The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
PLEA FOR GIRLS
 TRAINING SCHOOL

To the Editor of The-Age- Herald: l beg that you will permit me to use your columns in an effort to place in the l ilmelight of the public eye condition | of things which exists at one of the state institutions located in this city, and which appears to have received very little local attention from our citizens l refer to that institution known as the State Training School for Girls, located near East Lake, in this city. The writer, with the other members of the grand jury now in session, visited this place on Thursday of this week and we found conditions there that re- fleet discredit to our civilization and beggars description. AS one member re-
 marked, these girls would be far better
 off were they in the trenches in France"
 We found them herded together like a lot of cattle (some 60-odd of them) in
 about seven small bedrooms. One bath
 tub did service for the entire lot Two
 sanitary closets In the yard and one in
 the main house covered this item of
 their conveniences. One heating stove
 located in the main hall or passage way
 constitute the heating system for the establishment, but in spite of this, the
 girls presented a tidy appearance, ap-
 peared to be in good health and ex-
 pressed themselves as being well fed. The matron in charge must be some-
 thing of wizard to maintain the in- stitution as she does on $50 per inmate
 per year, which she advised the writer was the states appropriation.
 We noticed the pronounced contrast in
 the states generosity to the Boys h. dustrial school as compared to this girls school and the effect being produced on the boys with their better conditions, . environments a ra1 xxyft[ tha inmates of the latter place.
 If we are correctly informed, it is the
 wish of most of the boys at their place tor remain there, and that very little care is necessary to be taken to keep them from running away, while in the
 case of the girls, they regard themselves as prisoners and the very greatest dili- gence is necessary to prevent escapes. This difference in feeling at the two in stitutions is not due to any lack of kind-
 ness on the part of the matron of the
 latter Qor am informed that she Is a
 most estimable and kindly person., but the deplorable and congested condition of
 the place. with the ridiculously small
 state support is responsible.
 l was informed by the matron that
 the General Clark place beyond East
 Lake had been offered to them on the
 most reasonable terms, and that it
 would fill the requirements of the school
 exactly"
 I would suggest that this matter be
 taken up immediately with the governor,
 presenting General Clark's proposition
 and at the same time placing before him
 the true and distressing state of things
 which obtains at this place. and beseech
 him to take some immediate action in
 the direction of securing better quarters
 for these children. Proper environment and better general conditions will mean worlds to them. but under the present conditions nothing else can be looked for than demoralization, general discontent a desire to escape. and then what? Kindly give this subject thf ct publicity and you will be doing civic work Yours truly,
 J. A. YATES. Birmingham, December s. 1917.