The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-14
LOCATION OF TIE REFORM
SCHOOL,.

we nave not, heretofore. cltncr laNOICu
or opp Jsed change of the location of the
Vermont reform school, unless suNic one
might iniei Opposition thereto som sem
tence, a few days since. to the effect That
if the people did not desire a change, all
discussions in reference to a change" would
be ''uscless and waste of time We hold
to the same opinion still. We do not be-
licve that small and hopeless minority
have right to waste the time and money
OF tax burlhened people in discussions
which they must know will be useless.
Such practices on the part Of legislators is
to be reprobated, whether il is in the inter-
est Of Waterbury or Nergenncs. We urge
upon our legislators, now as heretofore, the
folly of accepting gift from anyone,
feeling, as we do, that such acceptance
would be only the prelude to future lobbles
and demands for legislative appropriations,
so persistent and continuous that, at lcEgth,
the value of the gift will I've more than
paid back. Appropriate now all the money
necessary, be as economical asp0ssiblc, but
let there be no loop-holes left for raids on
the treasury in future. A free people will
not accept gift. Or il having made the
mistake, they or the givers will never rest
satisfied until the property SO given. belongs
to the state by right of purchase.
Assuming that the state will pay for
what it expects to obtain. we ask where
shall the reform school be located AT
Waterbury or Vergennes, we arc answered.
If we had been asked, q few days ago,
whether there was any dissatisfaction with
the present location, we might and proba-
bly, should have hastily answered, ''no. y
We should, however, have been mistaken.
There is wide spread dissatisfaction with
the Waterbury location, and, in our
opinion, justly. This was evidenced, al
the last session of the legislature in various
ways-ways with which members are az
familiar as we are. But We must have s
reform school. Why not, then, go TO Yer
genncs. The location is commanding ant
healthy. 1t is of easier access than Water
bury. The facilities for transportation o
freight, tberefrom or thereto, are un
surpassed in the state. Water, too
Is plenty and that banc Of Water
bury-firc-would never cause another
extra session Land and building costing ,
hundred thousand dollars can he bough
for eleven thousand dollars. The building
thereon are more than ample for the pres
ent necessities of the school, aud only
small appropriation would be necessary t
make them Immediately available for use
The insurance money" would, we believe
be all sufficient TO make the purchase ant
put the school in proper ''rnnmng order.
II required, an adjoining farm could b
purchased at about, or less than the pric
of the present Waterbury school farm
Why, then, should not the school 10 T.
Vergennes! Can any one suggest an argu
ment except that contained IN The wor
''change' We believe not. The questions
the only questions. for the general Assem-
bly, TO determine are, which place will be'
ter serve the state, which will be the mos
economical site? As 10 the former, as W
have endeavored TO show, Vcrgenncs Ina
the argument. But concedlpg, if yo
please, that both are similarly situated
does not the question OF economy largel
preponderate and turn the scale, in fave
of Vergennes. One half OF The appro ,riI
ton demanded for Waterbury will plac
the school on a better footing ut NCigcnnt
than it ever WAS at Waterbury. This, eel
tlemen of the general assembly, Is whit
your constituents, the tax payers Of I'll
state, ask you to consider, they ask you I
vote no unnecessary taxes, they ask You
locate the reform school at Nergenncs,
by SO doing you can, as they believe, SAY
one-half, or even one quarter, Of IL
amount of taxes which would be- require
by a continuance OF The present locator
Act wisely. act economically, act for Il
best interest of the state and we feel Il
sured, that II you do so act the old arscn
grounds and buildings at Vergcnnes vi
be the seat of the Vermont reform schoo
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VERNu0Nr STATE ps,suAA