The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-09-29
Is Management Of State In
dustriaI School
REPORTS THE COMMISSION
With a Few Faulty Conditions, Which
Ought to Be Remedied, the Yer
gennes Institution Is in Much
Better Shape Than Others.

St. Johnsbury, Sept. 2o.--That the
state industrial school at yergennes III
in generally satisfactory condition and
that its management is above suspicion
of dishonesty ii the substance OF the
report of the special investigating com.
mittee on state institutions, which was
made public By Governor Bell today.
The commission finds the conditions iii
the Nergennes Institution much better
than il found them at the state prison
In Windsor or the house of correction
III Rutland. This investigation was au.
thorized bv the legislature two years
ago,
The buildings of tho Industrial school
are wel-adapted for their uses and with
the exception Of some minor repairs are
in suitable shape The commission reg
otnmends repairs to roofs, painting, afr.
The inside sanitary arrangements are
good, but the system from the buildings
is decidedly poor the tile pipe being
constantly broken. allowing the drainage
to leak ont. while from Andrews cot
tage the discharge Is info an open ditch.
The heating apparatus for the entire
group Of buildings il not adequate The
cost Of heating during the past few years
is laid to the ineompetencv Of tho en-
gineer ii charge of tile furnaces and to
TIE severe winters
The industrial school Is paying too
high per ton for is coal, the cont of
which represents one eighth of the ex-
penditure Of the school. In 1904-5 soft
coal cost s4ss0 per gross ton at the
mouth If the Otter creek, with A tow
age charge OF IS per boat. During the
same period The house OF correction was
paying $500 and last year only S355,
while the city If Burlington was paying
S3.45. The commission recommends thtt
bids be advertised for
The fire protection Of the building is
not sufficient and the the buildings are
not provided with fire escapes. the in
mates beingeeuped up in the upper sto-
rics of the buildings during the night.
Farming on the state property Is well
carried on, and is a source OF good re-
turns, being well managed. The cnp-
mission recommends some small changes
only in this department.
Drinking Water Poor.
The drinking water Of the institution
is poor, being from the city water sup
ply in Ncrgennes at an expensive cost
l$300 per yearl and being moreover inn
pure and at times source Of danger
to the health Of the children in Che
school. Unless the city furnishes a
better supply. the recommendation i
made that the industrial school look else
where.
There arc now 40 boys and 2s girls
in the industrial school, the average
number being 147. The average age is
thirteen. and the annual per capita exs
pense SlI4.93 Good opportunity for
schooling is nscn, and for those who
show promise, training in the Vergemes
high school is afforded. The health Of
the children Is very good.
Little Fault with Superintendent.
With the superintendent, f. r. Tn
gals, The commission finds no fault,
except that be should pay more atten.
tion to matters outside them. moro par
ticularIy to the school grounds and build
ings. His wife Is matron and Is well
fitted for the position. Their combined
salary Is Si.700, OF which Mr.. ingalls,
receives $1,000. Twenty.one persons are
tWplVlfu ~ III bnuutf expense OF 2f.-
552.65. The force could not be smaller,
and no excessive salaries are paid
The trustees are paving close atten-
tion TO their work and the commission
urges on them the Importance Of small
details. such al tho repair Of the build.
ings, which does not require special ap.
Precipitation; also the purchase Of coal.
Accounts in Good Shape.
The expert accountant. F. 5. Pratt,
gennes school, saying that from an ac-
counts Of tae industrial school. which
he compares with the other state in
stitntions to the advantage Of the Yer.
genues school, saying hat from AN nc.
countant's point Of view ~the work has
been done better than at the other in
stitutionsY lie commends Snperinten-
dent ingalls, for bis report, which he
says Is quf.e like The standard in Mas.
sachisetts
The commission finally reports TO
Governor Bell; aWe hnd the business
OF all departments honestly conducted
and the officers and employees OF the
institution faithful in the performance
Of their duties. The report u signed
by ~ G. Williams Of Fellows Falls, II.
r Brigham Of bakersfield and c. II. a.
Stafford of Morristown.