Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-06
APLEA FOR THE BOYS
RINGING CIRCULAR FROM THE PREsi-
DENT or PRISON ASSOCIATIONS
People Asked to Aid In Establishing m
Industrial schooi--what Such insti-
tutions Have Done Elsewhere.

The Finance Committee OF the Prison
Association of Virginia is about to bring
before the community the appeal OF the
association for aid in building and equip
ping a State reforrnatory or industrial
school for boys on their property recently
purchased for the purpose at Laurel Sta
ton, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac railroad.
In support of this appeal they viii sub
nit the following circular:
Great Britain supports more reformato-
ries and industrial schools. IN proportion
to population. than any other country.
There are to-day Ia successful operation IN the
British Isles orer four hundred OF them. besides
Bt least half ~ many more institutions OF Kim
jred character. Within the last twenty years
about 100000 children and youths have passed
through these schools.
Meanwhile, IN other countries-in none 70 a
greater extent than in Yrcinis--the children OF
tho so-called "criminsl clsssn have been, and
ere to-day, neglected or herded with hardened
offenders In common islis. In absolute idieness.
EFFECT OF THE TWO SYSTEMS.
The contrast in the elfe.t OF the two systems
upon the growth OF crime has been startling.
In every other country Of the world save Great
In tho United States generally, since tho war,
one third faster. In Virginia within tie past
nine years commitments to our penitentiary
have nsGrly doubled, and our criminal expenses
more than doubled.
In Great Britain, on the other hand, SO out Of
i1S convict prisons have been closed within the
past ten years. while tho number OF male pri-
snners has decreased q per cont, and OF female
10 per cent during the same period, ana criml-
nal arrests have decreased from 20.g78 In 1863 10
10. Jl4 in 1883 All this decrease in crime while
population has besn steadily Increasing.
In Ireland there wore connned In convict
4 an t, plw In
In the same country In 1853 lbotore these schools
We at into operaton) i2,23S children under six-
teen years Of ago were sentenced for crime; In
1859 only 433.
che ar0ve figures arc taken almost exclusive
ly from official sources.
Those reform schools Of Groat Britain are the
m. q. philosophical aud superb outcome and
agency Of Christian statssmanship OF tho
20 Ith who pass through them only very small
fraction drop hack into the criminal class, the
overwhelming bulk OF thom doing we'll and be-
coming productive members OF society. The
imprisoned criminals Of Great Britain are To-
day largely confined to adults Of tho incOrrgi-
bio, hopeless Glass; who seem TO Do fast dying
oCt. IL Is the freely-expreesed opinions Of par
liRmentary commissions, cf prison aud school
inspectors aud Of Intelligent Englishmen gene-
rally that these preventive and child-saylEg
Institutions have solved the problem OF sue
cessful dealing with crime In modern life. The
British Home-Oflce Itself, commenting upon
tho above aud similar statistics. has lately given
statement: "IT rs CERTAIN THAT BY RRFoRnA-
TORIES AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS LARGE PRO-
PORTION or rHE SUPPLY OF BAw MATERIAL FOk
THE HiNUFAcTURE OF CRIMINALS HAS TO A GREAT
EXTENT BEEN CUT OFF,"
DO YOUR PART.
The Prison Association OF Tlrginls is to-day
bending Its energies toward the erection otsuch
tate reform school for boys, and tho Csm-
mqnwcalth, Ia her poverty, has. by express
sirtute, pledged TO is support when nesia6lishsd'
as iull governmental aid as the British Govern
mSnt extends 20 any OF Its schoola With this
ni4 1: IL estimated that an institution accommo-
dnting 100 boys would be self-8uppOrttng. Tho
be - viii be forthcoming, but tue enlig stened
Brd liberal peUplo Of tho State must build and
od Zip tho school. We believe this movement, II
pT;jperly supported. will compass perhaps 10
IN Ich OF blessing for Virginia ana for humanity
~, any other ever inaugurstod In the State.
,Pill you do your part toward this noble work
ay order OF the board, ROBERT STILES,
President Prison Association OF Virginia
THg PLEA STRONG ONE.
It must be admitted that the circular
uiakes q very strong case. The association
Stems to be in earnest, and 1t undoubtedly
merits and il is believed will receive the
hearty and practical support of the CON-
munity. Our best men. both in the AS
sembly and the City Council, have re-
peatedly endeavored to secure State and
city action upon this important matter. II
seems the State has done or pledged itself
20 do something in support OF the institu-
ton if the people will build and equip It.
II is hoped generous response from the
liberal-minded citizens Of the metropolis
will make the contamination of a really
flst-class State school O certainty.
The association, it is proper TO add, is
showing the proper spirit by going to work
practically in o modest way, and they
already have few boys under their charge
in temporary quarters below the city.