Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-14

A great work in Delaware will sec the
beginning of fruition when the Delaware
Building, the first dormitory of the State
Home for Feeble Minded, in Sussex
county, is ready for occupancy, April | i.
In accordance with the wish of the Deia-
ware Commission for the Feeble Minded
the sum of nearly 5000, which has been
raised by the commission through per-
sonal subscription, was used to purchase
the farm which is the site OF the new
institution. The appropriations of the
State of $40 600 for 1918, $4,000 for
1919, and $4,000 for 1920 will be used
for building and equipment. The plans
OF the New Jersey Home for Feeble
Minded at the Yineland, N. j., will be
followed, where it is possible, with an
effort to have the FIRST Administration
Building as the first memorial The dor
mitory now in building viii house about
80 persons. When 1t is considered that
/ 600 feeble minded persons are scattered
throughout the State, the commission
plan 70 soon inaugurate campaign for
money with which 20 provide further
accommodations can be appreciated.
Mrs. Selden ;. Deemer of New Castle,
chairman OF the commission, feels en-
oouraged by the progress now attained
in the work, and feels sure OF continued
support for the home Contrlt utIons
ran ging from s25 to $1,000 have been re-
celved from prominent citizens, prIncl-
pally in Wilmington and New Castle.
The home has an area of 500 acres be-
tween Stockley and Millsboro The build
ing now nearly completed is 135 by 20
feet, in part two stories high with three
wings The plan calls for modern i'm
provements. II is fuI,t of red brick and
in good substantial fashion. The Stockley
farm, the site, was purchased at a cost OF
$4,000. The land is fertile and it is the
plan of the commission to operate
poultry yard and do small trucking, as
the inmates could assist with the work,
which would furnish healthful occu-
patton.
The necessity for an institution In Della
ware IN which feeble minded persons may
be segregated owes its origin to the
Federation of Women's Clubs in the State
through Mrs. Frank Morton Jones, who
is president of the Chidren's Bureau.
Mrs. Jones did the first work toward
establishing a means of relief a campaign
having been begun SIX years ago. Through
out this time members of the commission
have worked hard to raise money for the
purpose now near completion. Nothing
has deferred them from meeting the
terrible necessity in Delaware for secre-
cation of the feeble minded. Mrs. Selden
). Deemer is chairman OF the commission.
John Il. Hutton is secretary, William X
Morgan treasurer The board consists of
Mrs Emma Burnet, Thomas f. GormIey,
Robert q. Houston. Arley b. Magee,
Mrs. 5. Harrington hlessick, Charles r.
Miller
In 1917 through Mrs. Deemers effort,
the y. ). Department of Labor through
Miss Julia Iathrop sent special agents 10
Delaware for q study into the social con-
ditions and needs of mentally defective
persons In New Castle county. This study
was undertaken at the request of the
Delaware Cooperative Educational AS
sociatlon. 1t was part OF n general survey
OF educational and social needs in Della
ware, in which the Bureau of Education
and the Public Health Service also en-
gagged.
The report afforded general evidence as
to the social injury and personal suffering |
caused hv tle presence In any commuf itv |
OF ne tally detective persons who lack /
suitable care. The conditions found III /
Dela are arr Of nationwide il rest be- /
cause they ar typical of large areas Of this |
country In Whien there is no adequate pro- /
vision for the protection of the feeble I
minded
No State has as vet made adequate
provision for mental detectives In con-
sdering bow best To meet the need for in
creased care and protection it is coming
to be recognized that the problem is II cora-
plez one which can not be solved by any
one measure Tic adequacy d tic eaTe