The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-28
THE STATE FARM

H. NJ. Blackstone. superintendent Of
the State Farm at Bridgewater says
that it is too early to draw definite
conclusions as to the result of the
amended and revised rules for the
earlier release of prisoners sentenced
for drunkenness that were put in force
July by the State Board Of Charity.
He expresses confidence, however, that
another year will show that the new
movement was fully justified. First
commitments for year may be reduced
to three months where the prisoner s
conduct is believed to warrant it.
Men of even moderate intelligence,
and fair reason" Mr.. Blackstone says
"cannot fail to discover, in the various
forms of rescue by the probationary
methods which are now so generally
part of the statutes. that the govern
ment's purpose is for and not against
them"
There was not so much Of the rest
lessness and discomfort that are in
clined to manifest themselves in frae-
tious resistance the past year as usual.
THE indeterminate sentence, Mr..
Blackstone says has been most help
full in its appeals to the reason and
common sense, of the inmates held by
It," This form of sentence has proven
especially good in its effect on those
who are employed in the various pur-
suits about the institution and those
who are trusted outside the enclosure.
At the close Of the year there were
1887 inmates, % less than the number
In the institution at the close Of the
year preceding. 1t is noticeable
that the commitments for tramping
and vagrancy were less by 101 than the
commitments under that offense the
year before There was an increase Of
5S in the number of commitments for
drunkenness. The insane department
contains over 400 patients.
The farm work, combined with the
work of making various improve
ments. has given employment on an
average TO 200 men. There is prospect
that in a few years the crops will be
sufficient to yield fair returns for the
money invested. At present there are
412 acres under cultivation. The dairy
produced $500 gallons of milk. and the
poultry yards yielded 1856 dozen eggs.
The farm crops the past year were
fairly good
DR.. Charles A. Drew. medical direc-
tor in the department Of the State
Farm known as the State Asylum for
Insane Criminals, in the course Of his
understood. that a bad heredity is the
soil in which almost all insanities
grow" Alcohol and specific poisons
prepare the soil. Bad heredity cannot
he attributed entirely to alcohol and
specific poisons. There are families, -
DR.. Drew says. for whom insanitary
marriages have lowered the average
mentality to semi-imbecility. There
is a similarity Of temperament quite
as likely to produce hereditary degen-
erations as a blood relationship. Ref
erence IS made to legislation recently
undertaken in some states TO check
improper marriages. Whether the
sort Of legislation that has been adyp-
Gated Is likely 10 prove effective. DR..
Drew does not pretend t0 say, but he
declares that come check is necessary,
"else we may anticipate time when
there will be too few sound in mind and
body TO care for the physical and men,
tai wrecks" If the stock is good men
and women retain their reason under
seyere trials, but when the stock is
bad reason may yield 10 almost any
ehock or disturbing cause.