Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-14

one at Kansas City. Here, as at the latte
place, are taught trades, so that the child
when graduate, is well equipped to go out an
compete with those who have been more fortu
nate Certain wants are spoken Of in the re
port which believe will bear your investiga
ton, and any money appropriated for the neces
stiles Of this institution will meet with m
hearty approval.
School for the Blind.
An erroneous idea appears to prevail through
out the state IN regard to this most worthy in
stitution. BY many it Is regarded as q charita
bic institution. This is not true. 1t Is an edu
catlonal institution similar TO our university
normal school or agricultural college. Within
its walls education is offered to and life mad,
brighter and happier for those who have beef
bereft Of their sight Many Of the children
there are as intelligent and bright as those vht
attend our other institutions. There Is nothin)
that should appeal to our sense Of humanit.
more than these children, and would recon.
mend that their wants be duly investigated ant
that the improvements demanded by the super
intendent receive careful consideration Strang,
as 1t may seem, many Of these children are self
supporting and with judicious investment Of
the state Of small amount Of additional casl
each year In order to increase its facilities II
will be not only credit to our humanity ant
citizenship, but will turn out class Of citizens
fully equipped for the battle Of life in many OF
Its avocations.
Kansas PenltentIary at Lansing.
The penitentary contained s91 prisoners June
AZ Ar
fiscal year ended June 30, 1895, the expenditures
Of the institution were s151 ,6OO 20, the earnings
sl4s 1880 The report OF the warden. board OF
directors and officials contains an exhaustive
treatise ON the expenditures and necessities OF
the institution. But few realize the magnitude
OF this institution or the careful attention
which 1t should receive from the legislature In
order to keen 1t abreast OF institutions OF the
same kind In sister states At times In our his
tory this has been q self-supporting institution.
At other times 1t has been considerable OF a
burden to the taxpayers OF the state. The out
put Of coal from the penitentiary has been its
principal source Of revenue vet there Is
a sentiment in portions of the state
,r6,., r,,,z,ro ,,,s ooo, oxoor,
,or s,o,a ;rs,,t,,on, In ouo,har
nor,,or ~ mi, message cer,,,r raooumonda.
,,nns nro ,aao IN ro,ard ~ ~ =
s,a,o ins,,,m,,ons ara s,,nnI,od Th,s ~ s ,n,,
iudament nj this lima 10 as Tow no wa ,on 30
NV ,ho Ina ~ norraotina Mo r,ao,n, =, aoa ~
lived h., oon,,,o, lnhor In od,,,,a.;,,aa ,,,,,,
,roo ,ohor Uit conld ho ca orrnn,,od I'm. In
a,ood n, ,,rodro,n, % ,,,,oh ooaI etha, -,
,ao,snia., ao,Ia h,' oa,,h,ishaa ,,h,.n ,,ls
,an'nn ,e n,,,, ,ho trao ,oho, =, ~ ANY,.
would ho hottor tban orr nrosont sr,ta,n No
,,noo NAV II, on,orood ,ala,o..a ,.o,,Ia t.,
anaoso h,s aa'. -, ,onio,osooo. ~ ~,
of the state. and while his efforts NAV in n
work hardship on men engaged in
that industry, vet the cost of maintaining him
in idleness would prove grieyous burden on
all who contribute to the sllpport Of the state
by taxation,
There are certain recommendations made by
the board to which your attention Is directed
The principal necessities seem to be the COM
pletion of more cells for the use Of prisoners
and additional clothing for conyicts The COM
pletion of cells will necessitate the
placing OF heating apparatus and A
lew other necessities in these cells. I would
to your honorable body that the
efficiency OF this institution should not he i'm
paired by any lack OF substantial assistance on
your part. Economy that would make condi-
ions so that the guilty could escape from
prison cells and again be thrown loose upon
he communicated society would not be economy
n line with the best interests of the state. Your
committee from the two houses will visit this
institution and no doubt will carefully inyesti-
rate and report to YOU any improvements ar
'hanges necessary to add to the efficiency of
he institution
Reform Scbool at TopeLa.
II there Is anv institution In the state which
3 omen to criticism In INV Judgment the re-
orm school for bovs situated In our can;to,
itv is that one Not that would cbaroa In
omnetence unon It's management mr. emnlovas
INF from the fact that II ic imnossih,e IN raform
ovs in idleness I am informed that whom
his school was established tho ohiect sought
ma To take the erring bovs and lead them tn a
etter and higher ife Tn order to do this thew
hould he taught trades and made useful citi-
ems. For some reason unknown to me- the
,pislature has failed tn make annronriations
or buildings and mechanical annaratus for Gar
wing ont this idea T recommend IN tho leais.
lture that IL ia thouoht imnracticah,e IN fur.
ish opnarat,,s suitable for teaching them
rades that additional annronriations be made
,r the Hutchinson reformatorv and that the
oys he removed there where thew can have
he influence hroucht unon Them that will lead
1em in The right line. In case Won should sea-
/ and proper to do this the reform school
ujldinp could be used for additional room for
no insane.
state pey,rmotorv AZ uutoh,,son
Mo rosor,no,or, y, ri,ta,insan as,ntI;shoa
" tbe leylslnture in ,ss, NOS ,node ready for
rcunoncv In ia, and onanod with az NJ tbe
,nst hardened crininals from our state mont
military mo renort of the hoard and NV
nowledee of tho Institution Land me IN bolieve
nat II has nroven a success and is solving tho
1eston Of WIN, IN do with Young criminals
ho nre started nm a career of crime In con-
ncton with the institution is n farm NJ IA
res which am informed has nroduced
bout Il, Coz bushels of corn this year in addi-
on to large amount Of vegetables
II use in the institution, in return for the work
the boys A tailoring department and shoe