New Britain herald., 1923-12-20
BOY INVESTMENT
 HERE S60,OOO,OOO
Almost Equal to Real Estate Value
 R0tarianS Are Told

New Britain has a cash investment Of s73,000,000 in real estate and $60,- 100000 in boys. The city spends *246,OoO year in police and fire protection for its property, while only 1900 out of 16,0e0 boys are receiving systematic and organized training outside of school hours, according to Alexander Campbell, of New York Mir. Campbell, who spoke to the Rot ary club at the noon luncheon today is president of the Boys club fed eration of the United States.
 Most people think of boys work as charity" he said. Certain types of ice cream parties and similar affairs indicate that these things are viewed from the standpoint of sympathy.
 Boys are in no sense to be re- garded as objects of charity, Boys work is not matter of philanthropy, It IS a matter of great public moment, for in the boys is wrapped the well fare of the nation.
 We don't think the school is an object of charity, yet 100 years ago the school was the parents knee. We think the schol today is a necessity We must realize that every boy is a community asset and the boy prob lem is a community problem and not home problem. It Is time we should think in terms of public interest in providing for these boys in their leisure hours along definite programs.
 The ideals upon which your char aeter is built were founded during your hours of play.
 The population of New Britain in- cludes about 16,o00 boys. It costs s400 a year to bring up the average boy. The average boy at the age of 70 represents n cash investment of about s4,000.
 'Tha boy investment of New Brit ain is about s60,000,000; the real estate investment is about $73,0UU,- 900. What you see in buildings is almost equalled by the cash invest ment in your boys.
 The United States government spends annually s1,272, 100000 on criminals. Who pays for this? The consumer. There isn't a thing you wear or eat, but what has added to it tho cost of boy failure in industry. Whether you realize it or not you are paying in everything you buy tre- mendous cost of boy failure.
 New York, Boston, Philadelphia and St. Louis do not have enough boys in all trade schools combined to operate the Bethlehem steel plant The only way to reach tho boys is through the Y. M- c. A., Boy Scouts and Boys clubs. The only way the average boy gets his knowledge of industry today is in the pool room or on the street corner. This attitude is reflected in the future workman.
 There isn't in our country any provision for training future citizens in the responsibility of using the bal lot. Boys and girls too should have n training along the lines of the re- sponsibility which goes with the privilege of the ballot The first les- son in community spirit for the boy is when he puts his contribution in with the others towards baseball suit or some similar item. He is adding his mite for the good of all.
 You need more boys work or- esnizstions in New Britain. There arc only about 1900 boys in boys work in this city. Delinquency can be eliminated absolutely by methods used by the boys club.
 You arc spending approximately s2i6,oo0 for fire and police protec- ton for your property. Aren't your boys just as valuable as your build- ings?
 Our country's future depends upon the training and care of its boyhood."
 D. K. Perry reported on Father and Son" meeting he attended at a session of the Binghamton, N. Y., Rotary club and it is likely there will be such meeting here.
 It was reported by E. J. Porter. chairman of the committee, that thsI club has received s411.e5 for the sale of Salvation Army bricks.
 It was voted to take care of last minute applications for Christmas dinners if the Welfare Association or the charity department applies for aid.
 Next Thursday Ray o. wyland, education director of the Boy Scouts of America will speak. Mir wyland spoke here about a year ago to the Rotary club and to the Everyman's Bible class and is an interesting speaker.