The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-27
BOYS WHO ARE WELL CARED FOR.
Report of the Trustees of the State
Reform School.
Adoption of the Family System Again
recommended.
improvements in the Building the
Past Year.
Especial to the Press.l

AUGUSTA, Dec. 26.-Following is an alb
stract OF the annual report of the State Re
form School:
The Trustees report that the boys appear
unusually happy and contented, which show
ell that a high degree Of department had
been attained. They are led to believe that
the school is constantly growing in public
favor. They advocate the family system, So
called, as it remedies the evil of mingling
vicious boys with those Of tender years who
are not naturally bad. The family system
also admits of a more thorough classification,
having due regard to their ages, character,
etc. The trustees recommend that the legis-
lature take the whole smatter, of changing
from the congregate to the family system,
under consideration.
From tie reports Of the monthly visits for
inspection it appears that the quality and
variety of food is satisfactory and the cloth
ing is made from good material and kept
neat and clean.
An unusually large amount of repairs have
been made upon the buildings. The chapel
was re-plastered throughout and newly tur-
nished and painted. Many of the timbers ia
the main building were found to have settled,
carrying the floors and partitions with them,
and this defect was remedied at large out
lay.
The trustees recommend the following ap-
preparations for the year 1889: For current ex-
penses and mechanical school, $4,000; gen.
eral repairs, $1,000; to erect cottage for a
family school, $4,000; to construct a recep-
tacle for manure, 5000; total for the year,
$4,000. For the 1890: for current expenses
and mechanical school. $15,0C0; for general
repairs, $1,000; total for the year, $1,000.
Hon. Mark p. Emery one of the trustees
presented the institution with three large
magnificent mahogany chairs.
The treasurer reports the total expe ndi-
lures for the year ending Nov. 30, as 1923, 997 I;
expenditures, $23,989.96.
The superintendent reported as follows
concerning the number of boys in the school,
etc.
Number of boys in the school Dec. l, 1887. 1l3
lumber Of boys committed the past year.. 32
Number of boys previously out and returned. 3
Whole number In the school during the year 149
Whole number allowed TO go on trial....... 13
Whole number indentured d.................. l
Whole number pardoned. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1
Whole number escaped, returned voluntarily l
Number OF boys Dec. l, 188S................. 1873
The average number for the year was 100;
whole number received into the institution
since 1t was opened, 1880.
Boys were committed for the following Of
fences: Larceny, IA: truancy. 5; common
runaway, O.; vagfancy, / assault, /; mali
cious mischief, A; breaking and entering, 2;
cruelty to imals, 1.
Boys were committed from the following
places Greene, / Lewiston. 3; Brunswick
/; Cape Elizabeth, 2; Portland, II; Penob-
scot. l ! fremont, 2; Augusta, /; Monmouth,
l; Rockland /; Bangor, /; Brewer. l. Bath,
/; Richmond, L; Liberty, 2; Palermo, 1 I;
Cornish. 1; Saco. /.
Twenty-Five were born in Maine, the re-
mainder out of the State. Two were years
IN eight
five IA, four Is.
The products of the garden, farm and
stock amounted to 81 ,060
The sanitary condition of the school has
steadily improved since the introduction of
Sebago water.into the buildings.