Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-17
wen Manared In.titutlon.

Well Managed IpstitutfOn.
OMAHA, Dec. 16.-To the Editor of The
Bee: It would seem to the writer that
the taxpayers of this county know
very little OF how their money is being
spent In the various county institutions,
or how much Is being saved in our in
stitutions. though, It is safe to say, that
II the people would take more interest
in our institutions, by an occasional visit,
to appreciate some OF the good work
that IL being done, there would be less
criticism from pure political motives
! further. there would be a greater work
done by those in charge OF such insti-
tutions. However. criticism, II any. would
not seem to effect or deter M. b. Thomp-
1 son, and his wife. from doing efficient
work in conducting the detention home
at Third and Bancroft streets
J The writer has visited this place pro
bably eight or ten times during the last
eighteen months and has done so through
! his particular interest in the kind OF
| work that is being carried on at this
| institution. Only recently, I had the
| pleasure of going through this place as
! had never taken the time to do before,
and have never failed to see some Inn
provement in the institution In the way
|
The appearance of this institution. and
the manner in which the children are
cared for is not at all unlike a we'll
governed home. II is immediately clean
| in every respect. and It is Of great in
terest to see how these little delinquents
/ appreciate the pleasantness Of their new
home.
The farming on this place is remark
able when one considers the small
amount of ground there is TO till. I
! learned from Mr.. Thompson that all of
| the garden truck used by the institution
| is raised on the place and that there
| were 300 bushels of potatoes harvested
| this year and about 800 chickens raised,
together with hay and grain enough for
the county horse until the next harvest.
II IL certainly commendable that Com
| missioner Best and his fellow commits
sioner have such people as Mr.. and Mrs.
| Thompson in charge of this institution.
/ Their work and what they have to show
| for IL seems to be the answer as to how
| Mr.. Thompson cared for. through the
year. an average Of forty-five children
each day on an operating expense OF
| approximately $4,000. II is practically the
same amount OF money spent by his
predecessor in 1911. who had an everage
I OF IWentysnlne Cnilufeu pSA OoSs OoAAa-
pare the average number of children
under present management and the
amount spent to that OF his predecessor
and II shows a saving OF several thous-
and dollars over that of 1911. II this in
stitution can be taken as an example,
| I am sure that the taxpayers of Doug
las county would be glad IL the COM
nissioners could find more men with Mr..
Thompson's ability for our institutions.
One striking thing in this institution
that seems considerably out OF the or
binary. is their preparation for the little
dependents' Christmas. ell OF which is
at the expense of Mr.. Thompson, his
wife and Miss Tucker. II has been their
practice during the time that they have
been there to give each child Christmas
gifts which embraces many things to
make their little hearts glad. In my
judgment there Is no bigger "Good-fel-
low" in Omaha than In that institution.
They are doing excellent work and
believe that the people of this county
should show their appreciation by an
occasional visit to the institution. In
fact, they invite the public to visit
the institution and see how the work
is conducted and carried on.
The work at this institution IL a credit
to the county and state and those having
20 do with il should be commended for
it, Yours very truly,
ERNEST A. CONAWAY.