Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-09-25
Girls Industrial School.


Board OF Charities and Correction 10
make an Immediate investigation Of
the institution. The report OF the board
which is regarded As a yindieation OF
the management. is Is follows:
Denver. Colo. Sept. 10. 1903
To his E1eellency. Jamef II. Peabody.
Governor of Colorado:
.Sir-At your reQust. the State Board
OF Charities and Correction has this
day visited the State Industrial School
for Girls. the visit having been made
by the entire membership of the board.
The recent report made by the commit
tee Of the membership OF the grand
jury and comments thereon made by
the daily newspapers OF the state have
made IL seem desirable that the full
est possible Investigation should be
made OF this institution.
First-We do not agree with the
grand jury that discipline Is utterly
lacking IL Is obvious that no one. az
ter hAsty and superficial examination
extending over the short period Of one
hour. can fairly draw such a sweeping
conclusion That the discipline Is not
perfect is perhaps true. as IL Is like
wise true OF all penal institutions, but
an earnest effort is being made TO i'm
I
jury Is manifestiy unfair and calcu-
lated TO prejudice the peoI,s against
the institution
seconc-In our Judgment the report
made By the committee OF the grand
Jury vas no, based upon n thorough
knowledge and careful study OF the
situation We cannot agree with the
members OF the committee IN recon-
msndlns that the same rules and reg
ula;ioas should apply TO the girls
school as TO the boys. II must be re-
memberet that the sex OF the inmates
and the fact that many Of them are
young adults. prevents the use OF the
same modes OF punishment and the
sane kind Of discipline that can DO
used 10 great advantage IN the school
for boys.
'-Third-As to the Recommendation o.
the committee Of the grand Jury that .
man be placed at the head OF the insti-
tuition. We respectfully dissent. That n
woman should always be A. III. head
o. the home Is required by the very
nature o! III. inmates. and should .eed
no other argument than the statement
OF II. proposition.
-Fourth-Anxious 10 learn the eaae,
facts IN regard to the punishment re-
ported by the grand jury. ve sent fof
the girls who had been interviewed by
the members OF the grand jury. and
very particularly asked them concern
Ing the punishment they had been sub
cells and by shacklss. The Siris were
,ra,nired by US withou; any person
connected with the institution oeins
present. and assured that Il Vas ouf
desire to obtain the actual facts. and
thA, they might speak to Us freely
without fear os punishment being y!s-
lied upon them by anyone.
The glrl who evidently had the most
TO say TO the committee OF the grand
jury told US that she was. at the tim.
OF the visit o. IN. grand jury. under
going punishment which she now be-
lisyes abe well deserved: that a, that
time sSe was In yiolent temper. and
that her statement 20 the grand jury
she now believed TO have been unfair.
tha: her punishment vas not cruel and
than should have been Inflicted upon
her. The other girls who had fur
n!shed the grand jury with their es-
psri.neez testified In n similar manner
and all agreed that they had not bern
subjected 10 harxh treatment. TO beat
lnEs. deprivation Of food or any other
punishment calculated to !nr!ct upon
them any serious injury.
The statement that some OF the
girls have been found In chains orig
mated from the fact ;ha. shackles had
been used for the purpose Of prevent
Ing the girls from running away: this
punishment having been applied only
10 girls who had made previous at
temp;s az escape. Special Inquiry was
made as to whether the use OF the
shaekies was attended with any other
inconvenience than limiting their
movements. The girls all testified that
there was no pain or severity In their
use. The board Is Of the opinion that
IL would be a very desirable coudi-
tion II all punishment could be abol-
ished in this and all other institutions
but they are at a loss to see how dis
ciplIne could be maintained unless
some method OF punishment were
used.
"Ffrh-This institution has devel-
oped from a very chaotic condition to
the present comparatively good one.
In the judgment of the State Board OF
Charities and Correction. who have
carefully watched its progress. the in
stltu,ton has shown Erea: improve
ment IN the last two years. At pres
ent the Institution seems TO be in a
clean and sanitary condition. the girls
were neatly dressed and tidy in ap-
peaTanee. the dormiiories and sleeping
rooms were specially clean and well
I kept. The condition of the grounds
was improved. though lacking much o;
I the beauty that should surround sucli
a home. this being. as We are advised
owing 10 the lack Of funds at the dis.
posaI OF the beard Of control.
'ln conclusion. we think Il well 10
call the attention OF the people Of the
state to the fact that those who arc
engaged in managing the school.
teaching the inmates and eudeavorins
TO lead them to a higher and nobler
life. are engaged in the most arduOus
and thankless work 10 be found IN any
I of the Institutions Of our state. II pub
7 lie sentiment were awakened to sym
. pathize with the seif-sacrihcing. earn
est work OF those in charge Of the
, State Industrial School for Girls. great
/ benefit will accrue TO the unfortunate
. inmates and permanent improvement
I will be evident.
Respectfully submitted:
tSignedJ
ELEANOR LAwNEY.
President.
"THOS. II. MALONE.
vice President.
SARAH s DECKER