Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-20

less than 125 now living who are doing
well, either at their original homes. or
/ in other families where new homes
have been found for them. This is 2
most instructive and satisfactory rec
ord, not only in that it shows a great
amount of positive good accomplished.
in the reformation of these girls, and a
greater amount of positive evil avert
ed, but also because it shows further
that the managers agree in theory and
| conform IN practice to the opinion
expressed III my last annual message
that institution life at best is but a
poor substitute for home"
The appropriations made by the leg
islature last winter have been faithful
" applied to the objects specified in
the act making them, but were not suf-
ticlent to accomplish all that was desir-
ed. The managers will apply to you
for small additional appropriations to
complete additions and improvements,
already commenced, and their applica-
ton, | doubt not, will receive, as it
will merit, your favorable cOnsidera-
ton.
The whole number of boys in at
tendance at the school IN Waukesha
during the year was $40, the average
for the year being 427. The number
received during the year was 11S,-10S
| by commitment and ten by return of
former inmates. The number released,
died and escaped was 119, of whom 1O4
were discharged on ticket Of leave, 81
n hnJ hn1 ~ I
on trial. The whole number received
at this school since its opening, in
July, 1860, is 1901. The industrial in
terests connected with this institution
are reported to be in fourishing con-
dltlon, and their healthful and refor-
| matOry influences upon the boys can
not be ever-estimated. All the BOYS
work some portion of each day. but
none of them to exceed five hours.
and 1t is not to be expected that their
labor can be made to yield large pc
cuniary returns. The shops, however,
more than support themselves, but the
reports do not show their net earnings.
The expenses for the past wear were
Sol ,650.78 including s., 331.77 for re-
pairs and Improvements. The pay
ments for salaries and wages were SIS
223.O5, and for subsistence, exclusive
of products Of farm, $14, 68991. The
current expenses for the present year
are estimated at $54 100000, which will
require an appropriation Of 81, FOG "a.
the balance being charged to, and col
lected from, counties. The managers
ask for specific appropriations. for ad-
ditions, repairs and improvements, ag-
gregating 22,050.00. They also recon-
mend a modification of section 1870 of
the statutes concerning commitments
and forwarding copy of the testimony
upon which the conviction is based.
If the present system of caring for
all the classes Of boys who are now
sent to this school is to be continued,
most, if not all, Of the appropriations
asked for by the managers ought to
be made; but if the recommendations |
am about to submit, in regard to a dis
tinct school for.
| DEPENDENT CHILDREN,
shall receive favorable consideration,
the greater part Of the improvements
and additions estimated for may be
omitted.
The experience of Wisconsin con-
firms the teachings of experience in all
ages, to the effect that the most econo-
mical way to diminish and prevent
crime is to rescue the children from
paths which lead to idleness, vice and
criminal habits. The monentary ben
efts which have been conferred upon
the people of Wisconsin by the
Industrial School for Boys, are literally
incalculable. They are in some
measures negatively indicated by the
comparatively limited number Of in
mates in our state prison. [ think it
within truth to say that but for the good
! effected by this industrial school in the
past, our criminal population would be
twice as large as it now is, and the ex-
penses for courts, sheriffs and iails
propOrtiOnately increased. Under the
present circumstances it cost the several
counties in the state, for the year 1879,
over $25O, 10000 to arrest, detain, con-
vict and punish criminals. Here, then,
is direct and obvious saving Of per-
haps a quarter of a million dollars an
nualiy, but this is the least Of the &C
cruing benefits. The great gain, even in
dollars and cents, results from having
upright, intelligent, sober and industri.
Gus citizens in place of professional
criminals.
But may we not do even better than
we are doing? Or, rather, is not our
present system, in some respects, in
excusably bad? There are in the Indus
trial school at Waukesha very many
boys, sent there nominally for vag-
rancy or perhaps incorrigibility, or
even larceny, but really and in fact,
because they had no homes or friends.
This is the record for the last year:
committed for vagrancy, II; for in
corrigibility, 80; for larceny, 81; for
burglary 2; for malicious destruction
of property, 2; for forgery, 1. Of these
43 were less than IL years of age, Il
had no parents. living, 16 had mothers
only, IL fathers only, and in cases of
IL the parents were separated. Many,
perhaps most of these boys were
not in fact vicious or incor-
rigible. In times past they
would have been sent to poor-houses-
most unfit place, surely, because the
tendency of the association and sur
roundings was to make them confirm
ed paupers, and the practice has been
wisely prohibited by law. But the same
| line of argument which iustifes this