The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14
MODEL TOWN FOR ORPHANS.
New York Juvenile Asylum's Plans for
Housing Children.

New York Evening Post.


The current issue of Charities tells of the
model village which the New York Juvenile
Asylum is about TO build at Echo hills, a
point overlooking the Hudson river. near
Dobbs ferry. The cluster of stone buildings
on Washington heights is TO be abandoned,
and community life begun. Here the chill
dren Will be taught something OF civic
spirit, of the ideals of neighborliness, and OF
effective social cooperation"
They Will learn how century
community feeds itself, and more, how 1t
can beautify itself. how II should be lighted,
and what public parks and sewerage sys-
TENS stand for when properly conducted.
In the fifty-one years of its activity, the
New York Juvenile Asylum has trained,
educated and maintained nearly 80. 600 chill
dren, and has secured homes in the West
for more than 5000 who were homeless, or
even more unfortunate. The children have
come mainly from the dense districts that
have been invaded by immgrants-districts
with less than % per cent Of natiye-born
white population.
Several years ago the institution decided
TO relinquish its realty holdings in New
York city, and find another home. An old
Hudson-river estate of 277 acres was pur-
chased, and plans for a settlement were
drawn. The primary idea is that of Segre-
gate system. instead of the present congre-
gate barrack plan, thus allowing for the
proper classification of the children, and
providing them with home atmosphere.
When completed. Echo hills will consist of
about eighty buildings, including places of
worship, schools, libraries, workshops, gym
naSlumS, an administration DullulnS ana
living cottages, all set amid attractive seem
cry.
Each living cottage will have its guar
dian, and not more than twenty boys, nor
more than fifteen girls will be housed i'm a
cottage. The groups will be selected accord
ing to their fitness and for each sex there
will be several single-rOom cottages to be
occupied by those children who have shown
meritorious qualities. Athletic fields, play
grounds and agriculture will furnish an ad-
ditional health-giVing feature.
To carry out this work OF construction
and administration, the board of directors
extended call to Charles ID. Hilles, who,
as superintendent of the Boys Industrial
School at Lancaster, o., was responsible in
no small measure for the marked develop
ment of that institution. Much patient
study on the accepted designs" writes the
new superintendent I'm his last report, has
resulted in practical working drawings of
many cottages, and in acceptable specifica-
tions for the sewerage, sewage disposal,
surface drainage. grading. roadmaking and
water systems. In preparation for this es-
sential preliminary engineering, all the
physical conditions entering into the prob
lem were investigated, and an accurate to-
biographical survey was made OF the por-
tons of the property that are to be immedi-
ately developed
The colony will be a composite of the
leading kindred schools of this country and
Europe, and will be unique in three salient
features, viz, in small groups, individual
room cottages and in cottage dining rooms.
The present funds of the New York Juve-
nile Asylum are sufficient for only a partial
development of the new village. The treas
urer is Henry Talnadge-