Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-25
New Electric. Line Wilt Annex
the Mitchellville School to
Des Moines
GIRLS, WILL VISIT THE CITY
Superintendent Fitzgerald Intends to
Have the Girls Avail Themselves of
the Advantages Of City Sight Seeing
institutions Will Not Pay Demur-
rage Charges on Coal.
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines, Sept. 25.-It was the evil
dent purpose Of those who located the
state institutions of Iowa that not one
Of them should be at the state capital.
Most Of them were located on farms
near towns or medium sized cities. 1t
has been said that the policy of the
state is to avoid the contact with large
cities and to make the institutions In
dependent and isolated. All this is soon
to be changed with regard to at least
one institution. The industrial school
for girls was located at Mitchellville, in
the eastern edge Of Polk county, eigh-
teen miles from Des Moines. 1t has
grown into q considerable institution
In recent years, and over 200 inmates
are regularly kept there. In few
weeks MitChellville will be practically
annexed to Des Moines as suburb be-
cause of the opening of the new cleo
trio interurban line to COlfax. This Is
now in operation to Altoona, and VIII
soon be in operation to Mitchellville.
When this is done Mitchelville will not
be SO isolated in the world. In fact, this
is the very thing that pleases Superin-
tendent Fitzgerald Of the girls indus
trial school. He believes that isolation
is not a good thing. He will see to it
that the girls under his care have
greater opportunity to see more OF the
world, to know what others are doing
and to become familiar with better life,
and not to become hernits and grow up
in ignorance of what Is going on all
about them. To this end tits probable
that he will arrange to have the girls
come to Des Moines In squads and
classes and attend churchand entertain
ments and to get a chance to see things
and hear others outside Of the indus
trial school. This will be the most radi-
cal innovation of the kind ever made
in reformatory work in Iowa, but SUI
perintendent Fitzgerald has been given
to innovations and has been remarks
bly, successful. The girls orchestra
may come to Des Moines and give sew
eral concerts. Mr.. Fitzgerald believes
he has in his orchestra of forty pieces
the best orchestra in the state today.
There are those who could give vocal
numbers also with credit, and a fine
concert would not be at all impossible
with the girls Of the Iowa industrial
school, The opening of the interurban
will bring them much nearer to the
state capital, where they may display
their talents.
II am a great believer in the value Of
music at the schools Of this character"
said Superintendent Fitzgerald, land !
would not know how to get along with
out it. It serves to awaken an interest
among the girls in something good.
put in nearly eight years getting the
musical feature of the work started at
the Eldora school for boys, and it has
been q great success. OF the band we
brought down here to a state fair some
years ago from the boys reform school
instructors in music in state institu-
lions, one in Minnesota, at Red Wing,
and two In the east. Three of the boys
from Eldora are bandmasters in the
army. hope to accomplish as good re-
suits here at Mitchellville. There are
many Of the girls who are quite capable
of becoming music teachers. 1t is some
thing for them to look forward to,
to interest them, and an in
centive to good work. It is surprising
what demand there is for this musical
OF the 200 or more girls
at Mitchellville I believe that all but
perhaps a half dozen have asked for in
in music. have just secured
a very fine violin teacher from Indiana,
a graduate of the normal school at VAL
paraiso, End will make other improve
ments. 1cel that the work is only fair-
ly begun.
"Then there Is the fancy work done
by the girls at the school. They are
taking great interest in that. adopt
ed the policy Of giving the girls all the
money received from their fancy work.
They must do this work out of school
hours and they are entitled to all they
can make. 1t has proved very success
full. Just now the girls are beginning
to earn their Christmas money. They
have orders ahead for hundreds of dol
lars worth of work, and they do some
splendid work. With the prospect OF
fancy work and earning some
thing besides the girls enter on this
work with great zeal. Between their
music and their fancy work the girls
have no time for mischief, and in the
two years and a half / have been there
we have not had one girl run away, nor
has there been a hint or suggestion of a
desire on the part of any one to run
away for more than a year. Between
keeping them busy and their scbooI