Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-05-06

The following statement has been issued by the chamber of commerce committee which has been given the task of raising 5000 needed to pur- chase land for the boys industrial home the committee being composed of Sam Katzenstein as chairman, Thurman Louthan, Tracy Mills and Miss Julia Houston:
 "The boys industrial school was created by an act of the 1917 iegisla- ture, which provides that a good farm of at least 200 acres shall be pur- chased, an institution erected, and the boys in the reform school be transferred to this school. The bill provides that the present reform school in Little Rock be converted into a state industrial school for de- linquent girls.
 "There are several disadvantages to the present reform school that are given as reasons for the building of a new school. The reform school is located on 200 acres of poor land, all but 30 acres being toe rocky and slaty to cultivate. The 30 acres of cultivated land does not furnish enough work to keep the boys busy, and does not furnish enough products to help sustain the institute. Men that have, served penitentiary sen tences are associated with the young CT boys.
 "The plans for the new institution are to teach agriculture and trades. The inmates will be divided accord ing to their ages and placed in cot tages, so as to acquaint them with home life.
 "The new institution will be run by board of five unpaid citizens, two of whom will be women. The present board consists of Chairman John Wade of Little Rock, w. H. Laney of Clarendon, Mrs. Anna Stoops of Stuttgart, F. T. Reynolds of Fort Smith, and Secretary Miss Julia Houston of Pine Bluff.
 "All boys sent to the industrial school that are unfit to associate with the younger boys will be committed to the penitentiary, as this school is to be a home for neglected children and hopeful delinquents.
 ssThe legislature appropriated $25,00O for the maintenance of tho school for two years. Only $5,000 of this will be used to purlhase the land, put up buildings and to move the school, as the board is expecting the site to be donated and temporary buildings to be used until the next term of the legislature.
 "The plans to bring this school to Jefferson county was started when a citizen donated 160 acres of rich un- cleared bayou land, 2,1 miles west of Pine Bluff, to the board. This of fer is good for 90 days only, and un- less the location of the school here is a certainty, the offer will be re- called. To get the school here the citizens will have to purchase 80 adjoining acres fenced and with a good cottage Of this. 80 additional acres, 5 will have to be cleared and 40 already Is in cultivation.
 "The Pine Bluff chamber of com. merce has appointed a board to se- cure by subscription $5,000 to pur- chase the extra land and to defray other expenses. The board consists of Chairman Sam Katzenstein, Thur man Lothian, Tracy Mills, and Miss Julia Houston, local probation off cer.
 County Judge Cheek has promised the chamber of commerce that he would ask the next quorum court for substantial donation, in addition to the $5,000 to be raised. Every coun- ty in the state will be asked to donate towards the new institution, since this is a state institution. Contribu-