The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-04

above its presen, cost. IN this connection
| desire 70 coInmeld the faithful, conscien-
tISss servlss q tes Ho9ersols Sydney ~
on Public Buildings. whose efncient bust.
ness management and careful oversight Of
all the details Of the work have largely
contributed to so successful result.
This state Prison.
It appears from the report Of the Prison
Inspectors that there were LIZ conyi ace 70
the State Prison, November 3Oth, leOV.
decrease OF 81 during the preceding year
IS were committed to the Prison during
the year, ans 81 discharged BY expiration
Of sentence three died, and one was par
doned by the Governor and Council. There
are 40 life convicts In the Prison, OF wnom
The large percentage Of short-term pris-
oners whose labor Il not source o. prVsnt'
and the restrictions Of the law which nm
Its the number employed In one class %
manufacturing department. The total gain
from goods manufactured last year Mss
SoV3II4: IL cost an average OF nine cents
per convict per day for the food consumed;
which made the total cost Of raw material
$6O4f.40. or $lQ6.66 more than tine pFopts
OF the manufacturing department. IN al
dition to this. the cost OF fuel, clothlng'
transporting convicts, stipends given dis
charged convicts, interest, and other Ell ~,
penses. amounted to s10.092 l9S You VIII
pay all outstanding liabilities. and provide
for the necessary running expenses OF tne
prison for the next two years.
The State cannot conduct manuiactur-
ing business here with any degree Of sue.
cess, unless Il provides a sufficient WORKING
capital TO enable II to buy the necessary
materials at the very lowest price, anu y"
take advantage Of every cash discount
This Is q matter which should have your
careful Investigation. and 1 RECOMMENDS
such an appropriation as Is necessary 70
enable the managers Of this Institution to
place its Affairs upon a sound business pa
sis.
Rsformatory Prison for Women.
You will be asked to provide for the es-
tabllshment and support OF keformatory
Prison for Women. II has been suggestsa
that a building, originally constructed BY
the United States Government for q Va
val Hospital, on an Island near hockland,
and which has never been utilized Tor thar
purpose, may possibly be available In TINS
connection. A bill Is now pending In Con
gress which provides that this stru9ture
shall be given to the State for this use .
There Is a strong sentiment IN IaVor OF
such an institution, among the friends OF
phiianthropic and reformatory WORK IN our
state, who feel that existing conditions are
neither In harmony with the spirit OF pro-
gressive civilization, nor calculated TO pro
duce the best results
II is needless for me to dwell upon the
great benefits which would come from sucn
q Reformatory. All must recognize the i'm
portance OF doing everything possible TOT
the moral uplifting Of such wimen as would
here be cared for aud the state may wei
ing the need OF every Just and proper re-
straint. at the same time aims TO make
them self Respecting and selfsupporting
I submit this matter to your earnest con-
sideration.
The Reform School.
Upon a recent visit to the Reform
School, | was convinced that the eonstrue-
ton OF more cottages similar to those al
ready existing Is necessary TO enable this
Institution 10 attain the highest degree OF
efficiency. This would make possible a bet
ter classification of the unfortunate boys
who are detained there. and wouia greatly
promote their moral and physical welfare.
| Today there are about sixty boys living IN
two cottages whose conditions and sur
roundings are all that could be desired. Inc
remainder. about ninety In number, are in
the main building, wnIcn affords greatly In
| ferior accommodations, as very httie
money has been expended on 1t Tor many
doubt the wisdom of using this build
| ing as a dormitorv at all. The cottage
plan has been demonstrated to be by far
| Inc best for the welfare and improvement
| of those who are sent to this Institution.
| Many of these boys are merely the victims
Of poverty and parental neglect, ana ,t are
| times being sent to the school on account
| OF truancy. or some minor onenss scarcely
| more serious in its character.
1t Is the duty OF the State to DO every.
thing possible TO Improve the condition OF
| these unfortunate children. to encourage
| them In right doing, and 70 lead them into
| ways that will develop them into honest.
| self-reliant and useful citizens. lrrespect-
| i've of the sentiment Of humanity, the care
| full training OF these boys is In the interest
| OF true economy and q sound public policy.
| At comparatively small cost the main
| building could be put In good repair, and 10
| is we'll adapted for schoolrooms, work
stifntion. recommend such an appropria-
tion for this work as in your Judgment may
seem wisest and best.
Maine Industrial School for Girls.
The Report of the Trustees Of the Maine
| Industrial School for Girls shows that
| there are 1875 girls now under the care OF
this institution OF these "a are nth IN tnS
| for their board and 90 are receiving wages
| 1t Will thus be seen that more than hall
of the number are sen SUSTAINING. I ,ns
| ness and neatness, the laws Of health, how
| 10 do housework In all les branches, how ia
| knit and sew and make garments, aud the
/ common English branches, such as are
On the 5th OF February last, Flsgg
/ Drummer Hall, which was destroyed BY fire
| In the winter OF 1899, was again ready for
| accuuancy, greatly relieving the crowded
| Condition OF the other buildings. On MAJ
\ oath, Erskine Hall was burned, togethei
S w,dD 'n as the ONCE, the are spreading SC
RAPIDLY that little Of the furnishings Of thu
| building or the personal effects of the in
amonnt OF Si1, 6f6oo has been paid
sess75o golps to the treasury Of IN,
| INV This latter sum can become available
| for rebuilding only through an appropria
| zion by the Legislature.
| The burning Of this building made 3:
| g,rIs homeless They were Immediately pro
| Sidea ION By being taken into other build
| inss' and within three weeks 20 of them
| were placed In private homes Board wa.
4 secnred for fifteen of them under twelve
| sears az age at q price moderate as &c
Increase but slightly the expense Of theii
| care to the State.
| vounver girls who have committed no OF
| Senss but are unfortunate In having M
suitable homes OF their own, has been fol
nav he worthy of imitation in our own.