Evening journal., 1918-05-18
From First Page

Continued From First Pages
s32 400 for the entire tract Tho Town
send far in Sussex county. because Of its
buildings. its adapiabilty TO the raisIns
Of small fruits. the brlck-maklng plant
that IS on 70 and the commercial value
Of the sand it contains was deemed pre-
ferable 10 the Hart farm. and
aside from that 70 had the isolation from
populous ceniers which the commission
deemed necessary FOR an institution for
the feeble minded.
The commission which has purchased
tho Townsend tract for the State. sp-
pointed by Governor Townsend under
authority Of an act Of the Legislature,
passed in 1917. compries Mrs. Deemer.
who Is the chairman; former Governor
Charles n Miller, and state senator
Thomas 2. Gormley. OF Wilmington. Mrs.
Emma Burnett John p. Hutton and
Arley y. Magee of Dover. Mrs s. II.
Messick, of Bridgeville. William X.
Morgan, Of seaford and Robert g..
Houston. Of Georgetown.
That there has bcen nothing political
IN lis actions is evident from the fact
that Republicans and Democrats alike
Joined In voting for the purchase of
the Townsend tract in Sussex county.
Mrs. Deemer was asked today how
tho Townsend tract frst came TO tho
attention Of the commission.
Mr.. Deemer and 7 saw n when look
ing over Sussex county for suitable
sites In October. 1916" said Mrs
Doemer. I'VE did not know 10 whom
II belonged. and did not md out until
April Of last year. after the bill pro-
viding for an Institution for the feeble
minded had pissed the Legislature.
went to tho Governor and drew dia'
gram OF the tract-here, ] have th'
pencil drawing ] made az the time
and asked him n he knew who owned
the land In question. The conversation
revealed that the tract was owned b.
the Governor. Mrs Deemer, that
mine. the Governor said NJ cOuldn
sell il. don't want 10 sell ii.
bought n with the idea of setting ou
big orchard here. It's been one O
my dreams TO have a big orchard there
began TO tell him how suited II wa
! to our purposes. ] had 10 urge hin
many. many times. on different days
before ne would consider selling Il
] What particularly attracted me wa
the brick plant. and the sand That cd
/ be utilized for commercial purposes
, aside from rs other advantages for al
I instihllion such as Is contemplated
1 Governor Townsend told US that n W
! could hnd another piece Of land equal
as well suited TO purposes nc Woul
4 not sell his land TO us. IA.
r Il appointed the following commtte
TO 20 ain over the state aud look mp IA
. various tracts that might be adapted iy
our purpose Robert q. Houston,
4 Georgetown: Arley B. Msgee, OF Dove
, former Governor Charles r. Miller,
Wilmington: John B Hutton, OF Dove
Il and ". X. Morgan, OF Seaford. lh
committee made a report unanimous
In favor of the Townsend ira
"A as hest suited for the purpose or an d
y stiuiion for the feehle-minded. II h
Isolation. the soil for small fruits, 81
/, for Matchmaking sand for commerce
r n,rposes. and the land required Tor I
4 ca~s ~ the 500 feehle-minded persons
record IN Delaware.
IN "At meeting on May 8 OF this ye
M a was unanimously agreed by y
~ Houston Ms Messick, eX-Goverr
~ Miller and myself members OF I
te commission that the Townsend ri
an was ihe best located and adapted
"a an institution for the feehle-mind
I'M That meeting was held A. my home
he New Castle. az 7 was Just setting or
nneumonia at the time Because tl'
ne was but a bare quorum present a.
~ reuuesf Of Ex-Governor Miller, IS
a. said he would Ike 10 SEQ more pers,
~ nresonf. 10 was moved and carried u
M Ne hold an adjourned meeting on N
at the Hotel dupont Mr.. Miller s
an he would try TO set senator Gsrm
u, 10 attend Governor Miller called
nd on sunday morning and told me tnat
I'M had gotten word from senator 6ornu
5e that he would be present.
a., 40 this meeting told the commiss'
that Mr.. DCemer, some other perso
"A and myself would assume the cost
y ~ the Townsend tract, and that It wo'
n. not cost the state one cent
~, After notice had been sent TO at
- members, we met according to progr
nj at the Hotel dupont. with the follow
f~ present. Mr.. Magee, senator Gorml
"a Mrs Aicssick, NIr. Hutton. Nlr. ilousl
I'm and myself. After The subject had h'
a. thoroughly discussed a resolution
,e~ offered By Mr Magee TO purchase
,sd Townsend tract and it was unaninou
.ch adopted. Senator Gormley saying II
I'M. his choice from the FIRST
emf 70 is OF interest 10 note IN passing q
are Mr.. Nisgee and senator Gormley
IA democrats. 10 show that there
,ed nothing political in tho transaction.
me Mrs Deemer made public the rep
me NJ Harry Hayward, director OF the ID
,rs' ware College Experiment station,
Professor A. F.. Grantham, or DelaW
.ral College. on the Townsend tract and
,--a