The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-11
FOR YOUNG CONVICTS
SEPARATE QUARTERS TO BE PRO-
VIDED FOR THEM.
DoRMIToRY FOR JUVENILES.
COMMISSIONERS DECIDE UPON ITS
ERECTION ON COUNTY FARM.

All COnvicts on Chain Gang, Under
the Age of 16 Years, Will Be Con-
fined in This DOrmitOry-Win BE
kept ut Labor on the County Farm.
Views of the RefOrmatOry AdvO-
cates for Work and Isolation,
Practically Answered in Advance
of EIectiOn-Seems to Meet Also
the Views of Judge Barrow-WOrk
on DOrmitOry viii Begin mt Once.
As a result of the Reformatory agi-
tation the County Commissioners have
decided to separate the Juvenile con-
victs at the county farm from the older
and more hardened criminals. A sep
arate dormatory for convicts under 16
years old is to be erected at once. The
committee having charge of the county
farm was directed by the commission
ers at their meeting yesterday after
noon to proceed with it's erection.
This action by the commissioners
practically settles, it is believed, the
election for a reformatory to be held
next week.
The resolution adopted by the COM
missioners provides that all convicts
under the age of 16 years shall be con-
fined in this dormatory, and
that none above that age shall be
permitted to share it. The erection
of the building and the enforcement y
the regulations governing it will mean
that juvenile offenders sent to the
chaingang in this county will be sent
to the farm, where for the most part
only women, boys and the best-be-
haved of the men are confined, that
the boys will be isolated during work.
ing hours from the other convicts so
far as circumstances will permit, and
that they will have sleeping quarters
all their ow1.
No Attempt at Reformation.
The erection of the dormitory will
mean nothing, of course, as to the
moral training and attempted regener-
alton of the boys whom it will confine.
1t will provide as effectually probably.
as any other agency for their isolation
from men whose influence is likely to
make them worse than they already
are. 1t will serve to prevent their in
diligence in evil or harmful habits and
teach them habits of regularity and in
dustry. so far as these may be taught
in a year.
1t meets almost exactly the views of
Judge Pope Barrow, as these were eX-
pressed to Vice Chairman Moore, of
the board. Judge Barrow does not
construe the law authorizing the es-
adjustment of an industrial farm in d
county where it is demanded by a vote
of the people to mean that the inmates
shall be educated. but on the contrary
that the laNU nXnraceIW ffxraq this
idea of the manner in which the re-
foTTnatory shall be conducted.
Judge Barrow does not think either
the law contemplates the inmates of
the reformatory shall be taught trades
certainly no trade that shall place
them in competition with free labor.
In Judge Barrow's opinion farm work
will answer just as well as any other
II not better.
So Boys Now on the Gang.
The report of the superintendent of
public works and roads, submitted at
the meeting of the commissioners,
showed that there are at present con-
fined on the chain-gang IS boys of the
age of confinement in a refornatory
or on an industrial farmA These are at
present distributed among the several
camps, the majority. however. being
already at the county farm. With the
establishment of the dormitory they
will all be transferred to that point
The work on the building will begin as
soon as plans can be drawn and ma
terials purchased.
a statement of the action taken by
the County Commissioners was made
to Judge Barrow last night and he was
asked for an expression of opinion as
to what had been done
Il think" he said, that the erection
of the dormitory on the county
farm and its conduct, in good
faith, under the rules laid down
in the resolution of the board,
Will answer every purpose of an
industrial farm, established under the
law. The. action of the board meets
exactly the views to which l have
given my approval"