The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-02-20

application was made to the census
department at Washington, and few
days ago their reply was received In
the form Of a special count of the
enumeration made at the census OF
1910. The enumeration of the blind
and the deaf and dumb youth OF the
state between the ages Of and 21,
made by that census. shows that there
was a total in the state of 435. It
thus appeared that considerable less
than one-half uf these youths were
receiving the benefits Of the state in
stitution at ROmney.
Many out Of the School.
AS there are no private institutions
IN the state for the care of the blind
and the deaf and dumb. and as there
are no facilities for teaching them in
our public schools, it would seem that
a large portion of these unfortunate
children are not being educated at al.
What care and attention they are Sc
ceiving is unknown Governor Hls-
field at once determined to have tl.ls
matter thoroughly investigated, aid
to this end he has decided to appoint
an agent to make thorough canvass
Of every neighborhood in the state,
and obtain cheir names and addresses,
and all other necessary information.
about every blind and deaf child in
the state, who is not in the Romney
schools.
The report referred to, received
from the census department. shows
that of the 435 blind and deaf and
dumb youth in the state. All are white
and 1S are negroes. OF the IS ne
groes four are being cared for by the
state OF the AIT white children only
200 are in the Romney institution,
and presumably n large portion at
least OF the rest are not afforded any
educational facilities.
Conduct Of the School.
It's believed that the people of the
state generally will be interested in
knowing what has been done and is
being done for the care, instruction
and welfare of these unfortunate chill
dren of the commonwealth in the
schools at Romney. The plant and
facilities connected with it are excel
lent, and are sufficient for the care
and education of all our blind and
deaf children. In connection with the
institution there ere 203 acres of
land. about 140 acres of which is com
prised in fine farm, which is used
for the raising of crops and grazing.
The buildings consist OF the main
building. which is three stories high.
containing nine dormitories, bed
rooms for teachers and employees
chapel, separate hospitals for boy
and girls, bathrooms. study rooms
dining rooms and kitchens, store
rooms and bakery, and also the su-
perintendent's quarters. offices an
reception rooms. The Industrial build
ing is three stories high, and con-
tains carpenter. shoe, PRINTING
broom, mattress and other shops. The
laundry building is a two-story brick.
in which the laundry is on the first
floor. with barber shops. etc, occupy
ing the second floor. The power
house is a new brick building, fur
nished with boilers to generate steam
to heat the buildings and run the en-
gines and the electric light plant
The school building is a fine three
story brick, with "a rooms, and
gymnasium in the basement.
In the report OF the Superintendent:
for 1912 he says that our equipment
is now excellent. With our new heat
ing system we were able to keep on:
dornlitories comfortable even durinr
the unprecedented cold Of last wiz
ter. when the thermometer sunk t.
90 degrees below zero in the institu
ton yard"
Many Improvements Made.
Since the above was written the
state has made many additional i'm
provements at the institution. Two
now "down-and-out" fire escapes and
two standpipes are being erected, and
the institution has been supplied with
a plentifu! number of chemical eXtin-
guishers, all to provide against fire
In addition. a Waterman visits the
dormitories of the children every
hour through the night, and frequent
fire drills are had, and every teacher
and officer. Instructed exactly what tc
do in case of fire. The superintend
ent declares in his last report, that
when the plans for Improvements
adopted by the state board of control
are completed the state will have a
school which. for modern convent
ences and comforts. viii compare
fayorably with any Of the best schools
of like character"
one of the minor improvements
made by the board may be mentioned
here. This was the supplying of 325
new chairs for the use of the pupils,
so that there could be chair by each
bed in the dormitories and so that
chairs could be used instead of the
uncomfortable benches in the study
rooms. New chairs were furnished
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