REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

OF THE

Connecticut School for Boys.

To His Excellency, GEORGE P. MCLEAN, Governor of the State of Connecticut.

Sir:-At the end of another fiscal year in the history of the Connecticut School for Boys, the Trustees respectfully make report of the condition of the institution and of such matters concerning its administration as in their judgment call for special notice. Reference is made to the reports of the officers and the statistical tables appended thereto for full and specific information in regard to many subjects but briefly mentioned or necessarily omitted from this report.

Each year in its course calls for some unexpected expenditures, to conserve the property of the State and the last year has been no exception to the rule. A fire in the Main Building last spring called attention to the fact that the wa ter supply was entirely inadequate in case of any considerable conflagration. Belie ing it to be essential that the valuable property of the State should be fully protected, a new six-inch water main was laid from Colony Street to the front of the Main Building in addition to the smaller main from the same street. The City of Meriden at its own expense replaced about forty feet of four-inch main in Chestnut Street with a new six-inch main, thus manifesting again its desire to cooperate with the State in promoting the good of the School. More than two hundred feet of water main were also laid within the limits of the State's property, carrying the water to the front of the North Cottages and thus providing for their better protection in case of fire. As a result of these additions, the water supply has been in

creased nearly three-fold and is now ample to meet any emergency that may arise. The expense was considerably reduced by employing a large number of the boys in the work but, including the necessary new hydrants, it nevertheless exceeded $700. The Trustees are of the opinion that it was fully justified in view of the danger of possible loss by fire, and was necessary also in order to obtain favorable rates of insurance. Fortunately the loss by the fire in question was fully covered by insurance.

In our report last year attention was called to a proposed addition to the manual training department in order to provide for instruction in metal working. Various causes contributed to delay the work, but the new building for a metal working laboratory is now completed and the work of installing the needed equipment is well under way. The material in the long disused blacksmith shop has been utilized and the labor of the boys employed wherever practicable. The building with its necessary equipments will involve an expense of about $2,000, while the connections with water, steam and gas supplies require an outlay of over $200. Additions to the wood-working equipment in this department including eight lathes, motor, shafting, pulleys and hangers, have been provided at a cost of nearly $800.

Early in the year the new and greatly enlarged boiler plant was completed, the final payments amounting to nearly $1,400. Extensive repairs have been made in the chair shop in the Main Building, and due attention has been given to ordinary repairs and the buildings belonging to the State are all in good condition.

The health of the boys has continued excellent. Contagious diseases have made their appearance upon two or three occasions, but the complete isolation of the patients immediately established under the direction of our competent and painstaking physician, and the vigilance enforced by the Superintendent in each case, prevented any spreading of the disease among the boys. Owing to the prevalence of small pox in many towns in the State, all the inmates of the school were vaccinated except those deemed to be fully protected by previous vaccinations. For the same reason the Superintendent was empowered in his discretion to suspend

the privileges of visiting days, and accordingly visitors were excluded, wholly or partially, during some of the spring and early summer months. This course of procedure was adopted with great regret, but no alternative seemed to insure safety from possible contagion. The necessity of providing a hospital in a detached building for the treatment of contagious diseases is too plain to admit of argument, and the Trustees propose constructing such a building as soon as the expense can be provided for from the ordinary revenues of the School.

During the last year one hundred and twenty boys received instruction in sloyd and elementary manual training. Twenty-seven of these also took advanced work in wood turning. With the additions, made and to be made, to the equipment in this department, as good opportunities are now extended to the boys in this School as are afforded in any like institution. In a state where so large a proportion of the inhabitants are engaged in metal working industries, it seems certain that the metal working laboratory will materially assist in fitting a considerable percentage of the boys for self-sustaining work when they leave the school. This department so far has fully justified the reasonable expectations of the Trustees and, with its added facilities, there is good reason to hope that it will continue to be very useful. The continued services of Supervisor Hitchcock insure the successful inauguration of the work in the metal working laboratory. The School is to be congratulated upon its good fortune in obtaining his invaluable assistance in establishing and giving character to this department.

The school room work has been well maintained during the past year. The additional hours devoted to school work in the cottages are highly appreciated by many of the boys. Our teachers are competent and faithful and the results obtained are fairly satisfactory. The opportunity is afforded. to all boys who remain any considerable length of time in the School, to acquire a good common school education, while those who, by their good behavior and earnest efforts, soon obtain a parole, usually manifest their appreciation of the educational advantages afforded by the School.

Forty-four boys have been connected with the School band

during the year. Two years' study and practice are required of each boy who joins the band. Of the former members of the band paroled since September 30, 1899, eight are now members of United States army bands and thirteen belong to civilian bands. During the past year the School band upon invitation has furnished music for the farewell reception to the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Meriden; for the parade at the Grocers' and Butchers' Annual Barbacue; for the field day of the Connecticut Dairymen's Association and the parade of Merriam Post G. A. R. at the reception in Meriden to President Roosevelt. On all the occasions the band received well deserved praise because of the high character of its music and its propriety of conduct. Merriam Post recorded its appreciation of the band's service by passing a formal vote of thanks, a copy of which was sent to the Superintendent of the School. The Trustees believe the band to be one of the most valuable adjuncts of the School.

The distinctively moral and religious training of the boys is kept steadily in view. The religious services and Sunday School work are regularly maintained, and it is believed with good results. In addition to the regular Sunday observances, special services have been arranged for some of the festivals of the Church year, which have been greatly appreciated by the boys. Such a service on Easter Sunday was attended unannounced by some of the Trustees. They were favorably impressed by the propriety and dignity of the service arranged by the Chaplain and Superintendent, and by the heartiness and decorum with which the boys bore their part therein. The conduct of the boys at religious services and in Sunday School will not suffer by comparison with that of any other assemblage of boys of like ages.

Believing that a diversity of employments not only contributes to the health and contentment of the boys but also is invaluable in fitting them for self-sustaining employment, no opportunity is neglected to give them employment about the premises and especially upon the farm. As already noted, many were employed in making improvements dur ing the year, and the repairs constantly going on furnish practical training to a considerable number in painting, fence building and in general repair work. The experience thus