Milford chronicle., 1918-05-24
site CHOSEN FOR Home
OF The FEEBLE MINDED
lContInusd from page M


making rapid strides The farm is in a
good state Of fertility and capable Of
easy improvement. There are a number
Of cottages on the land a short distance
from the railroad station. In our opinion
the handicap Of the farm for the partic-
ular purpose for which it was purchased
is its inadaptabilty TO livestock except
poultry, but other advantages offset this
disadvantage. The farm contains $50
acres
Prof Hayward made the following
statement concerning the Hart farm:
1--WE inspected the Hart farm late in
December. II comprises two separate
tracts and is situated between smyrna
and Townsend. probably one and one
half or two miles from the Townsend
station, although the Delaware Railroad
is close to the farm The land on the
Hart farm is much heavier than the land
or the Townsend farm and probably is
not i'm such q high state Of fertility.
There is a large tract Of timber. The
farm, as q whole, is we'll drained, although
IL has two or three low spots that re-
quire some tiling. The buildings on the
farm are not very good. We felt because
this land IS better ad3nted ~ wheat and
corn that more livestock cou,d be kept
Oh it and therefore Il would be more
suitable 20 a colony community than the
lighter land Of Sussex. However, this
is a matter OF opinion, and consider thai
the commission -rs. guided. as they We're.
10y New Jersey experts in the care and
management Of the feeble-m.nded. We're
iu much better position 90 judge the
relative merits Of the farms in question
than Professor Grautham and myself. !
who inspected the farms primarily for
commercial farming prospects. The Hart |
farm contains 500 acres Senator Hart
offered 90 sell one or both tracts for $50 /
ner acre"
The Governors farm cost about $40 !
an acre.
To Raise Small Truck.
I'm View Of the fact that as a result |
of observation at institutions in other /
States. it was deemed advisable TO have /
The DETECTIVES who would be KEEP, at the /
home employed n raising small truck, 4
FOR local consumption as well as The mar
l1et, rather than to engage. I'M dairyiHg
and the raising Of grain and other heavy I
crops. "a mans job, the commissioners /
Nere uuanimous-the Governor declining /
go express hmseif-in the opinion that (
She Townsend farm was the preferable
Of the two. Feeble-minded persons, red
gardiess of their age seldom reach mem
cal development beyond that of q child |
from six 20 twelve years old, and for that
reason the commission is reluctant TO
tax them with work beyond their men
1al capacity it must be the simplest (
kind OF agriculture to be a success or to
be suitable TO their qualifications. Ac- !
cordngly, when the matter came to a (
vote an agreed-the Governor declining
70 express his view-that the Governors /
piaN offered the only ideal location that
lad been found
This decision having been reached. /
Governor Townsend was asked TO sell /
The property for the purpose He re-
57erated what he had previously told Mrs /
Desmer and while the commission was /
reluctant to take the property, knowing |
that the owner wanted to keep Il, the !
Governor was finally prevailed upon to /
sell it, charging only the cost, plus in /
terest on the investment. The Governor s /
bookkeeper, who produced the farm ac-
count book at the meeting figured the I
amount at 900 to S33 900 II was
then decided to ask Professors Hayward /
and Grantham to inspect the soil, which !
was found to be ideal Last week the 4
commissioners unanimously resolved to 4
buy the Townsend farm.
In selling the farm on this basis the /
Governor not only loses what he consid- |
cred a good Investment for himself but /
the money he spent for Improvements |
during the two years he has owned the /
property.
s'No palatial buildings will be put on /
the farm" Mrs. Deemer said. "The /
children will be segregated and viii oc- /
cupy huts The Delaware institution will /
be very much like the New Jersey Home (
Gor the Feeble minded, the Menantlco /
colony, which we inspected and with 1
which we were favorably impressed. Be-
cause Vineland is spreading towards the /
New Jersey institution the commissions /
have purchased woodland Eve miles dis /
tant and are sending detectives there, /
thus assuring isolation. The Delaware
site Is like the New Jersey site in one /
respect-it has plenty OF sand and peb-
oles."
Mrs. Deemer has been the leading spirit /
IN behalf Of Delaware's detectives. She
Donceived the home project and has been
active IN obtaining money contributions
- pay the bill