The record-union., 1897-11-17

| either burglary, grand larceny, larceny,
| rancy, or 81 per cent. One of the boys was
! s years of age. two were 10 years, fifteen
We're IL years, nine were y years, making
! per cent OF the total number. Twenty-Five
per cent. We're II years old and the re-
malnder We're between 13 and 16 years. The
average age - years. Nearly 60 per cent.
OF the poys parents We're of foreign birth
All but five could read or write.
Farm.With the addition of the 24o
acres of land, the purchase of which was
provided for by the Legislature of 1891
| there is plenty of suitable land, and also
water, to raise all the hay, vegetables
etc, needed on the place; much of this
land is under cultivation, and hay and
vegetables are raised.
Dairy-The dairy herd is fine looking
lot of cattle, apparently well cared for and
giving all the milk used in the institu-
Brick Yard-At the brick yard we found
kiln of brick, containing between one
and two hundred thousand bricks almost
ready to be closed in and fired. These
| bricks are made by boys under the di-
rection of a foreman and an assistant We
We're Informed that there is plenty of clay
on the grounds, and think it well to con-
VIII be found very useful even if the build
ing provided for by the Legislature of
| 1897 should not be built
Day School-The school is graded and
divided into two departments and every
BOY in the institution attends school half
or each school day. unless some temporary
tendance for day or two Every boy
can, at least. read and write. The school
appears to be well managed. The general
testimony of the foremen of the various
mechanical departments was that the boys
are generally obedient cheerful and at
tentive, and in every department some are
quite skillful and could. with proper ap-
plances. learn useful trades.
The space occupied by most of these de-
partments is small in some instances very
small and cramped; the machinery and
tools are generally old and inadequate. 1t
is to be regretted that these rooms are
not larger and are not supplied with
by enabling the boys working therein to
do efficient work for this and other State
institutions, and learn useful trades
Military DeDartment-The military de-
partment is under military instructions.
The boys are divided into three (3) COM
panies, each under the command of a cap
tain.
Dormitoriee-The dormitories were clean,
well lighted and ventilated. furnished with
iron bedsteads, covered with clean and suf-
ficient bed clothes
In our journey in and about the prem
ises. we observed that whenever the Sup
erintendent came in contact with any of
the boys, in our presence. he treated them
kindly. and the boys treated him respect
fully, leaving the impression that the rela-
tions existing between them as being mu-
preston that the boys considered. the Sup
erintendent a hateful tyrant.
In the manual department of the school
there are shops for tailoring, Shoemaklng
and carDentering, in which some thirty
boys We're employed, with the purpose IN
view of teaching them trade. The cloth
ing for the school is made in the tailoring
shop, and the same is there repaired. The
shoes. with the exception of brogans, worn
by the boys. are made in the shoe shops,
together with the repairs of the same. The
necessary repairs in wood work in and
about the buildings are cut out in the
carpenter shop. The blanks circulars, ETC.,
used in the school are printed in the. print
ing office conducted by the boys. Several
OF the inmates are taught engineering,
laundering, baking, cooking and farming,
These are more Systematically and COM
pletely taught than any of the mechanical
trades. The power, machinery and imple-
ments for the mechanical departments are
wholly Inadequate for which the school
was organized, and so far the institution
has been a school of industry in name
only. The number of boys employed in
learning a trade have been very limited,
owing to the lack of proper facilities, and
it seems to us until an additional build
complement of tools and machinery, that
the trades schools are a farce, and the
boys in most cases are sent out OF the m
stitution without the proper training OF
livelihood At least $4,000 should be ap-
propriated for machinery and tools. The
school can accommodate 240 boys, and
had that number at one time. At present
there are 1856. which is less number by %
than formerly. The Legislature of 1897
appropriated $4,000 for the construction
of a dining-room, assembly room. new
kitchen. two double cottages ana
to furnish the same If por-
the erection of two-story brick building.
equipped with machinery and tools on the
upper floor for the trades schools, and the
lower used for an assembly hall, the State
would be getting what was needed. and the
results would follow that up to date nave
been unsatisfactory. Cottages should be
erected for the habitation of the younger
bows. who should be kept entirely separate
from the larger and criminal ones. The
school should have ffrst-class gymnasium
mates who are defective physically, as well
as all the boys. that may become the bet
ter morally by proper physical training
The school is very backward in every De
partment in comparison with similar
schools in other States, and for the good
of the State it behooves those in charge
TO exert themselves to their utmost in
irnnroving present conditions by placing
the school upon the right footing in every
particular. In our Judgment, IN an IN
stitution of this kind. it is absolutely ne
ceesarv to maintain order and discipline:
the Superintendent should have the fun
and trusted backing of the Trustees. and
he should have fun power to suspend, or
discharge Incompetent or fnsubordinate
employees.
present Superintendent has the support OF
the entire Board of Trustees or that he
has ample power 10 maintain order. there
fore should not be held responsible for
+b4 nanareroent We believe from the
hest Of information we could obtain, that
some Of the employees are insubordinate,
and some are incompetent Iee9peStiuilS
submitted,
JOHN MARKLEY.
There should he Geographical map
made of the grounds that the water for
irrigating NAV be utilized to the best ad-
vantage possible.
After the report had been disposed of
and digested, the Governor referred to
the letter written to him by Trustee
Tyrren. demanding an investigation
into the methods employed at the
school, and again stated that, under
the law governing the case the Gov
ernor had no authority to order such
investigation made, and that the mat
ter lay entirely within the jurisdiction
of the Trustees.
''T did not, at that time, understand
the duties of Trustees explained DR..
Tyrrell.
I'm glad, Doctor. that You have
since found out what they are" re-
turned the Governor.
II too am glad" said DR.. Tyrrell
Trustees Maddux and Preston, when
appealed to. agreed with the Governor
that the Trustees alone had authority
to investigate the men and methods
employed by Superintendent O'Brien.
and that il was their duty to report
80