Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-11-05
FEEBLE
MINDED
INSTITUTE
Report of the Special
Agent. State Board
Appointed TO Visit Other In
stitntiODs and Make
Recommendations

The state board of public building
commissioners is spending great
deal of time investigating the lands
offered to the state for a site for the
Feeble Minded institute to be located
near this city. The great points that
are emphasized by the report of Ex-
pert Jones are abundance of land,
abundance OF water and fuel, and
electric railroad communication.
The fuel problem has become a seri-
Gus one in the larger cities of Ore
gon, and the amount of timber avail
able for eordwood will cut some fig
ure In the site selected.
Following extracts are from the
report OF G. w. Jones, on the pro-
posed school for feeble minded, who
was appointed by the state board of
capital building commissioners. to
visit similar institutions and report.
He says:
Chapter 1S1. OF the laws of the
legislature OF 1905. made II the duty
of your board TO ascertain the best
means, for the care and training OF
feeble minded and epileptic children.
You were authorized by this act to
visit states maintaining institutions
for this purpose, or appoint an agent
10 carry on the Investigation for you
The object OF the inspection was to
find out the probable cost OF main.
tenance. the kind and character OF
buildings required and secure other
IN formation that would be OF ad-
vantage In the establishment OF an
institution for the care OF these un-
fortunate persons In Oregon. You
were also required TO report the re-
suit OF your inquiry and investiga-
tion 10 the next session OF the legis-
lature.
Institutions Visited.
"It was my honor TO be appointed
your agent for this important work
and pursuant TO my duty as such
agent spent ten weeks beginning
May 30. 1905. inspecting II institu-
tions located In various parts of the
United States.
Feeble Minded and Insane.
1T will be necessary before pro-
coeding further to define the word
feeble minded, give the classes In
cluded in les meaning and make
statement OF the aim and purpose OF
the institution devoted to the care
OF the persons designated by the
term.
The compound word. feeble mind
ed IL very comprehensive In mean
ing. IL includes all grades OF idiocy
and lmbeoility. from the persons a
little below the normal, incapable of
education by ordinary methods. TO a
profund idiot that simply eats and
lives. Feeble-mindednes Is distin-
guished from insanity In this very
important respect: Feeble-minded-
neus is condition OF the brain due
60 retard growth. which surgery nor
medicine has been able TO alleviate.
Insanity Is disease OF the brain
which frequently yields 20 the skin
OF the physician. The feeble-mind-
ed lack development and should have |
care and training. The insane need |
a remedy and should have care and |
treatment 'Dementia. says Ireland
begins with average intelligence.
which gradually diminishes: idiooy
with a low amount OF Intelligence.
which gradually Increases The
fecble-minded require development
and growth; the instance medicine or
surgery, one needs for It's amelior-
alton school. the other a hospital.
"The distinction is the basis for
the separation OF the feeble-minded
and insane which has been effected
IN most OF the state of the union as
well as the countries OF Europe.
Why Train the Feehle-NIinded.
''one OF the well established doc
Irinea OF our civilization Is that
every child Is entitled 20 the highest
development OF which 4 10 capable
nd thla Il Is the duty Of the state
o aid In providing means for an ele-
nentary education. This principle
Ipplies with special force 10 the
Isipless For many years the rights
Z The deaf and blind were dlsre-
arded IN this respect, but for the
lss flfty years their claims for edu-
atIonal advantages has been recog-
Ised and no state In the union now
lie 20 make some provision for