Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-18
Industrial School at Eldora I'm
dergoing a Transformation
In Its Character
SCOPE OF THE WORK INCREASED
Teaching Of Trades Viii bs the Most
Prominent Feature in the Future =
The School to be Greatly Broadened
and Apparatus and Tools Purchas.
ed-other News.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Aug. 1S.-The Iowa in.
dustrial school for boys, commonly
called the reform school, located at El.
dora, is undergoing Transformation
amounting to revolution. which, when
completed, Will make of it, in fact what
its official title implies instead of being
more nearly what it is commonly call
ed. 1t Is to be under the management
of Col. L. d. Drake, state industrial
school for boys. Industry will be the
most prominent feature Of the school
work. The boys will be taught how to
be self supporting and useful citizens
and as soon as they have shown them
selves as capable of caring for them
selves they VIII be discharged Hereto
fore the work at this important school,
where over 500 boys are kept at all
times, has been confined largely to ag-
rtculture and few trades like shoe
making. Now the school Is to be
greatly broadened and a large work.
shop is about to be equipped with wood
working tools and machinery and tools
fcr metal work of various kinds An
important addition will be first class
printing office, and the boys will be
taught how to become good printers.
The machinery and material for this
will soon be ordered. Col Drake the
new commandant, who took hold less
than month ago. has had much ex-
perience at Bonneville, Mo-. where he
has made a great reputation for sue
cess In managing a boys industrial
school. He has demonstrated that bad
boys may be led to good lives by habits
of industry. To put into force. his sys-
tenn the methods OF the school will have
to be revolutionized. In making his an
nual report to the board of control,
covering the last year of his predeces-
sor. Col. Drake apologies for inability
to give anything more than bare statis-
tics, and in letter to the board briefly
outlines his views as to the policy he
will pursue at Eldora, saying:
MY observations have led me to
conclude the industrial school for boys
is an admirable institution and one
Of the superintendent are in perfect ac-
cord with the board relative to the in
dustries contemplated, which will Sc
cure to very many boys who may in the
future become cadets of this institution
advantages second to none. The state
OF Iowa is looking for boys who can do.
something and that something we'll.
This institution WILL In the years to
come, send out majority of boys who
are or may be here receiving instruc-
ton in the various branches Of indus
tries who will no longer look to the
great commonwealth for assistance, but
on the other hand, will contribute to
the betterment of the state, by being
honest, upright, self disappearing citi-
zens-an honor to their alma mater and
credit to their families.
'It is our purpose to adopt system
of graduation that will operate in favor
of each boy, one having sufficient elias
ticity not to prejudice anyone affected
by it. The school of letters. the indus
trial occupations. and the department
of every boy, will determine his length
of stay In the institution. Every boy
who applies himself closely can gain
unit from each department. and each
unit multiplied by the efficiency OF the
boy will determine the number Of cred
it's earned each day to offset the de-
merits charged against the boy upon
his entrance Hence it may seem that
any boy who gives close application
will be amply repaid in the credits
gained each day, which certainly offers
sufficient stimulus to any self-respect-
ing boy to try his utmost to get FOR
himself an education. both OF hand and
mind. 1t is absolutely essential to
the better development of the boy that
the hand be taught to work In harmony
with the mind; thus securing to the one
giving such application an occupation,
which, in the future, will afford him an
honorable livelihood.
Il wish to add that 1t will be the
nurnose of the superintendent to de-
vote as much time as possible to the
Of industries of this insti-
tuition. knowing full we'll their worth
to the boy who may in the future be
numbered among the population Of this
school. The system OF detention as
having been practiced thru the years
prior to my taking charge is regarded
every boy. The thought uppermost
with the institution should be to teach
these boys self-support self-reliance,
and self-respect. No boy should re-
main In the institution length of
time that will cause him to become In
and look to the state to
furnish his support an indefinite length
Of time To the contrary. the popula-
ton of the institution should change
rapidly in consequence of the boy hav-
ing been taught something useful, |
which will, in the majority of cases,
assist in his permanent reformation"
While no Iowa regiment will go to |
Manassas, Va. to participate in the
.egular army maneuvers to be held
there next month the ubiquitous Iowa |
man will be found on hand. Texas 'is
10 send provisional regiment to take J