Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-27
Reform SCHOOL.
Annual Report OF the Institution for 1855.

THE TRUSTEES REPORT
That during the past year the bylaw. have
been revised and rules established for direc-
ton of the officers, agents and servants of
the school, and for the government, instruc-
ton and discipline of the inmates, and the
punishments that may be inflicted upon the
boys. The record of all corporal punish
ments inflicted upon the inmates during the
year have been laid before the trustees at
their quarterly meeting and approved By
them.
The appearance of the boys in their various
avocations indicates good training and habits
of industry, faithful and earnest work in the
school room and seemingly the work of refor-
nation is permanently advancing. Enter
prise and honesty of purpose appear to be
awakened N most of them. The general
health Of the inmates is good. no deaths, and
only few cases requiring medical treatment.
The trustees believe the good will and dispO-
sltion Of the inmates would be promoted by
greater variety of food, but this cannot be
furnished without an increased annual appro-
priation, which they believe would be wise.
The farm, buildings. tools, stock and other
property indicate care, thrift and neatness
The system of principles employed in the
management Of the BOYS is easily understood.
Good conCuct, progress in study, attention TO
work and personal neatness are all counted
and each of these attained entitle the bow 10
certain marks, and upon the attainment of
certain number of merits, promotion into a
higher grade is obtained. minute record
Of these is kept and always spread before
him, and TO gain his own release be is there
by stimulated to active exertions in his own
behalf. Under this rule no boy goes tree by
pardon, but by earning his release. The rule.
however, IS to retain boy al last two
years.
Ii Is believed that the State never had more
occasion to be proud of the Reform School
than now. Its success thus Jar during the
past year with its abundant supply of pure
Sebago water, improved ventilation in the
school rooms the additional means for heat
ing the building, are most gratifying. The
conduct OF the bows, general rule, has
been orderly. yielding willing obed-
fence to the rules and regulations established,
and most of them seem to take pride in
their good department, and endeavor to reach
a standard Of honor emitting them to dis
missal.
The trustees desire to call the attention of
the Legislature to sections 3, 4 and of chap
ter l42, Revised Statutes. providing that in
certain case. towns and cities shall pay 81 a
week towards the support Of boys sent to the
Reform School and asks that the same NAV
be amended so as to give the right of action
to the superintendent against the parent or
guardian OF such boys. or against the city or
town where they have legal settlement.
plea is entered for the Family system
and an appeal made with increased earnest
ness to the Legislature to place means at the
disposal of the trustees for establishing this
system.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.
The whole number of boys who have been
received into the institution since it was
opened is 1901 number Dec LIST, 1885, ll2.
Number of boys in the the school, Dec. LIST,
1854, 1856 committed the past year, 81; pre-
vlously out on leave. returned, .; linden
tured, l whole number in the school during
the year, 1879; allowed to 90 on trial, % es-
capped, l. OF those committed the past year
30 were for larceny. Twentv-eight commit
ted were natives and 3 foreigners. Eight
were Is years Of age and |, s. Eleven had
Incorporate parents; IL. lost mother; 8, lost
father; % were untruthful and 26 profane.
1he physician reports that the year has
passed, leaving record of uniformly good
health, there having been but little sickness
among the boys and none of serious char
acter. AN persons connected with the insti-
tuition were vaccinated in October The new
heating apparatus, improved drainage. better
method of ventilation and pure water, are
considered of immense value as regards the
health of the inmates.
The products of the farm are valued at
S7,27632.
As has before been noticed the buildings
and premises have been furnished with Sc
bago water a pipe of sufficient capacity to
meet all demands that can be made upon it,
having been laid. Two hylrants have been
set in case of fire. BY these arrangements
every room in the building can be reached
with water and into the larger rooms, several
streams OF water can be poured at once.
A complete change has been made in the
system of distributing steam to the different
rooms of the building. All the larger pipes
that had been in use for distributing steam
have been taken out and distributing mains
of much greater capacity employed. More
heating surface has been placed in the rooms
where the change would facilitate heating.
Many Improvements and repairs have been
made in connection with changes made ne
cessary by the introduction of water and the
improvement in steam heating. Extensive
repairs have been made on the roof of the
school building, a new ice house erected.
Four hundred dollars have been expended in
the improvement of school rooms and hospi-
tai.
In the mech8nlCal scnO0l Work was contln-
ued regularly from the time of the last re-
port until the the last of May, then came the
summer vacation. Twenty-four bows in two
classes of twelve are now receiving instruc-
ton in carpentry. The boys are given ample
recreation, and several entertainments and
excursions have been provided.
The continued liberality of publishers and
proprietors who have regularly sent to the
reading room during the past year copies of
their periodicals., is noted and acknowl-
edged Divine service is held in
the chapel every Sabbath. conducted by
ministers and friends from Portland
The teachers report that the boys have
made commendable progress in their studies.
The receipts frem December LIST. 1884, to
December lst, 1885, were according to
THE TREASURES REPORT
is as follows Balance on hand December |,
1884, Sl4S.79; from State treasurer for cur
rent expenses, $4,000: Sebago water. 81
600 for new boiler and piping, $4,000 for
ventilation and repairs, $4,000 for interest
on Sanford legacy, 1855, $4,000; from
farm and stock, S9l7.54; from chair
work, Sl,S93 "a; from cities and towns,
50 500 Il; from mechanical school. balance
Dec. l, 1884, S59.l9: from sales from
mechanical school, SIS 25; from all other
sources. 1923 80. Total. S32. 1897. The
total expenditures have been S32, 1856, leav-
ing balance of S24 IS
The sum of SO ,023.67 has been expended