The age-herald., 1899-07-09
PLANS FOR THE BUILDINGS
Will Be Submitted At Once-Mrs. Pear sons Communication to Woman's Club-News and Gossip of
 Birmingham's Society.
The Industrial School
To Be Located Here


 To Be Located Here
 The most important piece of news chron- iced the past week was the acceptance of the Birmingham Commercial clubs offer of a location for the Alabama White Boys Industrial school There has been so much thought and investigation given to the sub- ject, such careful consideration of all it's phases, before formal action was taken, that the work should now go forward easily. With the appropriation of the state and the location of the school assured, there will be no further conflicting inter- ests, but hand in hand will the work of completion be attained. Specifications and plans for the buildings will soon be sub mitted to the governing board. Meanwhile the work Of clearing the land, of planting the orchards and vineyards can be begun. Hundreds of grape vines have been given, and if other practical-minded persons would donate a wagon and team, work the Alabama farm could be begun at once.
 The farm and school will not be known as a reformatory. While it's mission will be to create home for wayward and n- corrigible boys, 1t does not propose to stig- matize them by calling this Alabama home a reformat tory. The farm is chartered as the Alabama White Boys Industrial School. There have been objections raised to calling the school industrial, owing to the number of industrial institutions for young women already established in the state. It is understood that an application will be made to the legislature asking that the school be changed to the Alabama Home" There is after all a great deal in d name.
 The need at present, however, is for Bir- mingham and Jefferson county to realize the value of having the school located in this vicinity. While it will be a state in- stituton still it seems that this section, following the example of the Commercial Club would more promptly and generously assist in the important task of building and maintaining this cherished project of Ala bama women. The cooperation which this philanthropic movement has received indi- c1tcS that 1t is a popular one, and the wo- men who have been its inspiration are anX- ious that every county in the state will con- tribute to the buildings Later on the city papers will open column for the publica- tion of contributions. The railroad officials have shown so generous a spirit hitherto that the ladies are assured that materials for the buildings would be shipped free of cost.
 In writing of the Industrial school, it is impossible not to speak of Mrs. R. D. John ston the chairman of tho committee, ap- pointed by the Alabama Federation for she not only influenced the club women of the state to labor for the Boys Industrial School but it was through her individual efforts that the matter was brought before the Alabama legislators. She has labored in season and out of season, believing that nothing could prevent the establishing of a practicable institution for wayward boys in this state under the auspices of Alabama women.
 In an interview yesterday Mrs Johnston spoke of her recent visit to the Berkshire farm in New York stateNand other places for wayward boys, which she and Mrs. George B. Eager of Montgomery visited. Through the courtesy of Governor Roose- welt they were given every opportunity to investigate the methods employed at the farms and schools in the state of New York
 "The beautiful farm in the Berkshire hills was managed in a most ideal way" said Mrs. Johnston. "We, of course. wanted to know the cost of maintaining the insti- tuition, and were told that the average eX- pense per capita was $l650 a month. This was far greater than anticipate the average expenses will be for the Alabama school. I have compared" continued Mrs. Johnston, ''the statistics gathered at the Berkshire farm with statistics of the Mercy Home in Birmingham and the re- suit conVinces me that our women here are the best financers in the country The official statistics of the board of man. agers of the Mercy Home show that dur ing the past seven years they have aver aged four to five dollars per capita, tAat, too, in a small house, for which they had to pay rent and had about tWenty-six in- mates.
 "In their new home there are forty-fve inmates and more salared help and I think that the expense per capita is now less than $4, including everything that is given, which shows the judicious management of the women who compose the board"
 Mrs. Johnston spoke enthusiastically of the practical management of the Mercy Home which she hoped would be a refuge for wayward girls, as the industrial school would be for the boys of Alabama. Mrs. Johnston dwelt upon the generosity of the Birmingham Commercial club, and said she hoped the trust reposed in Alabama women would emphasize what clever fnanciers women could be whenever it was necessary. "The Commercial club of Birmingham. added Mrs. Johnston, "could not have ad- yertised itself in a better way than by it's recent offer. There could be no more effective method" she said smilinsly, "than for ones praises to be sung by the women of the Alabama federation"