New-York tribune., 1907-01-27
ON a BOYS FARM.
CleUelands Successful Experiment IN
JHUeniIe Reform.
BY W. Frank McClura


Cleveland. Jan ga new undertaking in
Juvenile reform work by a municipality is that
Of the Cleveland City Boys Farm The plap
has passed the experimental stage and IS at
tracing more than local attention. The CIeve-
land City Boys Farm should not be conf,,at
with the Cleveland Farm Colony at Warrens-
vile, about which much has been written :,
bate The two are thirty-fve miles apart
An hours ride from the Cleveland ,,,h,,.
square by trolley brings one 10 a rural spot =,
the vicinity OF the college town OF Hudson ana
q few minutes walk from this stop leads 70 tbs
boys farm. which abounds in babbIine brooke
maple sugar camps and tTIabIe ana nast,ra
land The area owned by the city at this poin,
amounts to 2SS acres and with fts buiIdfnsv
and equipment represents an outlay OF $1,000
The buildings comprise seven cottages forr
barns. an engine house. carpenter shou bakerv
laundry and gymnasium There ara also vvata--
works. a sewer system and an electric light
plant
AT present there are about one hundred how,
at this farm who have been received rom the
Juvenile Court This court under the laws ~
Ohio. has Jurisdiction over all delinquent and
neglected children under the age OF sixteen. By
a delinquent Is meant any child who violates a
Law Of the state or city There are exceptional
rigid restrictions than those OF the farm. and
they go 70 the state reformatory. The major
fly Of erring youths however. have been found
TO respond to the influences OF the farm and q,
those who have the work in charge
The boys i've In cottages. fifteen COMPOSING
a family and each cottage being presided over
b master and matrun- The buildings are OF
frame construction costing between $500 and
$1,000 EACH and containing about dozen rooms
apiece Each cottage Is named for one Of tho
former Presidents Of the United States
The constant need for work on a farm Of 2S3
acres In all its departments. incIndIng the keep
ing Of buildings IN repair. gives the boys plenty
Of opportunity to make themselves useful They
go to school IN the mornings and the younger
boys go both forenoon and afternoon. and thew
all have plenty OF time for play. but aside from
these activities they get practical Instruction I,
carpentry. kitchen work and farming.
The stock. for example. must be cared for.
and this Is a Joy as wen as a duty to every
had who has come from the crowded city streets
where blades Of grass ars at a premium and
farm animals are an unusual luxury On this
boys farm there are plenty Of horses, cows
sheep and chickens- And the donkeys must not
b forgotten The boys think great deal Of
tnern- and use them tn their play hours as wen
as IN some OF the farm work The sheep rs
their particular friends also A boy with
hnb IN his arms Is not an uncommon sight
The boys are committed TO the farm by ths
Juvenile Court on tndeteruninate sentence. An
soon as one arrives the head master OF the IN
sfttution, The Rev A G. LOhmann. tells the boy
tn.t the past b gone and To Try 70 forget n
snd work Tor the future. We do not allow the
boys % speak OF their past troubles" says Mr.
Iohmann. and do not treat them as bad boys,
fnr they ara not bad xt heart They quickly
Dspond 20 q word Of love Many never knew