The Portland daily press., 1890-03-01
CARING FOR THE BAD BOYS OF MAINE.
What Is Done for Them at the state
Reform School.
The New Building for the Cottage
System Nearly Completed.
Reports which Speak Well Of the
Work of the Institution.
Especial to the Press.1

AUGUSTA, February 28.-The 36th annual
report of the trustees. superintendent and
other officers of the State Reform School,
has been received by the Governor and
Council.
The trustees have adopted a plan for keep
ing a record Of the general standing of all
the boys who are conditionally discharged.
All boys so discharged are required to re-
port to the school at least once every three
months. as to health. occupation, conduct
and general bearing, which report must be
certified by their parents or guardians.
From these reports and such other informa-
tion as may be had. the record of each boy is
made up every three months. These records
show that "A boys have been conditionally
discharged the past year. OF that number
% are doing well, eight are fairly well and
nine are doing badly. That so many are ap-
parently reformed and likely to become use
60 out from the school to return to their
former habits Of vice calls for solicitude and
causes the trustees to inquire IL there Is not
some methodby which they can be reached.
The trustees believe that separating the
boys into families and making two or three
officers responsible for the discipline in
struction and training of each family. in
stead of divided responsibility, as Is the
case In the congregate system, would do
much to accomplish the desired results.
the last legislature appropriated $4,000 to
establish one family school. In the month
of April a committee of the board and Super
intendent Harrington visited the New Jersey
and Connecticut state reform schools for
the purpose Of learning something Of the
workings of the family system and Of the
construction of buildings for that system.
As the result Of their visit it was voted
to erect new building at a cost
not exceeding, ,S9,656.SS;; Contracts
were made upon this basis. and the work is
now nearly completed. No appropriation
was made for furnishing the building. 1t is
very desirable that some plan may be de-
vised for furnishing so that the new system
may begin in the spring OF $780, When this
is accomplished there Is reason to believe the
rank among other institutions.
The aim of the trustees has been the refor-
nation of the youth, and not the graduation
of young criminals. Believing that right
training Is the strong safeguard against
wrong doing. they have constantly had in
view the moral, intellectual and physical
training of the unfortunate lads committed
to their charge.
The trustees are gratifed to state that in
all their efforts for the reformation of these
lads they have had the earnest and faithful
cooperation of Mr.. and Mrs. Harrington,
the superintendent and matron. Mr. Went
worth, assistant superintendent, contributes
in great measure to the means of the insti-
tuition.
The financial standing of the institution
as shown by the report Of the treasurer, Mr..
Mark p. Emery. gives the receipts from Dec.
/, 1888, to Nov. 80, 1889, as S24,S7747.
The appropriation for the erection of
cottage for a family school was $4,000.
From this amount there has been expended
for masonry. $500; carpenter work, So, 200;
piping, S69.52; stating, $500; galvanized iron
work, S275 leaving balance carried to new
account of So, 3,455.4 As,
The report of Superintendent T. r. Far
ringtOn states that the whole number of
boys who have been received into the institu
tion since 1t was opened is 1880; present
number 125.
In concluding his report Superintendent
Farrington says that kindly regard for
each other and spirit of devotion to their
work prevails among the officers of the
school. they being deeply interested in the
welfare OF their charges and labor faithfully
for their reform.
In his report as chairman Of the visiting
committee, Hon. d. w. Allen makes these
recommendations:
increase the pay of the teachers; they de-
serve 1t for the seven days week they have
to work Increase the size of the play
grounds. Extend the variety of industries
as far as practicable. Especially increase
raising of small fruits and market garden
ing. Decrease danger from fire by having
more hose and always connected when p0ssi-
Bile with water pipes. To the different
church denominations of the state / recon-
mend the creation of church committees who
several towns to find suitable homes for the
boys who shall have earned their discharge
or are allowed to leave at the expiration Of
their sentences"