USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 92
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. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority afore- said, 'That it shall be the duty of the canal commission- ers to locate the route of a suitable navigation either by canal or by canal and slack water between the city of Pittsburg, or the mouth of the Kiskcminetas and the bo- rough of Eric within the present year: Provided, that the said location shall not be made before the first Mon- day in June next.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority afore- said, That the canal commissioners be, and they are hereby authorized and required to improve the naviga- tion of the Monongahela river from the city of Pittsburg to the Virginia state line, at such time and in such man- ner as the legislature may hereafter direct.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Governor be, and he is hereby au- thorized to borrow on the credit of the commonwealth a sum not exceeding two millions and two hundred thousand dollars, at an interest not exceeding five per cent. per annum; and the sum so borrowed, shall be paid to, and vested in the commissioners of the internal improvement fund, to be applied by them in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter directed, Provided, That no engagement or contract shall be entered into, which shall preclude the commonwealth from re-im- may be satisfactory" to the Governor."
bursing any sum or sums thus borrowed, at any time af- ter the expiration of twenty-five years from the first day of December next.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Governor be and he is hereby au- thorized and required, annually to appoint a suitable person as commissioner of loans, who shall keep his of- fice in the city of Philadelphia, whose duty it shall be to advertise for all future loans to the commonwealth, and shall receive as a compensation for bis services, to be performed by virtue of this act, annually one thousand dollars; and the account of said commissioner shall be settled by the auditor general, and paid in the usual manner out of the state treasury; and that so much of the second section* of the act passed the fourteenth day of April eighteen hundred and twenty eight entitled "an act authorizing a temporary loan," as authorizes the governor to appoint a commissioner of loans be and the same is hereby repealed.
SECT. 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall be the duty of the said commis- sioner of loans to advertise for the contracting of loans, in one newspaper printed at the seat of government, and two daily papers in the cities of Philadelphia, Bos- ton, New York, and Baltimore, for thirty days previous to the time fixed for contracting for said loans, and at the expiration of the said time, the commissioner afore- said shall open the proposals, and if upon examining the proposals, it shall appear that the whole or part of the loan has been agreed to be taken upon favourable terms, the commissioner shall notify the party offering, of the acceptance of the same, and for any balance, or for the whole of the said loan or loans that shall not be taken, the said commissioner shall offer for sale at pub- lic auction at the Merchant's Coffee House, in the city of Philadelphia, such portion or portions of the loan au- thorized by this act, and of any future loan authorized by law, as the governor may direct and authorize, Pro- vided, That the said loan or loans shall be sold in lots of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one hundred thousand dollars, and the said commissioner of loans shall issue certificates of stock, signed by the said commissioner to the purchaser or purchasers of said loan, setting forth that they pertain to the canal, and other loans, bearing an interest of not more than five per centum per annum, which stock thus created shall be transferable by the owner or owners of the same, his, her, or their attorney, on a book or books to be provi- ded and kept for that purpose by the said commission- er, and new certificates of the same shall be issued by the said commissioner to the new holder or holders, and all the necessary expenses incurred by the commission- er of loans under this act for stationary, printing, and ad- vertising, shall be settled by the auditor general, and paid by the state treasurer; And provided further, That nothing contained in this section shall be so construed as to make it obligatory on the said commissioner of loans, to sell at auction any lot or lots of said loan, unless such sale shall in the opinion of said commissioner of loans, be to the interest of the commonwealth, nor to prevent said commissioner of loans from receiving other proposals for said loan, in such manner as he may think proper and expedient.
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall be the duty of the commissioner of loans to transmit to the auditor general, a statement containing the amount of stock created by this law; with the names of the person or persons, or corporations
*"Section 2d," of the act referred to above-"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Governor be and he is hereby authorized to appoint the president of the bank of Pennsylvania or some other fit person to be commissioner of loans, with authority to is- sue and sign certificates of such stock, pertaining to the loans of this commonwealth as may be transferred at said bank under such arrangements with said bank as
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to whom certificates of stock may be issued, with the sum loaned by each, and also to notify the auditor gene- ral quarterly, of the transfer of stock, and to whom made; and the auditor general shall enter in the books of his office a statement of the money so loaned to the commonwealth, in pursuance of this law, the names of persons or corporations to whom certificates may be is- sued as aforesaid, and also the names of persons or corporations to whom certificates of stock may be transferred.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if funds shall be required for the pur- pose of the Pennsylvania canal and rail road, in addition to the amount already provided for, previous to the negociation and receipt of the permanent. loan authori- zed by this act, then and in such case the governor be, and he is hereby authorized to negociate a temporary loan for such sum or sums as shall be necessary, and in such manner as he may deem expedient at an interest not exceeding five per cent. per annum, with any bank, corporation, or individual or individuals, as in his opin- ion will be most advantageous, and the money thus bor- rowed shall be paid to, and vested in the commissioners of the internal improvement fund, to be applied to the purposes set forth in this act and to be repaid out of the permanent loan authorized by this act, to the lender or lenders, within six months after the passage of this act.
SEC. 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the money loaned to the commonwealth in pursuance of this act, by any banking company, shall remain in the bank making the loan to the credit of the commissioners of the internal improvement fund, subject to their draft or order, and all money loaned as aforesaid by other corporations and by individuals shall be deposited in the bank of Pennsylvania, to the credit of the said commissioners as aforesaid, Provided: That no certificate of stock shall be issued to any person making such loan and deposit, until he or she produces to the commissioner of loans, a certificate of the depo- sit signed by the proper officer of the bank in which the deposit shall be made.
SEC. 10. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the State Treasurer be, and is hereby authorized and directed to pay to the commissioners of the internal improvement fund, any sum of money from the treasury not otherwise appropriated, which in the opinion of said commissioners can be done without em- barrassing the ordinary operations thereof, to be ap- plied to the payment of interest on loans heretofore and hereafter to be made to the commonwealth, for the con- struction of canals and rail roads and the expenses inci- dent thereto.
SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, &c. That it shall be the duty of the commissioners of the internal im- provement fund to cause to be paid out of the monies borrowed in pursuance of this act, such sum or sums, as shall be necessary for the completion of the several divisions and sections of the Pennsylvania canal and rail road already located, as well as such other sum or sums as may be necessary for the prosecution of the canal and public works authorized by this act.
SEC. 12. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in all cases where a contract on the ca- nal or rail road shall be abandoned, it shall be the duty of the superintendent or acting canal commissioner to give at least two weeks public notice of reletting the same.
NER MIDDLESWARTH, Speaker of the House of Representatives. DANIEL STURGEON, Speaker of the Senate.
Approved,-The twenty second day of April A. D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine.
I. AND'W. SHULZE.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.
The articles of association of the House of Refuge, provide that - the' Board of Managers shall make a written, report of its proceedings, at every annual meeting. Agreeably to this provision, the following communication is respectfully submitted at the earliest assembly of the contributors after the institution has commenced its work of reformation.
The first object to which the Managers directed their attention, was the erection of a suitable building. It would have afforded but an imperfect experiment to exhibit the discipline of such an institution, without the peculiar accommodations which the whole scheme con- templates. Confinement without the appearance or the reality of punishment-entire separation from all de- scriptions ofadult offenders-the union of labor, educa- tion and reasonable amusement within the same walls -entire solitude during the night, and cautions super- intendence both by night and day, convenient arrange- ments for the officers of the establishment, were all to be combined. Had a temporary edifice been resorted to, which would have caused the omission of any one of these requisites, success might not have attended the experiment; and the result would perhaps be ascribed to deficiencies in the system, and not in the manner of its execution. Failure in the outset would have disap- pointed the hopes, and arrested the exertions of the san- guine; would have confirmed the forebodings of the un- friendly, and forfeited the claims to favour and encour- agement from the community, however it might have been originally disposed to afford a liberal patronage. Great exertions were therefore made to meet the views, and merit the generosity of the Legislature, by comple- ting a building in all respects adapted to the object .--- Frequent and earnest appeals were made to the public for assistance, and as was expected, the bountiful dis- position manifested in the legislative proceedings which authorised the Institution, has been seconded by a corresponding feeling and acting, on the part of pri- vate individuals. To few persons has the appeal been made in vain. The general effect has been such as might have been looked for in a community, where kindness is not generally over cautious in its gifts, and where affluence abounds. It was necessary, while these happy results had been but partially realized, that the work should proceed. A pledge had been given which must be redeemed. Embarrassments presented them- selves at every stage; difficulties without number were to be overcome. After a succession of efforts which were not merely strenuous and untiring, but hazardous and bold, the leading object was accomplished, in the completion of a building, extensive, commodious and well adapted to all its purposes; but expensive in its progress, and still requiring liberal aid to relieve it from debts which must be incurred. The building commit- tee made their final report and were discharged on the 3d of April. The total amount of their expenditure, which it is believed was conducted with scrupulous precision and economy, is $38,025 16. That nothing has been wasted or mismanaged in this large disburse- ment, will be apparent from the structure itself. Ofam- ple size to accommodate 172 inmates, each with a sepa- rate dormitory, it is composed of unexceptionable mate- rials, put together with skill, but with the utmost sim- plicity. The main edifice is 92 feet in length. Its cen- tre contain convenient apartments for a library, and for the use of the Managers and the families of the officers of the institution. The wings, which are of consequence thus entirely separate from each other, comprise the respective dormitories of the male and female pupils, and their several spacious halls for schools. Each lodg- ing room, of which there are eighty-six in either wing, is calculated for entire solitude, being 7 feet in length, and 4 feet in breadth, furnished only with a small bed- stead and shelf: but well lighted and ventilated, and ex-
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posed at all times to absolute superintendence' and in- spection. Workshops are constructed in the extensive area, which is surrounded by a lofty wall. The kitchen apartments are arranged in the rear of the centre build- ing. Infirmaries are provided with a view to such loca- tion as will secure quiet to the sick, and remove the healthy from the danger of contagion. A chapel of moderate dimensions is constructed so as to keep the different sexes from conversation and even from seeing each other. Large intervals between the several build- ings afford the means of recreation, exercise and ration- al amusement in the open air: and every thing is so con- structed as to admit of enlarged accommodation on the same general plans whenever the good effects of the ex- periment shall have appealed with success to public sympathy, and opportunity shall be thus attained to ex- tend the sphere of practical benevolence.
Having sufficiently advanced the work to exhibit it to the public and to receive pupils, the establishment was formally opened on the 29th of Nov. 1828, by an address from the President of the institution delivered to a large assembly .* The numerous and respectable individuals who visited the house on this occasion, appeared to take the liveliest interest in an establishment which to most of them was entirely novel, and to all, an object of anx- ious curiosity. Great satisfaction was expressed with the judicious arrangements of the place. Three thou- sand copies of the address were published, and have been widely disseminated.
On the 8th of December the first subject was intro- duced to the discipline of the house. This was a boy of fourteen years of age, who was committed by the May- or, and thus rescued, it is confidently hoped from the evils of a common prison, to which, except for this re- fuge, he must have been condemned.
Believing that the precise character of the Institution was not distinctly understood, the Managers took occa- sion to invite the different magistrates of the city and county of Philadelphia, to a meeting at the house. They attended to a considerable number, and were conducted through every part of the establishment, which was by this time in practical operation, with a number of chil- dren of both sexes, engaged in their different occupa- tions. After exhibiting to them the various mechani- cal employments, the obvious improvement which had been already attained, the course and method of in- struction both in handicraft and education, the arrange- ments for separate lodgings, and the manner in which recreation was encouraged and controlled,-the theory of the Institution was explained from the statute which authorised its establishment, and the attention of the magistracy was drawn towards the description of per- sons who might be received with a chance of reforma- tion when inclined to vice, and with the hope of use- ful instruction, when they might be merely ignorant but not habitually depraved. They wereconvinced thatwhole- some restraint did not necessarily imply that there had been crime; that infamy was not the consequence of a residence here; that the leading object was to avoid dis- grace, by cherishing a laudable pride in those who might become inmates; that punishment (except for of- fences committed in the institution, and with a view to preserve its discipline) was not mentioned in the law or contemplated by the plan. In a word that the whole system was the reverse of that which prevails in prisons -the object being to avoid contamination and infamy, to prevent crime, to inform the ignorant, to support the friendless and forsaken, and to qualify all to maintain themselves by virtuous industry, and to enter the world with a knowledge of what is right, and a capacity to pur- sue the path of rectitude.
A most successful appeal was made to the liberality of the Booksellers, in order to provide a suitable library. An hundred maps and seventeen hundred volumes were speedily bestowed. These latter consist of works of various descriptions, calculated to awaken an interest in the young-to lead them to the love of study, and in- * See Register, page 348.
sensibly to improve their understandings and their hearts.
A code of laws, or system of rules and regulations, has been prepared and printed, and together with the acts of assembly relating to the institution, has been . widely circulated for general and accurate information. It is believed that nothing is wanting to its liberal pat- ronage but a distinct understanding of its objects and designs. It is to be regretted that many yet remain un- informed of the peculiar character of this comparatively novel establishment, and in proportion to the care with which it is examined, will be, it is believed, the confi- dence in its efficacy and usefulness.
If the theory of the House of Refuge be perfectly understood, there is little danger that its practical ef- fects will not force themselves into notice: for the num- ber of inmates has increased with a rapidity which threatens to be greatly disproportioned to the perma- nant means for their support and instruction. There are now eighty in the Institution, viz: fifty-seven boys and twenty-three girls. The former are employed in book-binding, basket-making and wicker-works, shoe- making, tailoring, and carpenters' work. The latter in sewing, washing, ironing, mending, cooking, and housework generally. A description of the course of employment for a single day will serve to show the gen- eral habits and occupations of the place.
The bell rings at a quarter before 5 o'clock in the morning.
At 5 o'clock the dormitories are opened, and the boys after washing and combing assemble in the hall for morning worship. Their school exercises next commence, and continue till 7 o'clock, when they breakfast. At half past 7 they go to work, and con- tinue at work until 12, which is the time of dining. Af- ter finishing their dinner they hear a lesson or lecture on some useful, moral or scientific subject, until one o'clock. From one until five, when they go to supper, they are engaged at their respective employments. If the work be done within the alloted time-half an hour is allowed for recreation and play. School begins at half past five, and they remain there until a quarter be- fore eight, when after evening prayers they retire to rest, and the dormitories are all safely locked. With some slight variations the occupations and duties of the females are conducted in a like manner.
The very nature of the Institution prevents the pos- sibility of conducting it without considerable expense. The object is to prepare the children to earn their own livelihood, and as soon as they are sufficiently instruct ed to become valuable apprentices to any particular trade, te bind them out, and let their labour be available at first to their masters, and afterwards to themselves. It would defeat this great object, were they to be de- tained, after they have given satisfactory proof of refor- mation, and have become habituated to labour, and when they arrive at proficiency in any art, and become capable of earning wages. The mechanics who employ the boys, allow for their daily labour, of eight working hours, 123 cents each; a sum altogether inadequate to the discharge of the share of expense which would fall to each individual.
The exhibits annexed to the Treasurer's Report, will show the actual disbursements and the sources of reve- nue, and will plead for a farther extension of the bounty of the public.
In the estimate of advantages to be derived from an establishment of this nature, its little cost in comparison with an ordinary prison, or a penitentiary, is not to be overlooked. The greater facility with which the young can be confined and kept in order, than those who are advanced in years, in cunning and in crime, diminishes the precautions against escape, and makes the building's proportionably simple. An expenditure only to be justified by necessity, has attended the construction of prisons and penitentiaries in different parts of the country: yet the numbers proposed to be accommoda-
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ted in them, bear a proportion to the expense, alto- gether different from the corresponding estimates af- forded by a House of Refuge. In the latter institution besides, the shortness of the period contemplated for confinement, probably not averaging more than 12 months, authorises the belief, that by a constant succes. sion of pupils, still farther increase will be given to the numbers to be benefited, without any addition of expense.
It will be recollected, that the views of the Legisla- ture, in promoting this Institution, were not confined to any particular place, but embraced the probable wants of the whole commonwealth. As the population is greatest here, the danger of idleness and crime is the most imminent .- But the house is open for the recep- tion, not only of the idle and deserted of the neigh- bourhood, but of any part of Pennsylvania. The only difference consists in this-that while in the county of Philadelphia, the Managers are at liberty to reject or receive those who may be committed to their care, the proper authorities of other counties need entertain no fears that their orders will be ineffectual, as the certifi- cate which they give is compulsory, and the individuals who in their judgment are "proper subjects" cannot be refused. Advantage has already been taken of this provision, in the county of Delaware.
Among the provisions made for religious instruction, the clergy of the different denominations of Christians will be invited to officiate in the chapel, on the first day of the week, and a constant succession of pious and edi- fying counsel from men of talents and virtue, may be calculated on, and will be productive, it is hoped, of the happiest effects.
Experience has already satisfied all those who have been engaged in the cares of the establishment, of the importance of commencing the work of reformation and instruction at an early age. The nearer the approach to manhood, the less pliant is the temper of the wayward- the more reluctant are the ignorant to receive informa- tion, and the less willing are the vicious and depraved to relinquish their improper habits. While the law au- thorises the reception of all males under the age of twenty-one, and of females not exceeding that of eigh: teen-it is not desirable that the effort to do good should be withdrawn from those with whom it is certain to avail, in order that it may be divided with others on whom exertions are much less likely to be successful .- The folly of infancy is easily enlightened by instruc- tion; its errors are not difficult of correction and res- traint. And when the mind is capable of reflection, it is kept right by the lessons which are then instilled. But those who have reached, even in youth, a vigour of intellect, which has been exercised, and displayed only in the commission of crimes, have to undergo the task of forgetting much that is evil, before they are fitted to acquire what is good. Experience in vice too, exposes to a relapsé, even where seeming reformation has been produced; and companionships which have at one time given inducement or countenance to vicious habits, are always liable to be renewed.
Could a selection be made, it is believed that more substantial benefit would arise, from receiving those on- ly, who are under sixteen years of age, and trusting to the hope of preventing if possible hereafter, by in- structing the young, the wickedness and vice of the more mature.
That good effects have already flowed from the exer- tions that have been made, will sufficiently appear by an extract from the communication lately received from the acting superintendent.
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