Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23
ph, Colonel Archer Anderson, MT.
riel S. Morrison, and Major Robert

ph, Colonel Archer Anderson, MI
riel S. Morrison, and Major Robert
les.
he general object of the corporation
Eas the Improvement OF the government,
tisc;pline. and general management OF
prisons within the State. whether under
The control Of the State. city, or county
authorities; the amelioration OF the con-
dition Of prisoners. whether detained as
witnesses, or for trial, or finally convicted,
and the encouragement and aid Of dis
charged conyicts who exhibit any desire
90 reform and TO become good citizens.
The first question that presented itself
TO the association when organized,
as it was April /, 1890, was. how much
and what should be attempted under its
broad and liberal charter After much
discussion it was decided that an indus
trial or reform school for white boys was
more imperatively needed than anything
else that lay within the probable compass
Of their efforts, there being absolutely no
thing of the kind in the Commonwealth.
The first officers elected were: Robert
Stiles, president; D. c. Richardson. first
vice-president; Richard +. Beirne. second
vice-president; w. B. Williams. secretary;
John A. Lassiter, treasurer.
Tle committees. which jointly formed
the hoard Of Directors, were made up as
follows:
Executive-Overton Howard, John L.
Williams. Thomas Potts. r. A. Dunlop.
Thomas S. Atkins.
Finance-Charles Z. Whitlock, Adoiphus
Blair. Z. B. Addison, 5. H. Halves, P. H.
Mayo.
Penal Legislation and Prison Manage
nent--w. W. Henry, J. Taylor EIlyson,
George L. Christian, James a. Caslie, w.
o. English.
Protection and Relef-Dr. William s.
Gordon. D. S. Morrison, Roosevelt Page,
John W. Cringan, George c. Jefferson.
a GENEROUS REQUEST.
On May II. 1890. Mrs. A. p. Russell, a
benevolent lady Of this city, conveyed
10 the association two tracts Of land in
Henrico county. and upon the 25th day
of September the work was begun at
Drinkers Mil. The first boy entered the
school on November 3. 1890. being COM
mitted by the Corporation Court, OF
lynchburg, and during the next six
months twelve more boys were placed in
the charge Of the association.
The Drinkers Mil site proved TO be
unfavorable. for many reasons, and
fine tract OF land ninety acres in
extent, was purchased at Laurel Station,
about eight miles north of Richmond on
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and PotO-
mac railroad. and the institution was
moved thither on the Goth Of April, 1891.
The number Of boys was gradually in
81
mules, cows, wagons. plows, and other
domestic animals and implements were
added TO thu equipment, and the house
was considerably enlarged.
An EFFORT was made by the association
TO initiate, as far as possible. the superb
preventive and child-saving institutions"
OF Great Britain, the records OF which
astonshed the world and revolutionized
the ideas and methods Of Christian
craftsmanship in dealing with the fearful
problem Of the existence OF recognized
criminal class"
Minors are committed 10 the care of the
association by magistrates, police JUS
tees, and judges Of any criminal court,
according 10 an act Of General Assembly,
approved March g. 1896, upon conviction
OF any offence, and such commitment
holds good until the boy attains the age
OF Il years. Their earlier release Is gov
erned by a badge system. Boys COM
mltteQ TOT MINOR OueuctS start With the
twentieth badge each badge representing
a month, and sgnifying that no is 10 re-
main az the school for twenty months.
For more serious offences, snch as grand
larceny or assault the boys start with
the twenty-hfth badge; for burglary,
highway robbery, obstructing trains. etc,
they start with the thirtIeth badge and
for murder with the thirty-ffth badge.
one badge is taken away each month,
when the boys conduct has been GOOD.
and when Badge Is reached in the regu-
lar course, az the end Of one month,
Is followed by the honor badge" which
entities the boy 10 his discharge.
Under this system the grades or Of
fence are recognized. and for good con-
duct II IS possible for boy 10 earn his
discharge IN sixteen months, as an addi-
tional badge Is taken away for three
months consecutive advance. A boy with
twenty-five badges can earn his discharge
in nineteen months; a boy with thirty
badges In twenty-five months. and boy
with thirty-fve badges IN twenty-five
months.
THE DAILY ROUTINE.
The boys are graded in their studies,
as I'm tho public schools OF the State.
They are also taught TO do the farm
y work, the work in tho gardens, laundry
Aining-roeyns. kitchen. homework. keep
the ground in order saw and split the
wood, the stable work, feed and care for
the stock, care for and drive the teams,
and from these forces they are graduated
into the trade forces They make and
mend all the shoes worn in the school
work In the railor-shop. where all the
nlothing worn In the school Is made and