The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-07
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
The Report OF the Commissioners as Submit
ted to the Governor Monday

To His Excelency James II. Williams, Gov
ernor OF Indiana:
The ninth section of the law organizing the
House of Refuge requires the commissioners
to make TO the governor full and detailed
report of their doings such commissioners,
and of the expense of the institution, with
such other information relating thereto as
may be interesting or useful to the people Of
the State; and in compliance with the law
the board submits this the thirteenth annual
report.
NUMBER OF BOYS IN THE INSTITUTION.
There have been received since the opening
LBS boys. There were l07 received during the
year. This decrease, taken in connection
with the TACT that there has also been de-
crease In the number committed to the two
improving In our State, and is a matter for
congratulatiOn.
Until the past year. the number of boys in
the Insulation has gradually increased each
year. We commenced the year with 3S3 boys,
and closed with 800. A larger number of boys
were granted tickets OF leave during the year
than ever before in the same length of time
There were a number OF boys who had been in
the institution for years Some Of them had no
parents or friends, and the board passed on
order that the superintendent shouo make
au effort to secure homes Tor all boys who had
a number under 500. Homes have not been
secured for ALL and there are some 80 boys who
have been in the institution a long time, are
reformed, and have no homes to go TO. They
will 90 to school this winter, and In the
spring we hope TO find them homes with
farmers. Ii we are successful in this, the
number can probably be kept down TO the
present 1guIes.
BUILDINGS.
All the buildings are in good condition. ex-
cept the barn. which had TO to be propped on
the side TO keep IL from spreading and falling
The Ia large number of boys in the Institution
required the board to provide more commo-
dious dining hall, and the first floor of one of
the family buildings was appropriated. Ii Is
not very well adapted for the purpose, and
there is urgent need for a dining han commo-
dious enough to seat all the boys without
One Important part of a boys education is to
teach him table manners, and this can not be
dining room. There is room for iTp provement
in the table manners OF the boys.
SCHOOLS.
The board has determined that there shall
be more attention paid TO the schooling OF the
boys in the future. There are tour schools in
half day. Those who attend school in the
morning work i'm the afternoon, and those
who work I'm the morning attend school In
the afternoon.
The education of nearly all the boys com
mitted has been sadly neglected, and the
board propose that they shall not leave the
institution without being able to read and
write.
LIBRARY.
There has been no library In the institution.
and the board set aside 500 for the purchase of
one. This had been neglected too long, for in
this age OF cheap books no family should be
without supply Of good reading matter for
the children.
The boys are delighted with the books. and
they and the house fathers In entertaining the
children during the long winter evenings
The same amount of money could not have
been more wisely expended.
The books not only delight and interest the
boys, but gives them new subjects for CONVEX
sation ana reflection when they are at their
work. The boys seem to appreciate the efforts
of the board to interest them, and to i'm prove
their condition, and are much better content
ed than formerly, and hence there are less
number of escapes.
The main object OF the board is TO make life
| in the institution correspond as far as posi-
BILE, TO the home life OF q well.regulated family.
The greatest Improvement in the conduct OF
| the bows IS found in the families where the
home fathers are diligent In providing amuse-