The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-01-16

ed by every one but the State. They
have attended 252 cases of arrests for
crime--225 boys and % girls that
were disposed Of as follows: 1872 were
discharged under suspended sentence
and returned to parents or guardians,
81 were sent 10 the Reform School, III
were sent 10 the House OF Correction,
and 2 were fined. The average age OF
children arrested was twelve and three
fourths years-86 are reported as hav-
ing lost father and 81 as having no
mother. OF the 182 discharged, IL
were sent 10 the State Public School, g
to poor houses, and homes were found
for six. The children for whom homes
were found from tho State Public
school, lit in number, have all been
visited, and their situation reported
upon the SCHOOL, The total expense
OF this work up to September 80, 1876,
was Si74.45. In addition to these
formal duties required by law, they
have been incalculable service in pre-
venting crime, preserving peace in fam
lilies, restraining cruelty, and in many
other ways. IL the work of these
agents was to be estimated by simply
dollars and cents, the amount Of money
saved the State, by keeping boys out
OF institutions, would be found to be
very large.
A boy at the Reform or Public
School. or in poor house, costs one
or two hundred dollars a year, and
when We add to this the escape from
the dangers OF institutional life, the
transfer from dependent to indepen-
dent life, the development of self-help
n ND trrl h.t - II -.
child's nature, by the kindly interven-
tion ,f the State through its agent, We
cannot estimate the value Of their SER
vices. / have appointed agents in
twenty-six counties only, as in some of
the newer counties there seemed no
immediate necessity. and in others
have been unable to find any one who
woald accept the appointment. The
| position is not an Office, pays no salary
except expenses, and can only be filed
by those who love the work and do it
bee iuse they love it. The State owes
a debt OF gratitude to the gentlemen
who are acting as those agents that it
cannot easily pay. 1 earnestly hope
the system may not be changed, except
to be improved, and that il may in
time be extended into every county.
What more sublime spectacle does the
century present than that OF a State
not content to be simply a theory or an
idea, but a moral being, with a repre-
sentative in every community, regard
ful OF its interests. asserting its father
hood over these children who are to be
a part of the State in the future.
have asked each county agent to
give me, in an informal way, such
facts as they deemed important regard
ing their work and their opinion of its
value. Their replies are submitted
herewith. / commend them TO your
attention as the most refreshing read
ing OF the day.
Although the State Public School
has taken from the poor-houses large
number OF children, the reports of the
superintendents Of the poor show a
constant increase OF children in these
institutions. In 1872 the number was
$50; in 1873, 577; in 1874, 500; in 1875
734. In this computation are included
babes, idiotic, feeble-minded, blind,
and mutes, but even then the number
shocks us. We cannot, must not per-
poor-house is to be pauper or a pris-
I OurI the u dlLuObt CtTtalu.
We shall never cease building prisons
so long as poor-houses are permitted
to feed them with inmates. We ought
to prohibit by law the placing OF a
child, mentally and physically healthy
under three years OF age, in any poor
house. Other States have already
done so, and we should lose no time in
following their example. The State OF
New York provides that pauper chill
dren shall be sent to private institu-
tions and asylums instead OF the poor
houses, the cost OF maintenance to be
paid by the county. ThoHgh we have
but few asylums for children, I am OF
the opinion that we should enact a sim
liar law, applying it to counties where
such institutions exist. But better
far than the best institutions is home,
be il ever so humble, il it is sober and
honest. We ought to provide legisla-
ton that would secure homes for these
children, and am Of the opinion that
power and money should be given to
the State Board OF Charities to employ
agents for this purpose. Such agents,
acting in concert, with the county
agents, and the State Public and Re
| form schools, may accomplish more
than all else in this direction,-at all
events the experiment is worth the
trial. Should it fail, and should the
State Public School continue the sue
cess that has so far attended il, we can
than either enlarge its capacity or build
another. Power should be given un.
der careful restrictions to the Boards
of Control Of the State Public School
and the Reform School to transfer chill
dren from these institutions. Some
boys OF a tender age are sent TO the
Reform School ofttimes by connivance
OF depraved parents, who seem hardly
old enough to commit crime, who
ought not TO be there and should be
sent TO the school at Coldwater.
Occasionally boy will find his way
into the State Public School who, from
criminal tendency and life, ought not
to remain, to the injury of others.
Such cases should be transferred to the
Reform School.
THE DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND.
The biennial report OF the trustees
OF this school give full details of its
operations. The number of children
in attendance for 1876, was 2l2; in
1875, 2O4; in 1874, 1911; in 1872. l6L
The current expenses for 1875 and
1876, including repairs and the cost of
the mechanical industries, were about
$50. 900 per annum. The expenditures
in the industrial departments have been
borne by separate appropriations. The
board ask for appropriations for the
eusuing two years rs follows:
To pay foreman and purchase materials
IN boot and shoe shop, cabinet shop,
For nfty rods OF plank walk at o. per rod ls0 90
For building one barn. ................ l,ooO 90
For building one closet at accommodate
dOrmltones.. .sss-s..'.r '.s.---. I'vV W
For building one shop. .:........ ...... 5000 90
s. per sqnsre. ..................... 1000 90
FOR painting and general repairs on
buildings, engines, boilers, etc. c........ 1900 90
For beds ana bedding :. .............. 800 90
For one washing machine, one mangie, 500 90
| For two pianos. ........s.s ...s.s..s...- rvO %
For steam cooking apparatus. ........... 800 90
| For one 0re-prO0f safe. .............. 20 90
, For set Of platform scales ............. KS o.
} ror snl,SipS 400 Yards Of board fence $50 90
For one porticc 10 front building. 80. a,soo 90
For current expenses. ................... sS.eo 90
Total. ........s.s's.ss.s stlio,'oo W
The items for barns and closets were
in the appropriation for 1875. but we're
not drawn, and have reverted TO the
Treasury.
Within q very short time the State
ought 10 provide a separate institution
: tor the blind, and when this is done
: there ought 10 be shop room enough Al
Flint for all the deaf and dumh For