The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-11
BOYS REFORMATORY
Interesting Facts About the
State School at James
burg.
TRAINED IN USEFUL ARTS
84s
The Boys Cultivate q Farm and
Run a Newspaper-More
Help Needed.

me SfaSe Reform School at Jamesburg
= one State institution that Is little vis-
lled except BY those whom business calls
there, and yet Is one which deserves to
pc better known BY all who are interest
ed n the reformation OF juvenile delin-
qpents, says the Newark Call" One of
she cnief reasons why the school has so
lew visitors is its inaccessible location.
J~anesourg Is q village Of perhaps 500 IN
haDitants, IN Middlesex- county. where the
railroad from Monmouth Junction to the
seashore crosses the old Camden and
Amboy Railroad. The nearest station is
two miles from the Reform School, and
the train schedules, too. are such that a
whole day is required for a visit from
Newark.
But they are always glad to see visit
ors al the school and will go to almost
any amount Of trouble to make the stay
pleasant. There is almost always a car
riase from the school to meet trains,
and if not, q telephone message from the
station will bring one in short order. The
officers lament that people show so little
interest in the school, and its results, and
argue that If the practical workings of
the institutions were more generally
known II would not be so difficult TO se-
cure legislative appropriations that are
absolutely needed. Even the members Of
the Legislature cannot be induced 70 in
spect the school, and although there is
a joint legislative committee appointed to
look after It, the members perform their
duty in a p~erfuncsory manner, if at all.
The average number of boys at the
school during the year was $50. ranging
in age from eight years to twenty. The
influences thar a v surrounded most Of
these boys are such that their presence
at such an institution is not a matter
of surprise. and the problem of how to
overcome the effect Of these early in
~1uences and train the boys TO become a
useful and ~law-abiding citizens is all the
more difficult. The greatest need at the
school at the present time, as declared by
trustees and officers, is more facilities for
manual training, for teaching the boys
useful trades and mechanical pursuits.
At present there is a mall printing office.
where seven or eight of the boys are
taught the typographical art. The Sloyd
system of wood carving has lately been
introduced, and a limited number are
given instruction in the art. A few are
taught blacksmithing, mason work and
carpentry. The shoes and garments worn
in the institution are made by the boys,
but the work is OF the coarsest descrip-
ton. and no effort is made to turn out
skilled workmen in these departments. A
number make brushes, more to keep them
busy than because the trade VIII be Of
any use to them after their departure
from the school,. But the vast majority
are employed at farm labor from one
years end to the other. Now, as most Of
the inmates come from cities or large
towns they do not take kindly to agri-
cultural pursuits, and It IS natural to sup
pose that when discharged from the
school they viii return TO their old homes
rather than seek for work upon farms.
Not having been taught any trade. they
and a relapse into old habits Will be easy
and natural. The trustees, in their an
nual report TO the Legislature, ave year
facilities IN the way Of teaching trades,
but their words have gone unneeded.
Every Tuesday afternoon the boys are
5 Murphys inspecvor Of the second Bri-
company. each with its own ~oficers. who
give their positions t. their good con-
fife corps. composed entirely Of eolored
boys, who are taught n led by Drum
msJ9r Ren!apNin Ba Tss Of the the Third forTaa Risgi !
brass band, composed Of pupils. but it has
been permitted to become defunet- Col.
Murphy Is earnestly in favor of Its re-
IS now 0 n foot.
The farm connected with the school
embraces about 500 acres, and an i'm
of all kinds is grown. Last year the farm
rave a profit of over 5000. which is
Considered q good showing. Among last
wheat. 5's75 Of corn s.11o Of White pota-
$50 Of rye. 1855 heads Of cabbage. $40 tors
St St a Satste eTa'so ! P0a aass & q mllMa asa's 81 po psaa.
beans, radishes, carrots, beets, melons,
tomatoes onions and other vegetables
a9 Tba fruits prInt n al afi kinaS Is considered the
most. desirable place in the institution.
and the best boys are selected e become
Weekly paper called aThe AdEance.s
which Is conceded to be one Of the best
1 The supe q ,us sert 81 81 'a tae 1n nriptiS nsat ds.
partment IND editor of 1.-THE Advance
is John f. BRbcock, who for many years
as editor q the New Brrnswick Ere;
politics of the State. Mr.. Babcock takes
pride IL his present work He
keeps track of the boys who graduate
two Of the inany who have learned the
printing trade have gone back to evil
Many Of the boys. after leaving the
school, keep up q correspondence with
Superintendent Otterson. Only a few
Lays vs. ago he reasivsd 2 letter Of forty
d petty officer in the United States Navy.
young man is row In Europe. and
present q the %eoronasion Of The
a graphic and realistic description