Ii the law of 1873, permitting the Governor
to appoint agents OF the State Board of Char
tiles and Correction i'm each county could be
carried out, itwouldinn great degree solve this