Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-16
REFORM SCHOOL.
The 4Oth Annual Report Records a
Successful Year.
Great Advantages Have Been Derived From
the Family System.

The 10th annual report Of the State Re-
form School has been submitted to the
Governor and Council and accepted.
The trustees call attention to the fact
that the school has been free the past year
from contagious or prevailing sickness and
that there have been no deaths among the
boys.
The trustees express themselves well
uleased with the conduct of the boys and
The efficiency and behavior of the officers.
They say that the school under its present
management is steadily advancing in the
direction of an ideal reform school. They
consider one of the best advance move
ments the erection of Harrington cottage
and he introduction of the family system.
1.-THE 30 boys whose present home is in
Harrington cottage under the parental, eff
fcient management of Mrs. Skillins make
a family. In every sense, this is better
home than anyone Of them ever had before.
It is safe to say that few years training
Of boy in home like this will seldom fail
to work radical change in his whole life
and send him out into the world reformed
person, destined to become a useful man
AMI good citizen"
They hope that the Legislature will
make suitable appropriations for extending
the great benefits of this system to the other
inmates Of the school. The trustees add
tina. everything about the buildings is kept
in the best of condition and that the farm
i, in high state of cultivation, yielding
bountiful crops especially Of hay, of which
over 200 tons were cut the past year.
They consider Supt. Harrington both
scientific and practical farmer, one OF the
best and most successful in the State.
The trustees regard the discipline as ex-
celent and think they see much improve
ment in the boys along the line of good
morals. over 50 per cent. of the boys out
on probation are reported as doing well.
The whole number of boys in the school
Dec. LIST. 1892. was 100, and 3G were COM
mitted during the past year, and Of those
out on probation, 10 have been returned,
four voluntarily returned and the whole
number in the school during the year was
$50. Twenty-six have gone out on proba-
ton, one has been pardoned by the presi-
dent, ard one has been remanded. The
total numb of boys in the school Dec. l,
1898, was 1872.
From tae treasurer's report it appears
that the total receipts of the year, includ-
ing the balance of SG70.79 amounts to $780,
iOS 80. Disbursements, S2S, 95o Al. Bal
snce in the treasury, Sl4iS 80.
The Governor and visiting committee of
the Executive Council have taken much 10
tere,t in the work Of humanity carried on
at this institution and the trustees have this
to say: Several visits of the Governor
and Council, committee of the council with
their associate, Mrs. Halves, have been
made to the school during the past year.
These visits are always greatly enjoyed by
the boys, while the trustees have been
greatly aided in the discharged of their
official duties by the advice and suggestions
kindly given them upon these occasions"
In course of their report the trustees
take occasion to bear witness to "the faithful
and efficient manner in which Mr.. and Mrs.
Harrington as superintendent and matron and
Mr.. Wentworth as assistant superintendent
have severally performed the duties of their
official positions; while we express to the
teachers and other officers of the school our
grateful acknowledgment of the faithful
work performed by them in the several de-
psr,meuts of the school,"
The superintendent report shows that
of the SO boys sent to the school the past
year, II were sent there on account of lar
ceny, 4 trusncy, common runaway, |
vsgrsucy, . assault, | malicious mischief,
breaking and entering, arson. Portland
sent of them. Rockland 3, Bangor, 2,
Bath ,, Biddeford 8.
Among the expenditures there were For
-four, 1891 .06: meats and fresh fish,
SS67.13 provisions and groceries, Sl524.26
clothing ,Sl756. 70; boots and shoes, SSl2 &c
fuel and lights. Slsl2 GS; farm and gar
den 1928 40; corn meal, oats and fine feed,
slS54,SG; repairs and improvements, SO,
SOl.S6; finishing and furnishing Earring
ton cottage, S3,432.27.
On the farm seven tons Of commercial
fertilizers were used. The total value OF
farm products WAS IS, 2SS 10. of which the
value of the milk, 6,05l 10 gallons, was
s2i0772; butter, 1895 lbs, s12s.75; hay
200 tons, $4,000.
One more cottage at least is needed Al
once.
Work in the mechanical school has beer
successfully continued under the instruc
ton of Mr.. G. F. Anterior.
The report Of the council committee pub
hshed in the JOURNAL some time since &C
cords with the reports of the trustees ant
officers of the Reform school, giving un
mistakable evidence of the excellant man