The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-01

IS SEEN AT
CITY CAMP
Police, Not Doctors, Needed
by Healthy Substitutes
for Victims Of Poverty.
Lrrom a stat, corresponaent.l

NEPTUNE CITY. Aug. 1.-Newark Is
possibly the only city in the country that
attempts to give its sick and poor chill
dren n weeks outing. For twenty years
prior to the founding of a permanent
camp for this purpose 1t was the custom
of the Mayor and city officials to give
free excursion to the children of the
city The sing1e-day exclusion of August
26. 1903 cost S2,53375. The one of August
16. 1904. cost $2.605.41.
1t was then suggested that a weeks
outing would be of more benefit to chill
dren than day Of fresh air. so bill was
passed and signed by Governor Stokes on
April 16 1906 allowing the Newark Com
mon Council to appropriate 5000 annually
TO provide for the health and recreation
OF the sick and needy Inhabitants" That
year 397 persons were giysn some days
OF fresh air at temporary camp on the
farm Of George A Bayley. two miles
from Dover. Morris County. N. j. The
expenses that year were $5.27S.76.
From that years experience the public
outing committee decided that they should
have permanent buildings So eleven and
| a half acres were purchased here at a cost
of $500 and Alderman Frank p. Laughlfn
| agreed to oversee the construction OF the
buildings, which were designed by Bruce
p. Kitchell. the architect. Today Camp
Newark, as 1t Is called, is a permanent in
stitution, situated on knoll along Ridge
avenue, with accommodations for about ITO
children at time.
The land, buildings and equipment have
cost but $11,555.46. The main building has.
besides the offices and quarters for the
employees dining room 60x40 feet,
kitchen 12x16, a laundry, storehouse and
the old farmhouse, which contains a small
library and playroom for the children in
stormy weather. The girls dormitory is
on one side of the main building and the
boys dormitory on the other. sufficiently
isolated as to prevent fire spreading from
one to the other. The two dormitories are
each IT'S feet long by 20 feet wide.
The water used is pumped from a driven
well to large tank. The sewerage ends
In a cesspool down the slope of the hill but
200 feet away. The buildings are lighted BY
electricity. Two tents containing shower
baths have been erected this summer, one
for the girls and the other for the boys
and are used when the children come back
from surf bathing at Avon beach, which
Is but fifteen minutes walk from the
camp. The children, the boys one morning
and the girls the next, put on their bath
ing clothes at the camp and walk in theru
to and from the beach
The camp is In charge of Harry Lake
clerk to the outing committee, with Miss
Quigley as matron. Officer Alonzo Van
Ripper has been engaged In maintaining
order. together with two special officers
who are detailed to accompany each week
ly excursion and return with them Dr.
Brady is the permanent physician, as
sisted by two nurses The Aldermanic
committee In charge Of these public out
ngs are, Chairman, George w. Frey:
John S. Mann, Joseph c. Froelich. Michael
F. Mullen, Fred J. Fischer. John A. Es-
telle and Frank p. Laughlin.
That there is something wrong about the
selection of those who are being benefited
at the citys expense Is evident to the
most casual visitor here. The law grants
the spending of 5000 for the purpose of
providing for the health and recreation
of the "sick or needy Inhabitants only.
All the children who come down here are
surely not sick or debilitated when 1t
takes three policemen to keep the peace
among them. Neither have they the ap-
parance OF being needy to judge from the
fine clothes they arrive here in
Inquring of DR.. Brady several times this
season If he had any cases of sickness
all he had to report were cases of sun
burn The facts are that police and not
nurses are required for the boisterously
healthy youngsters who come down here.
Alderman Estelle. chairman of last
years committee. called attention to this
abuse In his report in these words:
THE promiscuous distribution of tickets
for the weeks outing by placing a num-
ber In the hands OF each Alderman, does
not work out satisfactorily. Insistent APP
plicants for tickets are not always the
most needy. The very poor, those who
need the cithy's helm most. are generally
the most modest. Tho persistent seekers,
those who make such strenuous demands
upon the Aldermen. are not generally the
most worthy The vnrious charitable or
ghniza tions ard the churches would be of
great assistance In the selection of those
who are to be taken to camp, If their CO.
opera tlon wore sought
1t is not too late to supervise the appIi-
cants for outings the remainder of this
season so that the law be complied with
and only the sick and needy be benefited
by the city's charity. And further, it
might be mentioned that Or. Treat of
Belmar, was philanthropic enough to give
his services at any time OF day or night
last season to those at the camp and would
have gladly done so this year II his kind
Offices were not rejected by sending to
the camp private physician whose serv-
Ices have been In practically no demand
This years experience at the camp proves
that what is needed most Is q man super
intendent who will control the camp with
military discipline. so there shall be but
one head. At .present authority is divided
so that the children are not sure at all
times whori ey should take orders from.