Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-27
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
Thirty Fifth Annual Report Of The frus.
tees and 0f6esfS.
Advantages OF the Family System -
Recommendation to the Legislature.


Recommendations to the Legislature.
The thirty fifth annual report of the trus
tees, superintendent, teachers and ply siciA0i
of the State Reform School ar Cape Eliza
beth has just been prepared.
The trustees report tina, the boys appear un
usually happy aud eontented aud their mark
showed that high grade of department haS
been attained. A very large per cent of tn,
boys holding pa 9ers of condi ional diseharg'
are doing we'll. they believe that the sehoo
is oonstaDtly growing in public favor, Th'
mended u the legislature Since its organ
izatiou the school has been conducted on tn,
congregate system under which boys of ten
der age committed for minor ofenses min
gle Win more unpromi'ing subjects, greatly
To their own disadvantage.
Tie Family System" admits Of more
thorough ella. sliicalon and separation OF
l4yenIle offenders according to their ages
character and conduct. The boys are
81 parated into families of about hty each,
~n5 eat, sleep attend school, work ard
play in a college BY themselves. Each
family is ii enarse OF man and his wife
and lady teacher. BY lhis system tue
worst boys, brought under the influence OF
the family, are educated and taught habits
of industry.
The visiting committee has thoroughly in
speeted the school once every tour weeks
They report the quality and variety OF The
food satisfactory, and that the clothing
which is made toom good material is Kept
neat and clean.
There has been an unusually large amount
of repairs on the building The chapel anu
dining room have been thoroughly renovated,
and large store rooms aud a room for the
officers department flashed. The timbers
OF the man building which had settled badly
had been replaced.
The following recommendations are made
to the Legislature
"Itls estimated that $4,000 will build
one cottage suitable for n smiiy school.
II is desirable that II water tight brick an
cement receptacle. for barn manures, be
constructed at an estimated cost OF s6Oo.
The buildings all need painting and the
usual amount OF general repairs will be re-
quired.
The trustees would recommend the fol-
lowing for 1889 and 1890
For 1889.
For current eI lenses and mechanical
school, SIS 00O
For general repairs, oOJ
To erect cottage for family school, 10 UOU
To construct receptacle for manure, 600
s27 6OU
For current expenses and mechani-
cal school, $4,000
For general expenses, 1000
1900
During the year, Hon. NJ Z. Emery,
treasurer of the board of trustees, has pre-
sented the Institution with three large ma
hogany chairs, trimmed with silk plush, and
a costly bible, all OF hlch viii be used Ia
the chapel. In CONCLUSION, The trustees,
Iuliy beneving tnat the institution is accom-
pllsning the work as designed by Its fou-d-
ers. commend it To the KIND and fo'terIng
care of a wise aud bene tcient legislature.
The total recelps during the year, Incl l.
ing bal nee from l8o, OF s5oo.u5, have
been S23 y97 .66, Sl656 81 of winch have
and Sl306 4 from the sale of chars made
by the inmates. The expenditures have
been S23 ,9o9 96, of which S652S 80 nave
been paid for salaries and laOor, o3i6y y
tor food, sl6O3. .O6 tor clothing aud snJes,
sI74y 81 tor iuel aud lighting. anI i'G3 22
tor general repairs and improvements. A
balance of - 20 remains i'll line treasury.
fhe number Of boys IN the school has stead
ily increased from ll3 at the beginning OF
the year to ls3 at its close, the average be-
log l2U, and the tJtai number l49. Ihirty-
two boy. have been received, twelve Of
whom came from the mulicIpal court III
Portland, one each from Auburn, Augusta,
Bangor, BiddefoId, Brunswick, Lewlslod,
Rockiaud aud Saco. Nine have been com
mItted b, trial JUSTICES, tso BY the supreme
and one bv the Superior court. Fourteen
were com nitted Tor larceny, nye eacn for
truancy and common runaway, tour tor ma
licIous mischief. Two for breaking aud enter
ing. and one each for 'agrancy and assault.
Fourteen youths have been dismissed, one
of whom vas IudeDtured to a farmer aud tine
other thirteen allowed to leave on trisi. Inc
average time these BOYS have been in the
school VAS three years and seven months.
Dne boy has been pardoned and one escaped,
but returned voluntarily.
No boy from out OF the State has been
adMitted during the year. Of those re-
cei,od twenty five were born in Maine, three
IN other States, and iour III foreign lands,
1 hey are all between nine and fifteen years
OF age. of the 81 admitted, 81 are untruth
full, 81 .proiane 10 have Incorporate parents,
I6 step parents, Is are mOtherless, and two
have relatives in prison.
The farm has prodaced an abundant sup
ply of vegetables and hay. The work is al
ways enjoyed by the boys and many fad en-
ployment with farmers when released. The
value of the products are estimated at
s7O59.sl The stock includes seven horses
and q mich cows.
Under the charge of carpenters the boys
worked from April to August on repairs
about the buildings.
Supt Kennison of the mechanics school
has resigned, and his place is ably filled by
Mr.. Arthur Merrill of Gray. 1t is believed
that the time is not far distant when this de-
psrtment will be enlarged as it is very ad-
ysDtageous.
The reading room has received free of
charge the daily kennebec Journal, Portland
Argus, and Bangor Wing, besides Il weekly
pa lers.
The boys read the papers and the books
in the library with great interest. One nun
dred and fifty volumes have been received
from the Portland fraternity
All religious instructionIs non-sectarian.
The sanitary condition of the school has
steadily improved since Sebsgo water was
brought into the buildings, the school rooms
ventilated AMI additional means for steam
heating were provided. In the school, read
ing, writing, arithmetic, geography and his
tory are taught. Most Of the boys attend
school in the afternoon, but those wh1 arr
unable to do 80 on account of their duties
elsew here attend the evening sessi IN instead.
IL has been a remarkable year in the his
tory of the school for the small amount Of
sickness Two boys with incurable dises,es
have been sent to their homes. There has
been an unusually small number Of seei-
dent. and the Injuries resulting from them
have been slight
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