The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-10-13
REFORMATORIES
IN NEW JERSEY
What Commissioners of
Charities Wight Has to
Say of Our Correctional
Institutions. ..:,y:.,.sA
STATES WISE PROVISIONS
TENDENCY OF THE TREATMENT
IS TO RENDER THE YOUTH
FUL INMATES USEFUL MEM
BERs OF SOCIETY.

i - L L
Full INMATES USEFUL MEM
BERs OF SOCIETY.
In his report to the Governor, submit
ted yesterday. Commissioner of Charities
George B. Wight had this to say of the
State reformatories in regard to convict
labor
''The State Home for Girls at Trenton
is for girls between the ages of 10 and
19, who may be committed to it, It has
at present one hundred and forty in
mates, some of whom We're orphans or
had been abandoned by their parents
when committed; others were committed
by the courts for waywardness and in
corrig;blity, but whether unfortunate or
criminal, they are properly cared for.
OF course there is no contract work per-
formed here, but all are employed In
addition to regular hours for study, they
make most of their own clothing, and
are trained in such domestic and other
pursuits as may make them self-support-
ing and useful members of society.
"The State Home for Boys. at James
burg. to which boys between the ages of
s and 1e may be committed. has 40 in
mates. They receive here a good COM
mon school education, and the managers
expect soon to establish graded school
for those who desire more advanced in
struction. The institution owns SO acres
of good land, and under the instruction
of practical farmer the boys are taught
to till the soil. The annual product of
the farm is quite large; besides what is
consumed in the institution several thou
sand dollars worth Of produce are an
nually sent to market. No contract
labor is performed, but all are employed
They make and keep in repair their cloth
ing and shoes, do all the kitchen, laundry
and other domestic wcrk, and on the
farm and in the several workshops get a
fair knowledge of the ordinary pursuits
of life The neglected or wayward boy;
if so disposed. may leave this excellent
institution we'll taught and well trained.
Thereformatory at Railway, to which
male first offenders are sent. has three
hundred and seventy-two inmates, filing
all the cells and making it necessary for
one hundred and twenty to sleep on cots
in the cell corridors This is more de-
cidedly a penal institution than the
homes for boys and, girls. but the refor-
matory features are constantly kept in
mind Two hundred and sixty inmates
regularly attended the school of the in
stitution last year. school of high grade,
and doing efficient educational work.
attended the annual commencement in
June last. and was surprised and graft
fed at the high character of the exer-
cises. The Rt. Rev. Bishop MeFaul hon
ored the institution with his presence
and made an excellent address to the in
mates. The reformatoly has one coz
| tract for labor, the making of overalls,
and employing ninety-nine inmates, from
which the State received last year $1S,-
00o
But the contract work is the smallest
| part of the industry of the institution;
| all are employed and instructed in such
occupations as will insure them liveli-
hood when discharged; they are farmers,
carpenters. blaeksmiths, plumbers, car
riage makers. etc, in all of which pur-
suits they show great protSency The
farm yields them more than enough for
home use, and they make their own
clothes and shoes, and most of the appli-
ances necessary to the institution, even
to the iron gratings to the doors and
windows. 1t is but just to say that
since 1902, 100000 in betterments to the
property have been made without cost tc
the State
''The more I study these reformatory
institutions the more am impressea
with the wise and benevolent provisions
the State has made for the reformation
of negle teedand wayward youth. and
such equipment for them as can insure
useful and honorable lives"
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