The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-16
REFORM scHooLHOUsEs.
Buildings at Chchaiis Completed and
Turned Oyer 10 a Garetakcr.


CnEuALIs. Feb. 1.-THE reform school
buildings were finished a week or two ago
and placed in charge of caretaker. Last
Saturday committee. consisting of Scna-
tors yesterday, Drum and Frink, inspected
the buildings and grounds with view of
making a report ON the condition and
needs of the school. They were highly
pleased with the site chosen and satisfied
that the money had been jusiiciousiy spent.
They went carefully into the plans Of the
/, trustees in regard to the future course of
management of the institution, and were
satisfied that the system was wisely
chosen. They will undoubtedly recon-
mend the appropriation Of sufficient
money to put the institution in running
order and build the necessary outhouses,
workshop, etc, also for running expenses
and furnishing.
Three trustees were originally appointed
- Messrs. L. II. Compton, Of Seattle; John
Dobson, of Chehalis, and ]. w. GoodeiI of
Wiliapa, Pacific county, who is also secre-
tary. After n very careful inspection of
sites offered IN various parts of the county
they decided finally that the best location
was tract of fifty acres of land near and
Immediately south OF Chehalls, which they
purchased for 800 per acre. OF this fifty
acres forty is very valuable agricultural
land, equal to the finest hop land in Lewis
county, and the other ten is bench land,
that furnishes very desirable site for the
school. The purpose of the trustees in
purchasing additional land was that they
might make the institution as seif-support-
ing as possible at an early day. The ten
acres Of bench land lies about live feet
above the surrounding land and was heav-
lily timhered, This has been cleared off
and the building erected.
trsaa al. tod fi.n FOR
tagc, plan as the most successful in ac-
comprising the object sought. The cot
fage plan consists OF q sufficient number
of neat and attractive cottage buildings,
instead of enc large, expensive building of
forbidding appearance. The inmates OF
each cottage are called family and are
under the Immediate control of a matron.
This plan is an admirable one in that it
provides way to keep the younger and
less hardened free from the communicating
society and influence of the older and more
criminal class, and it affords the means Of
making the home pleasant and attractive,
thus creating greater contentment among
the inmates and inspiring them with high
er ambitions, all of which tend to COM
plete reformation.
The buildings are very slightly, standing
OH small plateau within full view of the
railroad. The two three-story cottages
are exactly alike and stand about 800 feet
the rear, midway between them. They are
both splendidly arranged buildings and
show up well from distance. A verandah
runs across the whole front of the first
story. They are painted in silver gray,
with terra Gotta trimmings and black
sashes. The two cottages will each ac-
commodate thirty-fve inmates. One is in
tended for girls and small boys, and the
other for the larger boys.
The buildings are now completed and
ready for opening, but are long way
from being ready for occupancy, they need
furnishing, aud the grounds around require
a lot of work to put them in shape.
The board in their report TO the
governor asked for an appropriation of
ISL 600. to cover the cost of furnishing and
operating the school for five years, and
the estimate they make of the various
items of expenditure shows that they need
that sum. They also ask for an additional
$4,000, with which to erect two more
cottages.
The expenditure 80 far has been So, 90I,
of which sum 5000 was spent on the
land, 81. 121 in clearing and $i7,77e in con-
struction. At the time of the last report
of the trustees there was balance of
81 095 not used of the $250o0 appropriation.
This sum, however, probably since has
been used upon the grounds. The trustees
estimate that the cost Of furnishing the
buildings will be about 5000, and needed
improvements and salaries and mainte-
nance for two years will bring the total
up 10 $5i 200. This estimate is merely
conjecture.
The board also suggests that the state
should make an appropriation for the
purchase of fifty or 100 acres more land
adjoining, while il can be procured cheap.
This land could be brought into cuIiiva-
ton, and win furnish employment for the
inmates and add To the support OF the
institution, if not make it quite self-sup-
porting.