Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-21
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
Report Of the Officers, and condition OF
the school Interesting statistics.

The Trustees Of the Maine Stale Reform School
at Cape Elizabeth ave William f. Gould of Deer
ing, Warren H. Vinton Of Gray, j. ". Porter of
Strong, VIM. E. Payne of Bath, and Geo. L. Ilg-
gins of I.ubec. In Their forthcoming annual re-
port they will show that the system Of grades re-
Gently introduced into the school, works well.
The inmates are graded into three divisions. The
ambition, pride and Elanliness Of the boys are ap-
pealed to, and the result is that there are seventy
boys who are trying to be upright, studous and or
derby. 1t is not gratifying, however, that the re-
cords Of the school show that boys are committed
at younger age than formerly, and for greater
offences. Every boy is taught to perform some
branch Of work. He learns something outside of
books as well as inside. Fully one half the boys
have good opportunity to become acquainted
" it'll the ordinary farm duties. The effort is not
so much TO make the institutions self-sustainlng,
but to try to produce all that is possible from the
farm and the workshop without losing sight OF the
fact that the work is mainly reformatory. The
development of the boy through the mind and the
heart, is the first care of the managers.
There being no real profit in the manufacture OF
bricks, that has been abandoned. The manufac-
ture of drain tile is continued An arrangement
has been concluded with a mill in this State to
provide wooden frames for cane.seat chairs into
which the boys can put their work, and sell frame
and all together.
Within two years great Improvements have been
made in the buildings, their appointments, and
surroundings. A marked improvement is noticed
in the clothing, which is of a better grade than
ever before. No serious change has been made
in the diet; the appearance of the lads indicates
that they have been well fed for several years.
The Trustees ask for several changes and improve
ments.
Last year the institution had $4,000; this year
it is thought that SIG 900 will be needed. Com
wi iunil in n D.
preparation for the Maine school is far below the
average, and it is thought that the school here
will compare favorably with any school in the
country. In the above estimate OF expenses for
the past year, $4,000 have been devoted to
the ordinary expenses of the school, and $1,000 to
permanent improvements.
Eben Wentworth Superintendent, reports,
whole number Of boys received into the institution
since the opening, 1850; present number, l42.
Number of boys in school Dec. J. 1874, l46; COM
mitted past year, 35 previously escaped who have
returned, 6 whole number in school during year,
1877; discharged, 81; rcmanded, l. allowed to go
trial. s; escaped, 4 violated trust 4; died, !;
whole number remaining Dec. l, 1915, l42. Sew
enteen were committed the past year for larceny,
3 for common runaway, 10 for truancy, for as
sault, for malicious mischief, for vagrancy.
Boys were committed the past year from the fol-
lowing towns: Auburn |, Lewiston 6, Bridgton !,
Franklin |, Gardiner l, Hallowell l, Readfeld !,
Winthrop l West Gardiner l, West Waterville j,
Hope /, Rockland |, Vinalhaven /, Newcastle /,
Noblcboro' /, Waldoboro l. Whiteield l,
Bangor ., Dexter l, Sangerville /, Wellington
|, Monson l., Bath 3, Richmond J. Arson l.,
skowhegan l, Belfast |, Monroe l. Calais l,
Passport l. BiGdeford 3, Kennebunkport | Saco
l, Chelsea, Mass, 2. Thirty onc were born in
Maine. The following shows the ages of those
committed Eight years of age |, nine 2, ten
8, eleven 4, twelve >, thirteen ), fourteen 10, ff
teen 6, sixteen 8. Twelve of those committed
have Incorporate parents, 10 have lost their
father, s mother Ii were idle, l6 were Sabbath
breakers, 80 were untruthful, % were proiane.
The farm has been successfully managed by C..
A. Newton. and the garden by Geo. f. Adams.
The crop of hay and grain was fully up to the av
craze more than thousand bushels of potatoes
were raised, 1900 bushels of garden vegetables,
and other farm products. The teams have been
proftably employed. About five hundred thoas-
and bricks and fifty thousand tile nave been made,
and large part sold and delivered. About fifteen
boys have been employed in the shoe shop under
the direction of Natl Davis. Any boy who has
remained in the shop reasonable length Of time
is qualified to earn his living by his trade The
receipts ct the chair shop amounted to about
$1,000. The shop is now in charge of Geo. ii.
Hill. The boys manufacture considerable Of their
own clothing, and do their mending
The schools have been under the direction of
the Asst Superintendent, VIM. l.. Fitch. There
Is good corps of teachers and the schools are
doing good work. The Sunday school is held
regularly each Sabbath afternoon conducted by
the officers of the institution.
William T. Gould, the Treasurer, reports the
expenditures from Dec |, 1874, to Dec. /, 1873,
to be S2i ,S03.i0.
The Physician, Charles o. File, reports good
state of health, there having been but one death
during the year. Rev. A. =. Hilman continues
his lahors as Chaplain, and conducts religious ser.
vices every Sunday forenoon.