The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-12
STATE RKroRM SCHOOL.


hgs were condemned as unsafe. An
appropriation was made at the extra session
OF the Legislature for their removal and for
erecting others. With this and the appro-
Priations made the year previous, lecture
hall or chapel has been erected, the roof re-
newed on the main building, a winter hafi
tor boys and barn have been constructed,
and considerable work done in filling the
troublesome swamp east of the school The
improvements are still In progress and the
work Is being done in a substantial manner,
and, when completed, viii put the institu-
ton In good condition
The school is more than full, and embar-
raSsment Is felt to furnish suitable employ
ment for the boys The rule is that they
shall attend school half of the time and work
the remainder.
Appropriations will be asked for current
expenses for the coming two years OF
s0 0OO, and for completing improvements
commend them to your careful consid-
Grafton For details, reference is made TO q
special report made by the Superintendent,
hereto appended
REFORM SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
This institution was projected by some
philanthropic and generous-hearted women
with view OF redeeming young girls from
vicious lives The Legislature has hereto
fore been liberal in making appropriations
sufficient amount of land was secured near
the city OF Adrian for a site. Four cottages,
chapel and engine-house have been erected
and equipped The house and barn that
were upon the premises when pur-
chased are used, the former for the home
and office of the Superintendent The cot
tages and chapel are heated by steam, and
have other modern improvements The
school was opened Aug. l, 1881. The inmates
now number eighty-five and are graded into
Tour classes The cottages are each under
the immediate supervision of manager, and
each Is conducted as "a separate home. A
school Is taught, and each inmate is required
TO attend two and half hours daily, when
they are instructed in the ordinary branches
taught In district schools. They are also
taught domestic work--to wash and to iron,
to cook, to sew, TO sweep and perform all
household duties The domestic work of the
institution is performed entirely by the girls.
The Board OF Managers is composed of three
women and two men. The Superintendent,
the cottage managers and teachers are wom-
en-. 1t is the aim OF the board to make the
school resemble, rs near as possible, we'll
regulated Christian family, with its house
hold worship, maternal influences, pious
counsels, and steady and gentle but authori-
tative training" The board ask to have the
name changed TO Industrial Home"
Appropriations for permanent improve
ments heretofore made amount to Sill, $50,
and for current expenses Sl2,SS0. The board
ask for appropriations for the years 1883 and
1884 aggregatihg 500, 100 40
For full details of the operations of the
school. and its wants, | refer you TO the re-
port of the Board of Control
Much may be expected of this reformatorv
work, and l trust time viii justify the high
expectation of the good women who inaugu-
rated it.
HOUSE OF CORRECTION AND REToRSiAToRY AT
IONA
On coming into office | found the manage
ment of this institution the subject of severe
criticism and complaint The members of
Af L
good reputation and il was difficult to ap-
preciate what caused the complaint During
the regular session of the Legislature in 1881
an investigation was made at the request OF
one of the managers and the Warden, by a
Joint committee representing the two houses
After a long and careful investigation, the
committee reported no criminal wrong
found, and the prison in good condition, but
that q want of harmony existed between the
members of the Board OF Managers, between
the board and the Warden, and between the
Warden and his subordinate officers
which greatly impaired their efficien-
cy in conducting the affairs of the
prison. Thereupon the House request
ed me to change the board and the
Warden. In this action the Senate concurred
ne to the latter officer, but did not take ac-
ton as to the board In compliance with
such request, the board and Warden were
changed Under the new board harmony
has characterized the discharge of their
duties, and many improvements have been
made. The buildings have been repaired
and painted, new water, sewer and steam
pipes put in, and slate roofs repaired; two
new dwellings, large shed, barn, an Office
in the rotunda, en- addition TO the engine
house, iron gates and store room erected
An acoustic telephone has been introduced
into the prison. These buildings and i'm
provements have been constructed with
prison labor but the material was paid for
from the current expense fund Much labor
has also been expended in grading, ter
racing and fitting up the grounds; also in
ditching, cleaning, grubbing and stumping
the State lands on the river bottom This
work has all been done by short-term in
mates, who could not be assigned TO any
contracts, and who must otherwise have
been practically lido. The value of this labor
alone is estimated at SIS, 800. 30. The in
crease in the number of prisoners developed
q new want The shops were inadequate to
work the full force, and at the extra session
in 1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000,
with which the material was procured, and
with prison labor there was constructed
one two-story brick building with base
ment, fifty feet by one hundred and thirty
five feet; a basement engine-room, twenty
by fifty feet, with q row of brick dry kilns,
eighteen by one hundred and six feet, two
stories high. The value of these structures
Is 81, 600, from which amount deduct the
cash paid for material and il leaves S12, 600
for the labor performed by convicts.
Should Justice courts sentence prisoners
hereg
From the report of the Board of Managers
quote the following:
The average prison population for the
fiscal year ending Sept 80, 1881, was
372 133-365
The average for the year 1882 was
SO 51-365. The large increase in the latter
year is due, mainly, TO the increased mum
Der of commitments from Justice courts
under the Disorderly act; many of this
class are sent here for ninety days If they
save their good time they are discharged at
the expiration of seventy-five days The
State pays the expenses of the officer in
bringing them TO the State House of Correc-
ton maintains them while imprisoned and
provides money for their homeward journey
when discharged mot exceeding go in each
easel 1t also furnishes them with clothing
IL they are destitute in this respect land
most of them are(, not exceeding $40 in
value.
It is asserted by the Warden that each
short time man costs the State $50 Com
mercinlly speaking this is too expensive.
There is another, and to my mind more
serious, wrong done in permitting Justice
courts to commit persons to this prison.
An arrest is made oftentimes when the
party is slightly intoxicated, or even
when perfectly sober If found without visi-
bic means of support; the arrested party is
taken before a Justice and cornplained of