Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-21
My b LOCATED HERE.
State Institution for the Blind May Be
Established in Wheeling.
The Board of Regents and Officers
Of the Present Institution, are
Favoroble to the Removal Pro-
ject-A Bill to be Introduced in
the Present Legislature.

Reference has been made in the Reg
lister to the movement to separate the
schools for mutes and the blind, now
located at Romney and to establish the
institution for the blind in this city.
Strange to say, the citizens of Wheel
ing have not manifested much interest
in the matter. Wheeling has no State
institution, and an effort should be
made to induce the Legislature to To-
cate the blind school here when the
schools are separated.
As matter of fact there is an organ
lied and determined opposition among
the people of the Eastern Panhandle,
and particularly Of Hampshire county,
to the removal of either school from
Romney. The separation of the mutes
and blind is, however, regarded as al
most an assured fact.
The condition of affairs at ROmney
is so grave that prompt action by the
Legislature is imperative. For some
years the necessity fer more school
room has been apparent. and If a new
building is not provided, there will be
mutes and blind whose education will
be neglected, because Of lack of school
room. This statement is made on tho
authority Of Hon. c. w. Brockunier of
this city, a members of the Board of
Regents of the school. This condition
of affairs has existed for over year,
and the number Of students shows a
gradual increase.
But the crowded condition Of The
Romney school is lot the only reason
given in support Of the movement 10
separate the mutas ard the blind. in
his last report to the Regents, the sup
erintendent of the school recommended
the change. There are many reasons
given. among whica are the differences
in the nature of the sports and plays
popular with the mutes and the blind.
Another reason advanced. and one
which had much weight with the Board,
was the lack Of facilities for musical
education in small communities like
Romney. If the institution were lOcat-
ef in or near Wheeling. the students
would have an opportunity to attend
musical entertainments, and to listen
10 public addresses. There are but
three OlutI HtdteS III Nuc Oul'h " iiNh
have schools for mute and blind under
the same roof The Board agreed
unanimously that the best interests of
the institution demanded the separd-
ton of the schools Wheeling Was
mentioned as the city possessing the
greatest advantages for blind students.
The old school at ROmney would be
large enough for mutes for many
years to come 1t is Il splendid ioca-
ton. with pure air and good water in
abundance.
The Regents appointed committee
to look after the proposed change, con-
sisting of w. S. Wiley, of New Martins
Vile. Attorney Caste. of Writ county,
and c. w. Brokunier, of this city 1t is
understood that q bill has been framed
and will be introduced at the present
session of the Legislature, providing
for separation Of the schools. and the
establishment of an institution for the
blind in Wheeling. DR.. McClung, Pres
ident of the Board is a member Of the
Legislature. Whether the bill will pass
is a matter for conjecture. In his mes
sage Governor MacCorkle opposed the
change. and 1t is understood that the
Hampshire county citizens will have
strong lobby to fight the measure.