The record-union., 1898-12-03
FURTHER REPORTS FOR BUDD
OFFICERS TELL THE STORY OF
TWO YEARS WORK.
How the Law Hurts Reformatory
Schemes--Eacts About Build
ing and Loan Societies.

The Governor has an important re-
port from the Superintendent and Sec
retary OF the Preston School Of Indus
try. They take up the needs of the in
stitution and make certain vital recon-
mendations regarding the conduct OF
the reformatory.
1t appears by their report that the
attendance at the institution reached its
maximum in 1897, since which there
has been a. gradual decline. 1t is said
that the cause of this is the tax of $ll
month which is assessed on each boy.
This sum has to be paid by the county
sending the boy to the school. Since 1t
is cheaper to send the boys to the pen
itentiaries they are sent there and the
law Is defeated, the purpose having
been to keep boys out of the State
prisons. 1t is recommended. that the
law be repealed, and that the tax for
the support of boys should come out
Of the general fund. 1t is asserted that
1t is as unreasonable to tax the coun-
ties for the boys as it would be to tax
them for men sent to State prisons.
Blacksmith shops have been opened
during the year, while there is great
activity in tailoring, shoemaking and
the other trades The products of the
farm were worth nearly $14,OO0 this
year. It is said that the library is in
bad shape, the books being nearly all
worn out. The cadets in the educa-
tional department are doing well, as
are those in the military school, but
guns are needed for drilling.
It is recommended that there be an
appropriation of $500 for the library,
of $1,000 for the hospital, and that an
urgent recommendation is for the re-
peal of the $11 tax on each inmate.
1t is said that there has been mark
ed Improvement in the boys under the
regime of moral suasion, though the rod
is not spared when the conduct Of the
boys is too bad BY appealing to per-
sonal pride a spirit of honor and man
ly feeling has been built up.
BUILDING AND LOAN.
The Board of Commissioners of the
Building and Loan Associations have
made pretty full report. There ap-
pear to be a few more building and
loan associations than there were last
year. There were 151 doing business in
June, 1897, which is the date of the
report. The gross assets were $21, 791,-
92S.S1, being an increase Of $50, ,618.95
over the assets of the preceding year.
The total memberships in all the as
sociations now amounts ito 32,646, with
an average investment of 1884 81 to
each member. The real estate acquired
has increased from 81, Psi ,24212 to ST.
S,476.66 The total number of houses
built by all the associations Of the
State since their organization in 1876
Is 1O,630. The number built during the
fiscal year amounts to 1,122, gain of
121 over the structures of the last year.
MARSHALL MONUMENT.
Philip Teuscher guardian of the Mar
shall monument, reports that he has
had trouble in keeping the plants and
delicate flowers alive. His predecessor
owned the water supply, which he cut
off when his term expired. The plants
had to be Watered this year under great
difficulties, but they are now said to be
foUrishing. Roads have been improved,
fences built and other matters Of bene-
fit to the monument are still in prog
ress.