Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-21

70 O clock Tuesday afternoon. At that
time Chairman buckingham referred To
tne TACT OF the presence of q large number
OF ladies' and gentlemen representing the
BOARD OF managers OF the Ferris Industrial
School,
On invitation Mr.. Lore informed the
court that the trustees of the institti-
ton had requested several gentlemen to
represent them before the Levy Court and
to tell that body what Is needed al the In
dustrial school. The trustees ask the Levy
Court to make an annual appropriation of
Sz.OOO to aid in supporting the institution.
The speaker then introduced the Hon.
Leonard IL. Wales, judge of the United
States court.
JUDGE WALES ADDRESS.
Judge Wales, said "lfr. Chairman and
Gentlenle's Of the Levy Court The request of
this delegation is that you grant ain addi-
tlonal appropriation for the benefit Of the
Ferris Industrial School,"
The speaker then gave brief historical
statement of the institution. He referred
to an enactment of 1865 which established
a house of refuge for juveniles. This fact
alone showed that the Legislature even at
That date recognized the needs of an insti-
tuition OF this nature. Nothing was done
under this act as the Levy Court made no
appropriation and no funds were raised.
But in 1881, through the bequest of John
Ferris, large sum from $4,000 to $50, 900
was realized for the purpose of establish
ing reform school. Credit is due to Dr..
Caleb HARLAN for his action under the
terms of the will. He was entitled to ap-
nropriate the bequest 10 his own use or to
the project of house of refuge.
The Dequest was carefully looked after
and administered until it increased to
such an extent that the trustees were en-
abled eventually to establish what is now
known as the Ferris Industrial School.
And now unless aided by the Levy Court
we must stop where we are. We ask for
1000 IN place of the $500 annually given
the institution. We can now with diff
Guilty support the 40 or so pupils at the
school.
Judge Wales drew attention 20 the fol-
lowing paragraph in last year report of
the superintendent
Our most pressing need is more room.
The dormitory, school room and dining
room will accommodate 30 or IS boys,
while our number has never fallen below
~ and has been as high as 49, causing
crowded condition of the house through
out. We have been compelled to refuse
admission to large number during the
past year, the courts being Obliged to let
them go with reprmand or commit them
to jail where their association with older
criminals is likely to advance them long
way on the road to ruin. Many of them
are of tender years and if removed from
and brought under good influ-
encc,. would become good citizens and
blessing TO the community to which they
might otherwise prove curse
And also to the report of the executive
committee of same date that the income
or financial support of the school is en-
tirely inadequate to accomplish what is de-
sired also:
"On account of the crowded condition
of the boys in the dormtories and the
want OF means at the disposal of the ofii-
GERS of the institution the executive COM
mlttce has found IL necessary to decline to
take quite q number of boys who have
been committed during the year; therefore
the number of inmates has not increased
over what it was last year,
The report of the school committee states
that the floor space will accommodate
only 30 desks, while the school numbers
II pupils.
The household committee says ,'our
needs are becoming more apparent every
year. The dormitories are overcrowded
and the school room is too small to accom-
modate, &c"
BUILDING IDEA RELfNoUIsHED.
At the last meeting OF the board the idea
OF building an addition was reinquished
by the managers until they received assur-
ance OF a sufficient income. Unless we
get aid from the Levy Court we cannot
go on.
The finance committees report shows
that the source of income is deficit figure
OF 5000 year. This explains our financial
condition and the impossibility of receiy-
ing any more inmates at the school,
Judge Wales adverted to the fact of the
legal power the court possesses to make
for this purpose lie con-
sidered the industrial school system as car
red on here quite as important as that of
our free schools. | don't know, he con-
tinued, that any one objects to the city's
paying 100000 or SO year for educa-
tional purposes. Also, you make appro-
priations for Sunday-schools. But, this
institution is TO reach class that the free
school and the Sunday-school cannot
reach, These children have neither
guardian nor, parent. They drift into
dangerous class of the community. That
Is the inevitable consequence of allowing
children to run wild, with no one respon-
slble for them. If the Levy Court make
this appropriation. as | think it will, we
will be enabled to carry on the work
There is one important point that should
be remembered. This IS not a private
Il is a public one. The
school is compelled to receive certain
under years may be committed by the
general sessions court, the municipal court
and by justices of the peace. It is not at
The discretion of the school board to reject
any of the boys. Then again the grand
Jury can commit any such minor in order
20 save him from the stigma of criminal,
Now from the present oyer-crowding we
are not able to take all these cases. We
have had to send the message in different
directions to stop sending the boys to us.
A pupil costs about $40 year. For this
he is fed, sheltered, clothed and instructed.
Each person in New Castle Jail costs the
county S73. But he does not get the advan-
ages we give our ward.
We ask the Levy Court to grant us at
east half what ii costs us to keep boy.
With less than that we cannot keep up the
All other states and communities around
Us have their own large institutions in
some instances on magnificent scale.
receives S135,000 annually, one
lalf from the city Of Philadelphia and the
lther from the state.
Referring again to the Ferris Industrial
school, Judge Wales said the boys there
IRE contented. They are not truants.
When they leave the institution they do so
WIN ocit-itolltct llut US 10 the CTllul-
lals from New Castle Jail.
JUDGE BALLS REMARKS.
Mr.. Lore then introduced Judge Ball of
he municipal court, who said in effect
The great difficulty ! experience as Judge
# the municipal court is what to do with
juvenile prisoners. The Ferris Industrial
school has reached its limit of serving the
State. 1t has gone to the extent Of its
.bility in saving the State from this
dangerous class.
Our courts do not contemplate sending
he boys to Jail to associate with hardened |
criminals. Yet it is not right that they
,e left at large. Petty thieving must !
70 stopped. IL has always appeared |
ma, M n diaarrls.a Tint a, roLo..I e |