The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-30
STATE AID FOR THE BLIND.
An Appropriation VIII BE Asked from
the Next Legislature.

Prof c. S. McGiffin. manager or the
Recommending department or the indiana
Institute for the Blind. is taking great IN
terest in the proposition Involved In the
Recommendation of the retiring superintend-
ent of the institute for a home for the
needy blind. eat the present time,' said
he, there are five States in the Union
that have such homes. The first was estab-
lished in Pennsylvania in 1873. for men, and
shortly afterward home was opened IN
the same State for blind women. Both are
In Philadelphia. The Illinois home which
Is at Chicago, is not quite completed. Inc
last Illinois Legislature made an appropri-
alton of 100000 for the buildings. which are
capable of accommodating two hundred per-
sons. These institutions are nearly self
sustaining, the annual appropriation for
maintenance, when once an established
fact, being very small-l Within a short time
l have collected the names of ninety-eight
persons, men and women, who are blind
and receiving help from charity. Eighty
three of them are men and fifteen women.
Thy range in age from eighteen years to
sixty-eight. OF the men twenty-eight are In
county asylums. nine beggars and for
ty-eight are living as best they can by
the aid of a little charity. The greater
part of these have received instruction at
the Indiana Institute for the Blind. Many
who complete their course with credit in
the schools for the blind compelled to
return to their interior homes. where no
one is found capable Of directing them as
to fruitful employment. Not having the
confidence OF experience by which perma-
nent work may be secured. the blind grad
uate is too apt to surrender himself to a
condition of inactivity and dependence. His
neighborhood is slow to concede his abil-
fty, and the blind workman too often yields,
as have intimated. AS have not heard
from over half the counties in the State.
l feel sure that there are not less then
$50 to 200 blind persons who would be eli-
gible to the benefits of such home"
What would be necessary in the way OF
an appropriat ton 2?
IF We could secure an appropriation of
$4,000 1t would be sufficient amount for
the erection of suitable buildings and their
equipment. In case the State funds are not
sufficient to justify an appropriation at this
sale of the tract of ground lying north OF
the present institute for the education Of
blind youth. This belongs to the State, and,
having been purchased for the blind, should
be used for their benefit. In the States
which have these homes the INDECENT bind
graduates of the Institutes are allowed to
enter the State homes, and are paid wages
according to the quality and quantity Of
their work. In return they are charged a
reasonable amount for their board, and In
this way an energetic person will be en-
abled to earn his own start in the world,
and therefore he would be more apt always
TO be self-supporting. These homes would
prevent many blind persons from going to
the county aSylumS, and IL will take the
beggars from the streets and make them
self-supporting and Industrious citizens