The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-08-10
STATE TRAINING SCHOOL LIFE
Supt. Devine Talks About Conditions
Existing at Mandan-Seventy-
five Boys and Girls His Charge

J. M. Devine made hurried run to
this city Saturday to meet his sister,
, Miss Belle Devine, one of the Model
school teachers, before her departure
for her home in Virginia for her sum-
mer vacation.
He states that improvements in Mi
not were numerous and of character
that indicate supreme confidence Of
the builders and faith in the future of
this rapidly growing city.
| Referring to the state training school
at Mandan where he is superintendent,
he said that it was his first absence
since he began his duties, fourteen
mates, ranging from ten to twenty
years Of age: While the work is siren
uous, it has its bright spots all along
the line.
During the year several improve
ments have been made. The dairy barn
was reconstructed, new hog house
and chicken house erected, all work
being done by the boys. Unfortunate
ly this institution has not received the
attention either by the legislature or
the people that it should, but Mr.. De-
vine hopes the forthcoming legislature
will recognize the needs.
Last spring six of the inmates.
three boys and three girls, passed the
regular school examination. securing
diplomas from the state. The forth
coming school year will see this num-
Der largely increased.
Last fall, the institution bought $50
Leghorn chickens and since them has
gathered 800 dozen eggs and has an
addition to the flock of $50 new spring
chickens. The original purchase price
was 1925. The institution now pro-
duces it's own eggs, where before they
were bought. They have rs young
pigs they expect to finish off at 200
pounds by December and are selling
daily to the wholesale and retail stores
at Mandan vegetables of all kinds.
They sell 80 pounds of sweet cream
daily to the Mandan creamery, besides
furnishing all of the institution needs.
They make their own butter in place
of buying it. Navy beans of which
they use great many, cost $3.50 per
bushel Mr.. Devine expects the gar
den to produce in the neighborhood of
$50 bushels this year. They have 3OO,-
600 celery plants which are now being
hilled for the whitening process, more
| than two-thirds of which will go to
the general market. They have twelve
acres of potatoes, 5000 cabbage plants
and are selling early cabbage on the
general market. Last year there were
26 acres in grain crop. This year 10
acres of barley, oats, wheat and flax
were sown, much of it now being in
shock, and it is good crop through
out. In place of buying feed as here
tofore, Mr.. Devine expects to be able
to sell at least half of the grain and
have ample left for feeding purposes.
Our aim so far as the inmates are
concerned is to produce as far as pos
siblee that which we can consume, Mr..
Devine says. eve have no guards in
the general sense, no guns and no
walls. Inmates are expected to attend
at least nine months Of school, and I'M
der the supervision Of trained teach
ers; SO per cent of the inmates have
infinitely better homes, better food
and better care than they had before
coming. Work is assigned in the sew
J eral departments, gardening, farming.
dairying, carpentering, tailoring and
! engineering for the boys. The girls
are given a thorough instruction in
practical cooking, since they must do
and prepare three meals per day for
the Is inmates in the building which
they occupy. This work is done under.
the supervision Of a trained teacher.
Bedtime is at $3.50, all lights out at 9
o'clock. Breakfast at $50. Work be-
gins promptly in the several depart
ments directly after the breakfast
hour. The play hour is from 1890 to
1880 and work ends at $50 We have
had practically no sickness during the
entire year. Every evening the boys
can have a shower bath and not infre-
quently the entire number are march
ed to the Heart river where they can
splash to their hearts content in an
old-time swim. In July the entire
school attended the Mandan chautau-
qua and listened daily to the best
speakers and musicians the west af-