Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1899-02-17
NEED A REFORM
SCHOOL.
Concord Times.

IL IL bAoAiy IA H~ANt$0 AA SAA~ ~OSSo |
# criminal prosecutions in the
State of North Carolina, to say
Of more than 100000
for the State peniten.
iary, and the vast cost of the
warehouses and jails. A single
1orkhouse in one county cost
over $1,000 in 1898.
What is accomplished? The
older criminals are kept from
their nefarious avocation for
and the younger are
taught in these schools Of crime
how to be more expert and law
defying.
We begin at the wrong end.
The wrong-door should be taken
charge of when he commences
his career. The only hope Of
purifying the steam is at the
fountain head. The young Of
fender begins often in carless-
ness Or ignorance; sometimes
for want of livelihood or train
ing to earn a living, and some>
times under the control of wick
ed and lawless patents or others.
Under the direction of the
Board of Public Charities, the
writer, in the autumn Of 1898,
made all investigation of the
records, so far as preserved, OF
municipal police stations in the
State for the previous year. In
Wilmington there were $50 com
mitments to lookup, OF which
100 were of minors. In WASH
ington 200, of which 50 were
minors. In Wilson 600, of which
50 were minors. In Ashevllle
about 900, record of minors
not being kept, Raleigh 1889,
of which 1856 were minors, and
of these 43 were under 10 years
years Of age. There is no space
for further statistics, but these
tell the story.
For two hundred years the
Jail has failed now let us try
the reform school, 1t will save
money (the least Of ALL, lives,
property, character, happiness,
peace, human souls.
How do we know that? Be
cause it has become the refuge
civilization. Every enlightened
country is increasing and enlarg-
ing them. They reduced the
number of habitual criminals in
England 10000 in a single de-
cade. In the three States of the
Union where they have been
best developed and cared for
crime is actually diminishing.
while tits increasing everywhere
else, and in one State, denials to
the contrary notwithstanding, it
is advancing radidly.
What makes us believe in
Reform Schools? because We
have seen them a their blessed
work of training and disciplin-
ing the young; in one case
twelve hundred happy children
snatched from the slums and
police courts of New York city;
because every State, except half
A dozen, maintains them, includ-
ing some of our Southern States,
Marylany, Kentucky, Texas,
Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia; because from corr
by the writer. nos
body was found in public life. in
any State where a reform school
exists to be willing to see it
given up because the q. S.
Government itself for a mum Der
IF years has maintained, with
increasing efficiency, one Of the
best in the District OF Columbia.
In 1896 81, the last year Of
'ull reports, SO Reform Schools
n this country contained I,243
pupils in school departments,
md II,757 learning trades. The
average number committed is
about 5000, and about 5000 are
annually returned. The gov,
eminent report says: "Of those
released more than IS per cent
ire self supporting, leading use
I'll lives, and are honest and |
citizens of the CONS
nunities in which the live.
In reply to the Mayors and
>hiefs of Police in any State, as
o the best thing to be done to
prevent crime, and with one
'olce the answer is, keep chill
lren from the streets alone at
light, and institute a "ke.-~m
School"
The Judges Of the State agree
II the Importance of this action,
he leading religious bodies, and
he associations of teachers.
Let us give all our aid and in
Iuence to this effort to save the
Dung. Write to your member
nd ask him to consider favora>
ly the proposition.
1t may be modestly begun,
or $4,000 a year for two years,
ocated on a farm, and supplied
nth workshops. THIS situated
may be largely self support
1g. Let us begin and test its