Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-12
READY TO OPEN
 FARM FOR WOMEN
New State Institution at East Lyme
 Can Take 12 Inmates.

NV" OtahS IHSlIIuCIOh dI East Lyme i
 Can Take 12 Inmates.
 Governor Marcus H. Holcomb has | issued his proclamation to announce | that the Connecticut State Farm for | Women at East Lyme is ready for oc- cupancy, as follows:
 A Proclamation.
 By virtue of the authority in me vested and in accordance with Sec l ton f of Chapter 35S of the Public | Acts of 1917. hereby make proclama- tion that the Connecticut Farm for | Women at East Lyme. Connecticut, is | now open for the reception of inmates and direct that a copy hereof under the seal of the executive department be mailed to each judge of each city, borough and town court, and to each judge of the superior court, and each states attorney.
 Dated at Hartford. this tenth day of July, 191S
 MARCUS H. HoLCOMB,
 Governor.
 The farm is able to take care of twelve women at present, but the number is expected to increase in a few months. The farm lies all around beautiful Bride lake at East Lyme, and covers something more than 800 acres, the lake itself being good for seventyfve acres. The location has been characterized by the head of a similar institution outside the state as the finest site for a reformatory in the United States
 Agitation for a woman's reforma- tory began during Governor Simeon E. Baldwin's term of office, when the governor appointed a commission with Professor William B. Bailey of Yale university at the head to investigate the delinquency of women in the state.7E The commission drafted a bill establishing a permanent commission to decide upon the type of institution needed and called for an appropria- tion of $20.000. The 1915 general as- sembly did not pass the bill.
 A little over year ago the Connec- ttcut Prison association. of which Pro- lessor Bailey is president, took up the matter and appointed a committee on delinquent women to investigate con- ditions throughout the state. This committee is almost identical in per sonnel with the present committee on prohibition and domestic relations which is at present at work in the state. Miss Mary A. Goodwin was i chairman and the other members were l Mrs. Henry Bridgman of Norfolk, Miss Mary s. Bushnell of Hartford, l Mrs. Augustin A. Crane of Water | bury, Mrs. L. s. Cummings of Clarks- | vile, Mrs. Lee Wilson Dodge of New | Haven, Miss Helen M. Hall of Mid | dletown. Mrs. Appleton R. Hillyer of 1 Hartford, Mrs. Edward H. Lorenz of | West Hartford, Mrs. Myra NJ. Macfar- | land of Winsted, Mrs. R. L. McLain of Hartford, Mrs. George NJ. Minor of | Waterford. Mrs. Frank A. Mitchell of | Norwich, Mrs. Arthur K. Rogers of | New Haven. Mrs. Frederick c. Platt Of New Britain and Mr1. Emily H. | Whitney of New Haven.
 | The committee went to work to col | late information upon the treatment | of delinquent women in other states. i Dr. Katherine B. Davis of New York, at that time chairman of the parole | commission, gave considerable assisk- i dnce to the committee in it's work, and help was obtained from experts | throughout the country. In the end | the committee was able to work out q | bill which met the approval of the 1 general assembly of 1917 and became law
 The bill carried with it an appro- priation of S50000 for purchasing a site and maintenance of the farm un- til October, 1919. About ten days ago | the board of control was able to add | about 5000 more for a hospital and the board of directors hopes to inn press the next legislature with the need of further money. The site at Bride Lake was purchased after a great deal of consideration, and it is now agreed that the choice of the board of directors could hardly have been improved upon. The lake is planted with 5,OG0 California salmon and the grounds have been stocked with deer. Prof William R. Bailey is chairman of the board of directors and the other members are: Dr. Va leria H: Parker of Hartford. secretary; George c. Clark of Plymouth, treas urer: John H. Goss of Waterbury; Ed ward H. Hagen of Haddam: Mrs. Anne Rogers Minor of Waterford, and Mrs Arthur K Rogers of New Haven. It is understood that the federal courts will commit women violating the federal laws relating to prostitu J. tion in the vicinity of army camps tc the farm under an arrangement with the state Cases from the various courts may be sent to East Lyme al the discretion of the courts and with cue regard to the capacity of the in stitution Girls over Is years of age may be sent to the state farm, and there is no maximum age limit excep. the age of discretion.