Evening journal., 1918-05-11
ZONE FOR Feeble
MINDED IN sussex
Commission TO Take Over
900 Acre Farm From
Governor Townsend
INSTITUTION TO BE
NEAR SELBYVILLE

the commission Ia acquire a site and
erect a State institution for tho care of
feeble-mndcd persons has selected a
farm owned by, Governor John G..
Townsend Jr, near Selbyville. The
committee selected tie site on its own
initiative and later found that IL was
owned by Governor Townsend. The
Governor was not anxious to sell H.
put finally yielded 20 tho request Of
the committee and consented 10 dis.
pose Of Il.
some time ago State Senator Edward
Hart offered the committee his farm OF
three tracts, one of COZ acres. a second
or sue acres, and another Of ii5 ncres.
localed near Blackbird station. south OF
MiddletoWn for The sum OF $40 per
acre for an or part Of The ground. and
its purchase was seriously considered
Recently Mrs Selden s. Deemer chair
man Of the committee. who Is AZ her
summer home in Rehobolh noticed
some farmland which She Immediately
thought would be a good situation for
The Institution for the feeble-minded
u was spacious there were opportun.
tiles for fruit growing and other agrl-
cultural work. A railroad ran through
one corne' or To- and 70 was al a dis
lance away from any centers OF n0pu--
laiion. IN many Siales 10 has been
made a point 10 place such Institutions
as FAR away as possible from he popu-
lated districts members OF me Della
ware committee say Mrs. Deemer had
no idea who The owner Of tho farm
Vas at the time she recommended it
20 the committee, but found out later
hat the property belonged TO Cover /
lor Townsend II comprises COO acres
n one unbroken area.
When the committee members an
the Governor asking him
whether he would be willing 10 sell the
arm for a site FOR a building for tho
'cehlc-mnded. a member of the COM
mission today said they found him un-
willing 10 sell the property. They urged .
ipon him the heneflt Il would be 10 the
state because OF the advantages Of its
ocatlon, size, and opportunities Of keep
ng the inmates BEAUTIFULLY employed
rhe Governor said that he would think
{ over. and finally consented 20 sell the /
100 acres for $4,000, although ne made
{ clear he would be we'll satisfied TO .
'etain the property.
Before the Townsend farm had been
aken into consideration, Dean Harry
hayward, OF The Delaware College Agri- /
cultural school and State Experimental
station, had spoken favorably concern
Ins the Hart farm 20 the committee.
favoring The purchase OF the entire
4 ,oSO acres az $50 an acre u Is under
stood that nr Hayward also thinks F.
the Townsend farm would make
satisfactory and suitable site.
The members Of the commission are
Mrs. Selden s neemcr, OF New Castle
Mrs. s II. Messick, of Bridgevlile: for
mer Governor Charles r. Miller. OF
Wilmington; state Senator Thomas y
Gormley, Of Wilmington; John b. Hut
ton, of Dover; and Robert G. Houston.
Of Georgetown
A member OF the Commission today
made it clear that the primary purpose
In acquiring The Solbyville farm Is TO
have the institution as far away from
,he city as possible, the tract also be-
Ing particularly adapted 20 fruit grow
ing. and The culture OF berries and
vegetables. occupations which suit the
feeble-mindSi best. The member spoken
70, said Mrs. Deemer, FIRST discovered
the site and il was not until she and
committee looked n over that Il was
learned Governor Townsend owned II
AIN the negotiations were started by
the Commission, the members declared.
and not by the Governor, who was and
is still reluctant 10 sell.