The New York herald., 1874-08-04
JERSEY PROGRESS.
Institutions for the Care OF the Deaf,
Dumb, Blind and Feeble Minded To
BE Erected-Interesting Statistics.

Institutions for the Care OF the Deaf,
Dumb, Blind and Feeble Minded To
BE Erected-Interesting Statistics.
The Commissioners appointed in pursuance OF An
act Of the Legislature Of New Jersey to provide
suitable sites for the erection thereon OF buildings
for the care OF the deaf and dumb, the blind and
feeble minded OF the State have Just advertised
for proposals for the same follOws:-A site con-
tanning not less than twenty acres for the deaf
and dumb; one containing not less than five acres
for the blind, and one containing not less than
fifty acres Tor the feeble minded. All the sites
must be remote from malarial influences, and
capable Of complete drainage, and Of securing
thereon an abundant supply Of sweet, soft water
The proposals must state the lowest price per acre
1t will be furnished to the State, giving to the
State an option to purchase 1t at the price named
at any time before the 1st OF April, 1875. All pro-
posals must be directed to the Chairman, c. D.
Ueshler, New Brunswick n. J.
In relation to this latest example OF the prog ress
OF the age in New Jersey the following lnOrma ton
will be found interesting
New Jersey, in accordance with a legislative act
approved on March H. OF the same year, appointed
Messrs. Charles ID. Desher, Jeremiah Baker, Will
liam y. Yard, Charles ID. Hendrickson, Ralph b.
Gowdy and Eldridge MIX as commissioners to
examine into the condition and ascertain the
number OF the deaf and dumb, blind and feeble
minded persons, Inhabitants OF the state, and also
to report to the feasibility OF building an asylum
or asylums for such persons. The summer follow
ing these commissioners submitted report set
ting forth in detail the condltion and number OF
the unlortunates alluded to, from which ls CLEANED
the following important Statistics
The whole number or dear and dumb persons Is
not less than 500, that OF the biind not less than
600, and that OF the feeble minded exceeds 1000.
To provide asyiums ior the care and custody OF
their whole number, without regard to age
capablllty for Improvement, the estimated cost OF
the grounds and buildings would be as iollows:-
For 500 deaf and dumb. $500 600
For ,0O feeble minded. S0,00)
The Commissioners believe that the more effect
i've plan to be pursued would be to provide for
those only who Within the educaDie ages,
OF persons 10 be as folows:-
For the deaf and dumb. $160 900
For the bind SW VU
For the feeble minded. .24Ou0o
The report lurther states that the cost of each
could be reduced below the sums stated by re-
duclng the quantity OF the grounds attached and
the Commissioners consider IL settled iact, that
with the exercise or the utmost frugalty and even
parsmony 1t will not be possible to provide tnst1
tutions or Inferior grade even, adequate for the
pupil or q total oil $3.50, 900. From q comparison
with data furnished from other States, 1t ls be-
neved that the cost OF maintenance would not
exceed $3.50 per capita for nrst class institutions.
On the suppOsition that the whole number within
+ educapl ages avaied themselves OF the benefit Of
the proposed institutions the cost then would be
lor:-
l67 deaf and dumb. ...$H 75o
S33 feeble minded 49, $50
or a total OF $4,000 for 700 detectives, Deing
Sl3s 400 more than the State Is now paying yearly
iOr the OF 12l in the institutions OF other
States. IL is not probable, however that for
years to come more than one-half OF the educable
detectives can be gathered into the institutions
when PROVIDED; in winch event the annual cost Of
their education and maintenance will not exceed
$S7,50o for 35O benehciareS, against $50 oo0 now