Middletown transcript., 1917-01-20
DELAWAR INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

member of the General Assembly a few
facts concerning the School and its fl
nancial needs.
1t is State reformatory for girls and
twenty-five years, during which time
38 girls from all parts of the State
have been committed TO its care by
Courts and Justices of the Peace. None
are admitted, except On commitments
after he aring, on charges which show
they need moral training.
At present seventy one girls are in
the care Of the School. Of whom ten are
from Kent County and seven from
Sussex County. The average number
in recent years is about siXty-s,X.
By gifts from individuals interested,
the School acquired and still owns lot
of land and building in Wilmington,
from which it expects to realize about
$50, 900 when it is sold The building
| having become overcrowded, and being
surrounded by residences, the Board
used a legacy to buy, for about So. 900,
seventy-fve acres of land in Brandy
| wine Hundred, secluded accessible and
suitable for farming Two stone build
with the sewage disposal and water
supply systems, roads, grading, &C.
cost about $4,000, and in May, 1915,
the School moved to the freedom of real
country life.
| The plan Of building and moving was
laid before the legislature at its session
in 1918, and s35. 600 was then appro-
priated for the buildings. After the
plan had been carried out, the need of
money to complete payment of the
buildings was laid before the Legisa-
ture of 19 5. Probably because the old
| building had not been sold, no appronri-
alton was made at that session for
buildings, but appropriations were then
made of 81, 500 for 1915 and 1916 to pay
interest on the debt. Since then $40, 900
was borrowed on mortgage and 81, 500
on note, 50 the present indebtedness
is Sal, 800. Against this the old Schoo!
is an asset worth $50, COG, though active
efforts to sell at this price have as yet
| been unsuccessful
One chief purpose of moving to farm
land was to give the girls fine moral and
physical tonic of ou,door work, and to
utilize their labor for producing their
food supply. This plan has been sue
cessful for the girls do real farm work
with real success. Last fall they cut,
husked and hauled in the crop of seven
| hundred bushels of fine corn trucked
about five acres, and did other manual
labor with eagerness and interest. But
without farm buildings and equipment
they are handicapped. A barn, chicken
house and such like buildings, live stock
and implements are needed badly, and
probably some work must be done to
make the sewage disposal system more
effective
The matter can be thus stated
Indebtedness for buildings. Sal, 500. Go
For farm buildings, &c, as
stated ahove.........,. ....... .,. $500. 90
$57,OC0.O0
Deduct value of city property @0.000O0
$4,000. 90
Interest for two years on
Appropriation needed in 1917 $50, 900. 90
When the old property is sold for
$50, 900, the School will be free of debt;
and equipped to continue the reforma-
tory which the State has imposed upon
it
For maintenance, as distinct from the
property equipment, the State appro-
PIRATES annually $1,000, and the Levy
Courts Of each County pay a sum per
diem for each girl. In view of the in
quirements you are asked to increase
the annual appropriation to S., 600.
A report to January /, 1916, will be
sent TO you containing fuller informa-
ton, with picture Of the new build
ings. But we, cannot exhibit the real
asset OF the School, for that is shown in
the lives of the girls who have gone
forth from it uplifted to better lives.
You are urged to come to the School
and see for yourself what others see
with so much appreciation.
Yours respectfully,
MRS CHAS. NJ. CURTIS, President.