Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-23
The Reform School,

ports great progress in the school. IU Is more
effective than ever before. and the deport neat
and progress of the boys In the Scnool are
greatly improved. At the close of the last SC Il
year 151 boys remained in the schoot. 'rne~e
were committed during the year 63, m akinte the
whole number under cara and Instruction %,
OF this number 5S were discharged Owing IL
their good conduct, and are absent wlthD:,u
leave. The number absent without leave Is bIt
small percentage, taking into consideration
that but little restraint is placed upjn tne
freedom aud liberty OF the boys There are no
means OF detainifg them except the kindacs5
they receive from The officers. There are neither
walls, locks nor bolts. 1t Is not strange that
among SO many boys there should be some rest
less and dissatisfied spirits. During the year
e were committed by the president or the board
Or trustees, by the supreme Court OF the Dis
let and "a by the Police Court Tne school
has been in existence about ii years. During
that time il has received 6S3 boys Or that largt.
number but five deaths have occurred Ona
was drowned and one was sick When received
IMPROVEMENTS
Preparations are made for gardening upon a
more extensive scale than heretofore. TIE
school has been abundaatly supplied with ali
vegetables and fruits that are required. This
has been the means OF economy to the instttu-
tton. Two large bathing pools have been built
in the basement of the buildings where the
boys can 0isport themselves the year rounl
4 laundry, one OF the Improvements most de
S red, has been erected. The entire Washing
can now be done IN one day with not more than
three or four to attend to the machinery i
vast amount OF grading and flllny up has been
done, and many ornamental and shade tree,
SET OUT. The District commissioners kindly
furnished all the shade trees and Suru
necessary. The barn has en- repaired an a
biat ksmith Shop has been erected. The Schoo
now does its own blacksnithing and save,
money. Large and Improved venIilaiors have
Major Morgan as he DiSrCo Commissioned
trustee brings the school into closer sympathy
with the government OF the District, and mucl
b. neht IS expected theie,jom. The scno,l
nj NM J.,
the sum OF $500 due them by the Jay Cooke q
CO. trustees 10 purchase the remainder OF th;.
Peter farm. This land adjoins the school ana
il part OF the original tract. It's Possession was
greatly needed. 1t will be at once placed uudei.
cultivation. The appropriation OF sz5 900 To5
the maintenance OF the school mas been made
quate, and deficiency will have TO be asked OF
Congress early next session. An additional
appropriation OF Sc 600 over the sum Of last
year is required for the present fiscal year Tha
total receipts as shown by the treasurers re
port for the fiscal year were S3I .92l 6S. great
want OF The school to be supplied is new build.
ings. The school has been filed to It's utm1sr
capacity. and one hundred applicants for ad-
mission had to be refused.
SMALL BOYS IN JAIL WHO OUGHT NOT TO BE
THERE.
AT recent visit to the Jail Mr.. Falls found
tncarcerated therein for petty offences owing
TO the inability OF the school for want OF room
to accommodate them. IA little boys, ranging in
ages from to l6 years. Owing to their sur
ICund!ngS and associations the future of most
OF them can De read readily. Instead of becom-
Ing credit TO the community and themselves
he states. that many OF them viii become a
buroen 10 the country, and must be supported
at IT'S expense In jalls and penitentlarieS He
finds that boys once committed to lall
where they come in contact with Old veterans
In crime, soon become contaminated and rapidly
CeSceId the steep incline OF vice and crime
lie asks 'ls Is not the duty or the government
to prevent as Iar as IL can, this evil, and is the
government not TO great extent responsible
Tor peglectiDg TO Go so wnen it has the remedy
Or
preventative is worth pound oe cure, an1
asloe from the moral effect 10 bs attained
that as after Of do:lsrs and Scents it Is
chtaper TO prevent than punish crime.
that In this District there Is a large class O.
boys, white and black, without visible mean,
OF support. who find precarious living 10y
aud should the school be enlarged many or
these boys would De snatched az brand iron.
me ME and placed under kind and religion
Influences, taught habits OF Industry anu b.
given an education that would fit them ror th
occupations followed by useful citizens He
says fmther that the school is
az, ape so row to accommodate about 10 boys
although even this number overcrowds It's
capacity, and were the facilities Enlarged
doubie. Or even e5e his number might d.
cared Ior: that this want Is so seriously 1e,t tna
BE believes he cannot dwell to long upon lis
Importance. He states that at least two more
fem1ly buildings are nee IS Try and could be-
added at an expense not exceeding S., 900. and
tnat , , the outlay = triL1ng compared with the
g2cd thet will follow. II is, therefore, earnestly
hored that Congress will make the nece ssary
appropriation.
THE PROPER WORKSHOPS
which are much needed. could be erected AMI
tools aud machinery purchased for s., 500, which
would materially lessen the expenses. A pa-F
OF the Peter farm VIII be planted In willow anu
broom corn and the boys learnt the trade #
manufacturing articles OF those materials. TIE
buildings should be at once painted on the OUT
side to preserve them. Additional fencing Is
also neeaed. The boys have behaved We'll Tney
had an excursion down the river the expenses
few charitable people. Except a few sug1t
maiarlal attacks, there has been no sickness In
The school The superintendent Of the school
Is spoken OF In warm terms OF praise.
Recon structiOn Of the Patent Office.
REPORT OF ARCHITECT CLUSs.
Adolph Cluss, the engineer and architect-in-
chief OF the reconstruction of the Patent Oflce.
has, through Commissioner Of Patents Marble.
transmitted his report to the Secretary Of the
Interior. He says: The north wing Is In readi-
ness to receive the fire-proof model cases. After
reviewing the work under each separate con.
tract for the iron work, cut stone and brick
WoLk; copper roofing, glass and glazing; wool
work, plasterlng, ornamental painting, g., tie
report shows the appropriation for the recoa-
struction to have been expended as follows:
Erection OF elevator and preparing for
WoPk, '9S; repairing and dlsmantllng
rial, removing rubbish, &C., $500. %;
brick work and preparing main floor,
for concrete, Sic, ,,66.0; granite and marble cut
ting, 81 5O3. 25; iron work OF roof and galleries.
$50, 0,sS962; miscellaneous iron work, derrick
work, iron ceiling, roofs OF porticos and STAIR
and frames, between skylights, iron doors &c,
SIS, ,OS,61 iron work OF interior finish $50 OS9