The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-02-26
Reform School lnves'
tigated.

i
at Pruntytown. submitted the
following report, which was re.
ceived and ordered printed in the
Journal
To he Legislature Of West Fir.
! ginia
The undersigned joint commit.
tee. appointed by the Speaker of
the House and President Of the
Senate respectively, to visit and
inspect the Reform School at
Pruntytown, Taylor county, beg
leave to report
Said school is located five
miles from Grafton, with good
turnpike road, directly to the
school building and along the
north side of the one hundred
and sixteen acres of land belong
ing to the State. The land is
rolling with but little fat land on
it. The greater portion is sus'
ceptible of q much higher degree
OF cultivation than it has at pres.
ent. The necessaries in the way
OF fruits, vegetables. and berries
for use on the table can all be
Il
produced on the farm with the
| labor of the inmates Of the insti-
tuition if the State will appropri-
ate a small sum of money to buy
lime and manure to put upon
said land, and to buy fruit trees
OF various kinds, to be Guilt
waited on the farm. Out Of an
enrolment of one hundred and
thirty-six, forty. four are used on
the farm, and there is not one of
the boys confined in said institu-
ton but who can do a large
amount of work on the farm.
The school building is not locat-
ed on the farm, but near by, with
q reasonably good and safe out
let from the school grounds to
the farm. Your committee sug-
gests that proper expenditures
on the farm, and careful atten-
tion TO it by the management of
said institution will tend to make
this school self sustaining, and
train the boys in the useful BUSH
ness Of farming. The buildings
and immediate grounds around
them have been nicely kept. They
are clean and show every sign
of care and attention. The dor.
mitory or sleeping department
is now inadequate and more room
will shortly be an absolute neces,
sity. and the dining room is in
the same condition, and will be
too small IN the near future for
the accommodation Of the school.
1t appears to your committee
that a proper storage building
should be erected for the con-
venience and safe keeping of the
things to be used in said institu-
ton, including a old-storage de-
partment.
From the character Of the
printing done at the printing de-
partment Of the school, your
committee believes that great
deal of expense to the State could
be saved by utilizing the labor Of
the boys at said institution in
the printing of the reports of the
different departments of the
State. Your committee recon-
mends the careful consideration
OF the proprlety OF establishing
a printing department sufficient
~ large to do printing for the
State that at a small expense
to the State in the way of a print
ing Office outfit many thousands
of dollars could be saved to the
State.
Your committee believes q
liberal appropriation to said In
stitution should be made, along
the lines suggested by the Board
Of Directors in their biennial re-
port except the 81, 600 for engine
house which is hardly needed at
this time, as 5 pounds of steam
lis sufficient to heat and cook by.
and therefore no danger Of an
explosion.
The erection of . power house
will be an absolute necessity
when machinery is to be attach