New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-14
COST OF THE PROJECT.

This brings 10 mind the fact that the state
/ IS planning 10 spend about s2,796oOo Tor
/ buildings Of which s2l2,550 has already been
| spent. The taxpayer may well ask. why Is
the state spending this large sum- Oi
{ course If IL were for roads nearly every
one would know that IL would provide from
ten TO twenty-five miles OF smooth, hara
roadway over which the farmer could cart
/ his produce and over which the automoDl'e
could play tag with speed laws. Fortunately
for the majority OF taxpayers. but unlorlu-
nately for the individuals most directly
touched. the problem of the feeble minded
is not so well understood By the general
public a. the problem OF good roads.
II was estimated. however, upon census
reports. by the site commission for Letch-
worth Village that there are fully twelve
thousand feeble minded persons IN New
York State OF this large number not
many more than four thousand are IN IL
stitutions. There are some one thousand
applicants now on the waiting list OF the
states present institutions. and nearly two
thousand are being improperly confined in
county almshouses and private homes IN
receipt Of public money.
A large majority OF those not in insttu-
lions now Will probably not receive atten-
ton until they arrive at the almshouse or
commit some crime that may cost property
owners or the community as a whole many
thousands of dollars. These crimes range
all the way from petty theft up through
the various serious sex crimes 20 arson and
even murder. \ feeble-nliuded person IS Il
person without sense Of social responsible
itv. He IS always a menace and il many
times a potential or actual criminal
To remove these unfortunate individuals
from society and place them in institutions
like Letchworth Village is most important
for socicty's present protection. still more
important. however. is the influence Of such
segregation on the future welfare Of So
cicty.
Scientists OF undoubted authority hold
that segregl ton Of all OF the feeble mind
cd below a certain grade will eventually
solve the whole problem of idiocy and
feeble mindedness In an address at the
first meeting Of the committee OF the state
Charities Aid Association for the care Of
the feeble minded. Professor C. r. Daven-
port. director of the Carnegie Station FOR
Experimental Evolution. said
III the state We're TO segregaie IFS feeble
minded, were 10 examine all Immigrants
settling in New York State for mental Ie-
fects and were 10 deport those found de-
fective. there would be a constantly di-
minishing attendance at state institutions
for the feeble minded. and az the end OF
thirty years there would be practically no
use for such institutions Two or three
snail ones only would be necessary. The
state could then sell its property and retire
the bonds issued for the purpose VI provid-
Ing adequate care for its feeble minded
Believing that Professor Davenport's plan
offers the safest and. AT The same time. the
most humane method Of solving the prob
lcm Of the feeble minded IN this state. So
clal workers. scientists ana others inter
ested N the problem are uniting 10 present
the Claims of l.etchWOrth Village 20 the
LEGISLATURE In the hope that The compile
ton of the village may be fastened by
favorable action on Assemblyman Smiths
appropriation bin.