The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-27
so PER CENT Of
CHILDREN idle
Committee Says That Many
Have Nothing to Do snd
Nowhere to Play.
BIG SUM TO PREVENT CRIME
City Spends s22s,ooo to Care
for Delinquency, but Little
to Prevent 1t.

Summing up its brief for the pending
city ordinances which proposes TO de
vote s., 500 this year 10 the maintenance
Of Fairgrounds and recreation centres
the Committee on Recreation ano
Fairgrounds. in statement just
issued. draws attention 10 the fac'
that while approximately S225'OH II
spent annually by the city on the care
Of crime and delinquency. only
negligible amount is devoted 20 the
open air agencies which tend to reduce
these moral failings.
Pursuing further its analysis OF the
local situation, the Committee aseVl =
that fully 30 per cent OF Richmond
children spend their out -of-school houIs
doing nothing because there Is hoIhlNe
for them 20 do and no place 10 pay
such a condition of affairs, II holds, Is
onposed to a progressive program OF
child and Is reflection
,iDon a CITY which spends 100000 and
more annually on its public schools
Favored by Council Committee.
The statement of the Committee on
Recreation and Fairgrounds loilo"s
IN full:
The proposal 10 4ANiNN' $780,
maintenance Of playground and re-
creation centres this year on ground al
-eadv owned by the city. Is now IN the
hand of the Budget Subcommittee
Of the Finance Committee OF the city
government It has received the unan-
inous endorsement of the GROUNDS
and Buildings Committee of the Clty
Council -.
AT d hearing before the entire
Finance Committee there were re-
rresentatives of nearly nifty organiza-
lions. with a mem bership of over l''Wo
Richmond people. favorng the APP
preparation. ,,
Realizing that the Budget com
mittee has many requests mace 10 II,
The Committee on Recreation ana
Fairgrounds has made study OF the
entire city expenditures IN order 10
show that the appropriation sought lot
mo extension of the playground Work
i not too large. They look upon TINS
appropriation in the way OF insurance
10 save some Of the large invest ments
winch the city has already found 1t
necessary 10 make
spend Much on Crime
The last printed report of the CITY
Treasurer now available Is that Tor
the wear ending January 81. 1872 In
that year the city of Richmond spent
s224 O03 % on the care OF CRIME ana
delinquency. This involved the pay oil
tho civ police. courts, Jurles. judges
Those In favor of the extension OF
-nr recreation system are not arguing
Tins expenditure for the ,Poicc Depart
npnt and Courts should be reduced
They only urge that the city shail
sDend enough for recreation In order
TO prevent crime and delinquency IL
has been demonstrated that Tlghtiy
supervised play and recreation builds
"a grT he OF Kifn-
mond needs TO spend a quarter million
dollars in a year to care for CRIME. II
surely needs TO spend an adequate
amount 20 prevent crime.
In the same trcasurer's report is
shown that 81. 3o7.2l was spent IN the
Health Department. Friends OF the
Playground movement do not wish
thls appropriation cut. They believe
that the work for public health IN
CITY the size OF Richmond is absolutely
essential II mas been demonstrated.
however. that exercise and play bring
health.
No Place to Play.
1T has also been shown BY actual
investigation that over ~ per cent of
Richmond children. even those out OF
doors arc sitting around doing nothing
because there Is nothing for them to do
and no place for them to play nc
CITY which needs 10 appropriate 5000
for AZ Health Department. and which
wiIi have 90 appropriate more TO this
depart ucut 81. the years ~ on. needs
ar se.1ropriation for Fairgrounds iu
ortiPr -, insure the investment made
Oft puhI- lcalfh
IN tho same trcasuTers report n l.
shown tha; sos -5S ~ was spent ON tho
schools Of RI, nmoud. Tho friends Of
rerrcs-rru do not wish 90 cat ihls 40
preparation. They fccl that tho chill