Evening journal., 1913-02-08
Women Plead for Money to
Erect New Institution
at ClaymOnt
MRS. CURTIS PRESDES,
MANY PRAISE THE WORK

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, Del, Feb. S.--A large dele
cation OF women from Wilmington
and other parts OF the State was
given a hearing before the House and
Senate committees on charities yester-
day afternoon in behalf of the bill in
troduced by Representative S. Rod
mond Smith for the state to appro-
pirate $4,000 for the erection of new
building for the Girls Industrial
School. Having outgrown its present
accommodations, it is proposed that
the new buildings shall be erected
on site bought at Claymont
The hearing was held in the cham
Der of the Supreme Court in the State
House. William c. Mahaffy of VIII
mington called the meeting to order,
stated briefly the objects of the hear
ing, and then introduced Mrs Charles
NJ. Curtis, OF Wilmington, who pre-
sided She traced the growth of the
school from its inception twenty
years ago. when she said there was
no place but Jail to commit incorrigi-
Bile girls in the State For that reas-
on some of the well-disposed women
of the State conferred and started the
first Industrial School for Girls on
Fifth street. From there the school
was moved to a site on West street.
thence to Sixteenth street and finally
to the present large school especially
built for the purpose. The school has
outgrown its present quarters and
the corporation is Obliged to remove
the institution to the couDtry as the
most proper place for those COM
mitted to the school.
Mrs. Curtis Presides.
Mrs. Curtis called on Mrs. Matilda
r. Sudler. of Bridgeville. a charter
member OF the school CORPORATION
when the charter was secured from
the Legislature twenty years ago Sne
said the school had saved many girls
from the workhouse and worse places
Starting with fve girls in the school
there now are fifty-three, she said
She said the school can't go on now
because of its lack of accommodations
and must have help, and the women
interested in the great work come tc
the State TO get aid.
Mrs. II. NJ. Jackson. superintendent
! of the school. said the school is max.
ing efforts to save young girls JUS
beginning a life of crime or wayward.
ness. The school now can receive
girls from eleven years Of age up.
wards, whereas the entrance limit was
about sixteen years at the outset. She
contended it was far better to prevent
girls going astray than to try to cure
after they have fallen She said the
great increase in the growth of. per
sons committed there was due, partll
to a recognition of the value of the
institution by parents, many OF whom
voluntarily ask to have waywar'
daughters committed there While tn
appropriations Of $4,000 would no
prove money-returning investmen
for the state, Mrs. Jackson said i
would pay dividends in good citizens
Seventy-fve per cent. of girls com
mitted there are reformed. she said
Mrs. Robert Ferriday told of th'
work os sewing classes of the girls
and Mrs. Martin Lane told of success
, of some Of the classes.
Mrs. Curtis. in emphasizing that tn
school is inter-denominational callel
on Mrs Peter ]. Ford to speak Mrs
Ford told of her interest in the work
and OF the broad-minded, religious
lines along which the institution i
, conducted wherein the girls can hav
/ spiritual counsel of whatever sec
they desire.
Mrs. J. II. Mendinhall told of tn