Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-21
WORK HOUSE NEEDED
roARD OF PUBLIC ISTERSsTs CONSIDER
THE NATTER
Action Taken Inqairing Into Cost Of Bald
ings, site, &e.-poiice commissioner
IN Place Of Mr. Gann.

IN Place Of Mr. Gunn.
The Board Of Public Interests met 10 the
Counc, chamber yesterday evening ut 0
O'clock with The following gentlemen present:
From the Common Council Messrs. Camp
he'll. Higgins, Courtney. and Gum; from the
Board q Ald1 men -Nessrs. TIareroye and
DloSrgon; from private citizens Messrs.
G.. r. Taylor. }. b. Purcell. T. II. Elleit, a.
r. Courtney, and +. O. Noting.
TUE BUSINESS.
Ny. Campbell. the cy.oficio president OF
tho Board. stated that the object OF the
mecnne was % consider the report OF the
SUB committee m regard TO the propriety OF
s.t.bishing q work -house and reformaiofy
ln ilis city. and 90 nominate three citizens
of cav ward 10 the Council, one OF whom
is f1he elected 10 succeed Thomas II. Gum,
deceased. as Police Commissioner.
RrYoRMAToRy.
The subcommittee, consisting of Messrs.
vs.. j.. Courtney, uiggins, and Elicit, sub
miucd their report recommending that the
cny establish rCiormslory 3nd work-hOuse
on The cits's property a. The Morris farm,
plrchased for smallpox hospital.
THg PiNEL.
Nr. Campbell submitted communication
from Messrs T.. Thompson Brown Co. Of
fefing ~ sell the cts the nelllospiial pro
perlv. on west Broad street, Tor the sum OF
$4,000.
FICuRFs wANTYD.
Mr. Hargroyo novel TO reconmt the re-
port 90 TIC subcommittee, 20 that they may
report re- 70 the cost Of the building and
maintenance per year.
a. "a ae a nT4hNfffIfn thai
the report be referred % the CitY Engineer
and the subcommittee % examine into sll
enc details aud report 10 ,he next meeting OF
the Board. Adopted.
NEEDS.
Mr. u. &. Richardson, ex-Justlce OF the
Police Court. being present. was invited to
speak upon the need for such m Institution
iu Richmond.
lie said work. house and house OF
reformation IN this city is thing sadly
wanted. There are now IN The city jail num-
hefs OF st8lwart mcn idlng away time. 10
is disgrace 10 ans community 10 have from
sixty 10 one hundrcd men who are able 10
work 20 depend upon The city for support
We shoud have a wOrk-hOuSe, where they
can 60 and work moi only for their own sup
port but 20 keep them from Idleness and
Vinc. A house ~ reformation Is sadly
pryed Of moral education.
The speaker ciied cases where young men
and boys hsd been convicted OF petit larceny,
and there being no other place % send them
tlrv Were carried TO the Jail, audthere every
manner ~ evil and wee was taught them by
older prisoners. When they leave the jail
an nope IS lcit behind. II should be the aim
al a Christian community 10 turn these
youths away from their evil course and not
drag them down TO life still darker
ESTIMATES.
9fr. Richardson read the act Of the General
Assembly. session leSj-'SG. providing for
the establishment OF a work and house OF
reformation In this city.
Mr.. Richardson thought Tho main cost 10
the citv would be FOR buildings and walls to
keep thc iunates from escaping. The city
hasa farm upon winch such buildings can
De erected. The cost 10 the city would be
about g25.O0 or 100000. he judged. A. 10
the prcucibili'y Of the plan he said other
clfit- had made a success OF such institutions
and Uc could do the same. lie believed the
fines collected from the Police Court, to-
cether with the revenue from the labor Of
the men ~ the wOTk-house and the boys at
Tcf0rmat0ry, would cover the expenses OF the
institution after once inauguralod
TIE NFw JUSTICE.
Justice Crmcbdeld said Mr. Richardson
had 90 cOmpictely covered the ground that
hc did not scc that ANYTHING could be added.
fic, however, talked short time IN regard
On the many youthful criminals that are
brought before MIN and OF how hard It Was
that such had 20 bc sent down TO Jail to be
taught all manner Of SIM lie expressed the
hope that The committee would not delay IN
taking favorable action, So that the apDrO-
oct H. 81
year might include one Tor this work.
rumIc APPROVAL.
Councilman W. u. Plessants, who intro.
duced the resolution into the Council, was
called upon and expressed his thanks, saying
hc did not feel that snything more needed TO
Doe said IN ordrr that the Board might see the
need Of such an Institution. lie telt assured
that eli good citizens would approve the
course Of The Board In recommending what
was so much needed.
TIE PROPORTION.
MIR. Richardson. in reply 10 a question
from Mr. Dickerson, said he believed iuly
three fcurths OF the people now seEt TO jail
could be sent to . work.hOuse and refOrma-
tory.
INFORMATION WANTED.
Mr.. A. n. Courtney thought II would be
possible in regard to the working OF such
institutions, how the white aud colOred
children are separated, dc. The committee
ought also O. consider other sites than the
farm owned by the city.
COMMITTEE NETTING.
The Subcommittee w}ll meet at an early
day with the City Engineer to estimate the
cost a such building as will be needed in
clso the Morris farm Is used. They will also
CONSIDER any other sites that may be brought
90 their attention.
TOIICE COMMISSIONERS.
The reiormNory matter having been dis !
posed ~ the Board proceeded TO nominate !
three citizens Of CLAY ward as Police Com !
missioner. MesSrs. J. +. Jacob, E. 4. ID. |
Myers. George ID. Thaxton. William Cans, |
George R. McAdams. Peter II. Mayo, Alex |
sndtr HieTho'zcr. aud i. 4. Burke were !
placed 10 nomination, and MeSsrs. Jacob, |
M,cr., and Mayo recommended TO the Coun- |
cL
The meeting then adjourned.