The Advocate and news., 1898-09-28
THE INDUSTRIAL REFoRMATORY
by HENRY o. EVANS.

| BY HENRI " NNhNos
The ReformatOry Is located on farm
of $40 acres, about one and one-half
miles southeast Of the city of Hutchin-
son. and consists of three large stone
buildings, furnished throughout with all
of the modern improvements Of the day.
The cell house has accommodations for
200 inmates, and there is an additional
cell block now in course Of construction
which will have accommodations for
fifty more, making q total Of 25O cells.
There are three more cell houses to be
built in the near future, or as soon as
the Legislature meets and makes an ap-
preparation for them, and when that Is
done the ReformatOry can accommodate
800 inmates here. At present there are
2O3 inmates confined here, guarded and
cared for by thirty-eight officers and
guards. The law provides that only
those be sent here who are between the
ages of Is and 25 although there are
quite a number here who are consider
ably older. Those who are here now are
well clothed, fed and cared for; in fact,
better cared for than when they were cit
izens. They attend Sunday school and
preaching on Sunday, and most OF the
teachers, II not all, are ladies from the
city who voluntarily do this work, not
for pay or applause, but for the sake OF
reclaiming these boys.
The rules Of the institution are neces-
sarilyvery strict, but not tirksome, and the
rules governing the officers and guards
IL 1V,kN nNnAnCt G binding as
those governing the boys. The work In
the house and on the farm is all done by
the boys, and the majority OF them are
good Workmen. Although drOnes are
to be found here as we'll as elsewhere,
nevertheless those who are able must
work. So far there has been but one
death in the institution, which speaks
well for the sanitary conditions and the
medical department, under the super
vision of DIR. Hutchinson.
There are many bright boys here, who
no doubt will make good and useful cit
izens, while there are quite number
that will never make anything but GRIM
inals. 1t is the aim of the management
to make this institution self-sustaining
as nearly as possible, but 1t will take
time and money to accomplish their
aim.
would deem my letter very incOm-
plete were to close my letter without
word in regard to the genial superin-
tendent, Mr.. s. w. Case, for he Is a big
whOle-sOuled, kind-hearted gentleman Of
the true Christian type, and he may not
be an expert in reformatory work, but he
rules with a firm yet kindly hand, and is
respected and loved almost as father
by every one of the boys. His aim is to
carry out in letter and spirit the object
Of the institution, and am glad to say
that he is doing 1t as none other could
do it. II I were to go into details and
describe the workings of the shops
the shoe shop, tailor shop, laundry, car
penter shop, blacksmith shop, engine
room, barber shop, kitchen and dining
room, it would require more space than
is available.
Some statistics as to the inmates may
be OF interest. OF the 277 persons re-
ceived at the refOrmatory for two years
prior to June 30, 1898, the greatest part
Of the number found their way here
through some kind Of theft. Over two
thirds of the inmates are in for stealing.
Eighty-four committed burglary, 10
grand larceny, larceny In a dwelling
house, larceny in railroad depot, Z in
railroad cars, l In a store room and /
| stole from the pocket OF another person.