Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-06-08
GOVERNOR WANTS LOCAL. PROBE INTO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL Requests Chamber and Rotary to Name Commit
 tees REPORT FROM HERE
 CLEARS INSTITUTION Substantial Proof Presented to Brough and Board That the Charges Have No Founda-
 ton in Fact

ton in Fact
 Little Rock, June Followin. some charges which were presented to the governor to the effect that the present location of the Boys Indus trial school ,near Pine Bluff. was un- desirable because of the unhealthy condition of the school and nearby territory and further because of lack ot fertility of soil, bad water and sick ness among the boys Governor Brough conferred with the members of the Boys Industrial School board of which Judge John w. Wade is chairman, and also requested the Chamber of Com merce at Pine Bluff, the Rotary club and other organizations of Pine Bluff to appolnt committee with d view of investigating these charges. Both Judge Wade, the chairman of the booard, and Superintendent w. N. Deaton of the Boys Industrial school reported to the governor that the To- cation of the school neaer Pine Bluff was splendid one; that sickness had been reduced to minimum and that the boys were thoroughly contented with their location. It is true that the boys who have attended this school for the past twelve months have been using water from a shal- low well, but the boaord of trustees, having in mind the placing of every protection around the boys to guar antee their health, have contracted for the sinking ofa deep well upon the premises which, when completed, will furnish as good water as may be found in the state of Arkansas.
 Clear School.
 The Committee appointde by the Chamber of Commerce of Pine Bluff consisting of Leo M. Andrews, Chas. w. Holmes, Mayor M. C. Hollis, Judge w. B. Sorrells, Dr J. I. Norris, pastor of the Presbyterian church, Mrs. A. w. Troupe, presidentof the State Fedora tion of Women's clubs and Mrs. w.. D. Jones, one of the leading civic workers among the women of the state in an official report to the governor state that they find that the average number of boys in the school for the past twelve months has been about 29 that during that time there has not been a single deatah and but one case of sickness of any note, a case of pneumonia from which the boy re- covered. They further report that the site of the school is an ideal one; the buildings that are being erected are on the crest of beautiful hill with splendid natural drainage into Bayou Bartholomew, which furnishes nat ural outlet into which anw standing water on any part of the 300 acres may be easily and cheaply drained.
 They further find that the fertile soil compares favorably with that of the delta, as is borne out by an off cial report made by c. w Wat son and c. H. Thomas, agents of the U. s department of agriculture, on Septmeber 12, 1917. On this soil the committee believes that sufficient products might be raised to make the Boys Industrial school practically self supporting. They further stated that the moral uplift of the boys is being cared for by the social and church workers of Pine Bluff and that the manager of the form frequently brings them into Pine Bluff to at ttend religious services. It is fur there stated thata the various clubs of Pine Bluff have made substantial donations in the form of baseball Victrolas and other arti- cles which will contribute to their pleasure. In short, that both the site and the conditions of the Boys Indus- trial school of Arkansas are ideeal. Mrs. Clio Harper, chairman of the Girls Industrial school of Arkansas, in an official communication to thel governor gave three reasons why the Industrial school for girls declined the present location of Boys Indus- trial school, none of which reflected on either the site or the moral and conditions of the Boys Indus- trial school. Governor Brough stated that the State of Arkansas had been very fortunate in securing gift of 160 acres of land from Captain Geis- reiter in 1917 through the efforts off Miss Julia Houston, and that the state had purchased an additional sol acres and was now erecting substan- tial buildings on this Site. The school has biennial appropriation of ap- s100,000 for buildings and maintenance.