House of Refuge should fully remunerate for the cost of main-
tenance. This is done in but very few penitentiaries, even with
adult labor and a full days work. At the first glance the folly
of any such expectation is at once seen. The majority of our
inmates are under thirteen years of age. The average of age of
the whole number in the several kindred institutions in the
country is twelve and two-thirds years, and the average of daily
labor is six and one-half hours, the remainder of the day being-
consumed in school for an average of, say four and one-halt hours,
and the balance at meals. Now, it has been satisfactorily as-
certained that with the boy under fourteen years of age, his re-
form may be generally secured with about two years' detention
and discipline; with those over fourteen, when committed, and
especially over sixteen, a longer time on an average is required.
With these data it will be noted, first, that the age of the majority
of inmates and the time set apart for labor, preclude any thing
like pecuniary remuneration for any available employment; and
again, that the term of detention which should never be beyond
the point of what is considered as a safe reclamation, is too short
to attempt teaching an inmate a trade, while the only class of
whom could be expected any thing like a return of the cost of
maintenance, are the very few over the age of sixteen years; and
under existing circumstances, many reasons make it desirable to
place these out of the House whenever a favorable opportunity-
occurs.                                                                                 

Notwithstanding all these difficulties however, as constant and
systematic employment is one of the most important essentials in
the successful management of the Refuge, every endeavor is used
to secure appropriate labor for the inmates. To engage in any
manufacture by investing a capital for the purpose, has been found
to be bad policy in a financial view, and hence the only mode
now adopted in other institutions, is employment by hiring out
the labor of the boys by contract. With us, the obstacle to the
availing ourselves of this measure, has hitherto been the compa-
ratively small number that could be profitably set apart for the
purpose, and thus no inducement could be offered to manufac-
turers sufficiently attractive to secure an engagement. And be-
sides, if a good home is offered to a boy and he can be safely
recommended, it is felt to be our first duty to secure it for him.
This may happen just as he is beginning to be profitable to his
employer, and hence another difficulty arises which interferes ma-
terially with the making of contracts. As a counterbalance to
these things, and as employment is the chief thing desired, the rate
of wages demanded is necessarily small. But the most of these dis-
couragements will gradually disappear as the institution becomes
better understood and the number of inmates increases, inasmuch
as a better and larger selection of capable lads can then be made,
and mechanics will discover how their interests may be subserved

5