Hon. Fred M. Warner, Governor of Michigan:

It again becomes our duty as well as pleasure to report to you the continued welfare and high standard of excellence of the Industrial School for Boys. Discipline in the School is maintained in a degree that merits an expression of approval from the Board of Trustees. The tasks and duties placed upon the boys are of necessity somewhat strict, but they are performed with alacrity and zeal.

Corporal punishment has been reduced to a minimum and is used only as a last resort.

That the tasks of labor and instruction, and the rules of behavior, and the penalties following derelictions, are just and reasonable in the minds of the boys, is strongly evidenced by the fact that since January 1st last there have been from an average of 747 boys but five attempted escapes.

Your Board has recently authorized better care of the boys' teeth to the extent of providing and requiring the use of tooth brushes, and the filling, in an effective manner, of decayed teeth. The expense of this care of the boys' teeth we believe will be less than a dollar per year for each boy. We also believe that the material benefits accruing to these future citizens from our better dentistry are well worth the cost.

We report the completion of the new chapel. The building in size, strength and appearance is all that is required. We were unable to provide proper seating and for the present the seats from the old chapel will be used. At some future time we hope the Legislature will furnish us with the means for better sittings.

The expense of maintaining the Institution for the last year was 32 53-100 cents per day for each boy. This includes every expense except construction of new buildings.

The main problem in this and probably all similar institutions is "what is the best that can be done with so-called incorrigibles." At present those with us are mingled with the other boys and their bad influences upon their associates go far to defeat the purposes for which the School is maintained. At some time your future Board will make some recommends as to the care of this class of boys.

Our farm furnishes the largest, most healthful, and best employment for the boys. Our present tillable acreage is about one hundred and sixty. This is not sufficient to accomplish what we want, and for several years we have advantageously rented land at five dollars per acre. per year The Institution needs now more farm land, and those needs will increase in the future.

We would earnestly recommend that the Board be authorized to purchase at least eighty acres of suitable adjoining land.

Attached hereto we submit our estimated requirements for the next biennial period. The amount asked for is $6,000 per year more than for the present period, but the estimate of requirements has been very carefully considered.

Very respectfully,

F. P. SAYRE,

W. A. ROSENKRANS,
H. H. LARNED.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

LANSING, MICH.

To the Honorable Board of Trustees, Industrial School for Boys: Gentlemen-I have the honor to submit herewith my report covering the two years ending with the 30th of June, 1908.

During the year 1907 we cared for 1,057 boys and during the year ending with the 30th of June, 1908, we cared for 1,058 boys. On the 30th of June, 1907, we had in the School 733 boys, and on the 30th of June, 1908, we had in the School 736 boys. In July we had 753 boys and the number has been constantly increasing until on November 1st we had 766 boys, the largest number ever in the institution at one time. We have received more boys from Wayne county in the last seven months than in any year in the history of the institution.

The new juvenile law as passed in the regular session of the Legislature, making the Probate Judge judge of the Juvenile Court, was declared defective by the Attorney General; but during the special session another law covering the defects was submitted and passed by the Legislature, making it possible for the Probate Judge and County Agent to commit boys to this institution without a trial by jury unless demanded by the boy or those representing him.

We are having considerable trouble with some of the commitments under the new law, a few of the Probate Judges thinking it not necessary for us to know the facts in regard to a boy's past life and simply say that he is a delinquent. If we are to correct the boy's habits and endeavor to make him a useful citizen it is very necessary that we be in possession of all the information in regard to his past life so that we may be able to help him and also to classify his offense on our books. For a time we thought the new law would reduce the commitments to the School but this proved not to be the case, as we are receiving more boys under it than under the old law. A good many of the judges are making a study of the delinquent child, and taking a great deal of interest in his welfare. The new law made no change in the ages of boys committed to the School, except that truant or truant disorderly boys have to be twelve years old before they can be committed, so they are sent to us between the ages of ten and sixteen for larceny and all other crimes. It is my opinion that the age limit should be extended to allow us to keep boys until they are twenty if it is thought necessary, and leave the ages at which they can be committed as they are now.

The health of the boys is one of the most important subjects at all times, and we have been very fortunate in not having any serious epidemics during the last two years.

The general deportment of the boys in the School has been good, and many were placed on parole, who, as a rule, are doing very nicely.

I have had many inquiries from parents of boys who would like to have