The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-01-03


It's oyereroWded condition by the removal
Of some u IL patients 10 Bangor This
would seem 10 De a favorable opportunity
for making such repairs and improvements
az you may deem necessary.
The trustees earnestly recommend some
action. and viii ask for an appropriation
for this purpose
The Eastern Maine Insane Hospital.
As result OF the marked advance In
every kind u building material, the azure
priatlon for the completion Of the Eastern
Maine Insane Hospital. made by the I4gisl
lature Of 1893 proved insufficient for his
purpose. Inaspuch a. the discontinue uee
Of the work would largely Increase the
cost Of IT. completion. and probably post
pone until another year the relief Of the
present oyercro~ded condition Of the Hos
plfal at Augusta. II was determined by
Governor Powers that the building sbouid
that the Institution might be available Tor
use within a reasonable period.
This action, which was In The Interest q
true economy and must ultimately result
In a large saving To the state, Will.
know, commend Itself to your good iudg
ment, and meet with your unqus ifed az.
The required appropriation to cover this
expenditure. well for the furnishings
necessary to put the Institution In readlz
ness for occupancy.
am convinced that the several appro-
prlations made for the building OF this in
stitution have been wisely and judIclously
Thoroughly
done, the buildings are substantial and
permanent in character. and for years to
come the cost Of repairs Will be compare
lively small The institution could not be
duplicated today for less than 20 per cent
above Its present cost iI this connections
] desire to commend tn faithful, conscIen
tious service Of the Honorable sydney ".
Bird. Chairman Of the Council Committee
on Public Buildings, whose efficient bust
ness management and careful oversight OF
all the details OF the work have largely
contributed TO so successful result
The State Prison.
1t appears from the report Of the Prison
Inspectors that there we're liz conYiets in
the State Prison, November goth, 1900.
eeerease of 81 during the preceding year
5S were committed TO the Prison during
the year, and 81 discharged by expiration
of sentence three died, and one was par
doned by the Governor and Council. There
are 40 life conYicts in the Prison, Of whom
four are women.
The large percentage of short-term pris-
oners whose labor is not source OF profit,
aud the restrictions Of the law which lin
Its the number employed In one class OF
work, greatly curtail the profits Of the
manufacturing department. The total gain
from goods Manufactured last year was
So33i.t]. 1t cost an average OF nine cents
per convict per day for the food consumed,
which made the total cost OF raw material
$6o44.40, or Sl06.06 more than the pronrs
of the manufacturing department. IL a.
dition to this, the cost Of fuel, clothing
transporting conyicts, stipends gwen dis
charged eonvicts. interest, aud other ex-
pensest amounted to $1o.092.l9. You will
be ASKED FOR an appropriation sufficient TO
pay all outstanding Liabilities, and provide
for the necessary running expenses Of the
prison Tor the next two wears.
The State cannot conduct a manufactur-
Ing business here with any degree Of sue
cess. unless it provides a sufficient working
capital 10 enable it to buy the necessary
materials al the very lowest price. and TO
This is a matter which should have your
careful investigation, and | recommend
enable the managers of this institution to
place Its affairs upon sound business ba
sis.
Reformatory Prison for Women.
You VIII be asked to provide for the
tablishment and support Of Reformatory
Prison for omen. 1t has been suggested
that a building, originally constructed by
the United States Government for Ma
val Hospital, on an island near Rockland.
and which has never been utilized for that
purpose; may possibly be available in this
connection. bill is now pending in Con
gress which provides that this structure
shall be given to the State for this use.
There Is strong sentiment In favor of
such an institution, among the friends OF
phianthropic and reformatory work in our
State, who feel that existing conditions are
neither In harmony with the spirit Of pro-
gressive civilization. nor Calcula ted to pro
duce the besi results.
1t Is needless for me to dwell upon the
great benefits which would come from such
a Reformatory. All must recognize the i'm
portance of doing everything pOssluie for
the moral uplifting of such Wimen as would
here be cared for and the State may well
foster a movement which, while recogniz-
ing the need of every just and proper re-
stralnt, at the same time aims to make
them self-respecting and self supporting
members Of society.
submit this matter to your earnest con-
sideration.
The Reform School.
Upon recent visit to the Reform
School, | was convinced that the construc-
ton of more cottages similar 10 those al
ready existing is NECESSARY TO enable this
Institution 10 attain the highest degree Oh
efficiency. This would make possible bet
ter Classih, alton OF the unfortunate boys
who are detained there, and wou4u 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. / he
remainder, about ninety in number are in
the main building, wn4,n affords greatly in
ferior accommoda lions, sas very little
money has been expended on 1t for many
years.
doubt the wisdom of using this build
ing dOrmitorv at all. The cottage
plan has been demonstrated to be bv far
the best for the welfare and improvement
of those who are sent 10 this institution.
Many of these boys are merely the victims
of poverty and parental neglect, and are
friendess rather than criminal, often
times being sent to the school on account
of truaney. or some minor ofense scarcely
more serious in its character.
II 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 to lead them into
ways that will develop them into honest,
self-reliant and useful citizens. Irrespect-
i've of the sentiment of humanity, the care
full training Of these boys Is in the interest
Of true economy and a sound public policy.
AT comparatively small cost the main
building could be put in good repair, and II
Is well adapted for schoolrooms, work
rooms. and the general purposes of the In
stitution. | 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 100 girls now under the care OF
this institution. OF these, I'll are in the
school, IA are out at board. A. are working
for their board and 46 are receiving wages.
1t will thus be seen that more than half
of the number self-sustainng. The
girls are taught habits of personal cleanli
ness and neatness, the laws Of health how
TO do housework in all its branches, how TO
knit and sew and make garments, and the
common English branches. such as are
taught In the public schools.
ON the 9th OF February last, Flagg
Drummer Hall. which was destroyed by nre
in the winter OF 1899, was again ready Tor
occupancy, greatly relieving the crowded
condition of the other buildings. On May
oath, Erskine Hall was burned together
with the small building to the north,
rapidly that little OF the furnishings OF the
huilding or the personal effects uI the in