Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-06-04
State Industrial Home for Girls at Adrian.


An institution for vicious, criminal and va
grant girls, from the ages of z TO IL years at
commitment, and in all cases sentenced until
81, unless released by the Board of Control for
reason expressed in the law, and published in
the reports of the board. This is the only in
stitution exclusively for offending females Its
Board of Control is composed OF three women
and two men. Three years and nine months
since the first girl was received. There have
tince been committed an average Of sixty-four
FER year. Miss Emma Hall, who had much ex-
perience in educational and reformatory institu-
lions, was the first superintendent. Her pub
hshed addresses on the subject are unequaled.
She thoroughly understood the instruction,
discipline, care, moral, religious, physical and
intellectual training necessary. Miss Hall re-
signed July /, 1884, and is succeeded by Miss
Scott, who is physically and intellectually
worthy successor and of superior executive
ability With the assistance of the women of
he board and the carefully selected managers,
teachers and housekeepers, the internal man
igement and instructions of the inmates of the
nome has been and is one of the most efficient
md faithful kind, and above criticism. Con-
ldering the ignorance and vicious dispositions
If the inmates OF the girls committed results
lave been reached beyond the expectation of
he most ssnguine. OF the PAL received into
he home fourteen have been honoraby dis
.harged. fourteen as improper subjects,
hree have died and forty-fiye are out at SER
only four whose term expire In 1885, and 1886,
not now out at service. forty-five per year Is
he regular net increase over all discharged
and out at service The whole number of in
mates by May, 1887, will be at least 257, or
ifty-seven more than the present accommoda-
lions. But comparatively moderate interest
aas been felt in this very necessary institution.
There are hundreds of girls In the state who
should be sent there. No special effort has
been made in cities, villages and towns to ar
rest and send many who are proper subjects.
The corrupting influence of tins class at large
Is great. Public order, decency aad morals
demand that those who are just entering upon
a career of vice and crime should be commit
ed TO this Home, where a knowledge of better
things and religious and educational advan-
tages will tend TO their complete reformation.
IL is known that seventy to seVelty-five per
,ent. of such will be permanently reformed.
1t is the duty of the state and Its authorities,
In the interest of goood government and
economy, to maintain and sustain this and
similar Institutions. No board of control In
the state has been more diligent and faithful in
the discharge of its duties, or more successful.
Yet strange as it may appear, none of the
state reformatory, educational or benevolent
institutions have been so much opposed and
assailed as this, and entirely without reason.
Parties who should be its best friends have
been refractory and have opposed and delayed
the necessary appropriations for its support.
made with knowledgS and ex-
perience have by some who are
not informed been set aside as of no value.
The cottage plan, so necessary TO the discipline
and the training of the inmates in cooking and
housekeeping, has been criticised and consid-
cred too expensive II has been said that girls
should be put out into families, by those who
do not know the difficulties of lifting the sub
jects morally and educationally, and otherwise
TO be placed out, or do not appreciate the
scarcity of those who are willing and have the
proper homes to take them into. The board
have asked for no more appropriation than the
figures show to be necessary. They would pre-
fer to ask for less. II would be culpable IL they
neglected to apply for the amount necessary
for its support or II the state authorities refuse
to appropriate and provide for its inevitable in
crease. There are interested and vicious persons
who would like to cripple and embarrass the
institution. Those should not influence legis-
lation. A wise, just and benevolent feeling
should guide and determine the amounts to be
appropriated. BY figures given above, addi-
tional accommodations will be required before
another legislature meets. 1t would otherwise
be imperative to limit the number at the home
to less than 200 No other state institution is
limited and this should not be. Similar re-
formatories Of other states have larger num-
Der. Any thinking, conslderate person win
know that 300 or over should be i'm the Michi-
gan home. 1t is time that opposition and de-
traction should cease, and that all disposed to
work for the good of society should Join in
promoting the objects of this most necessary
and useful charity and refOrmatory