Milford chronicle., 1931-03-27
OFFERS TOCANCEL
DEBT OF FEEBLE
MINDED COLONY
[Confinncd from FuJi Pagc]

of the Delaware Commission for tho
Feeble Minded, lauded the efforts OF
Mrs. Kate Deemer and Mrs. Cole
man du Pont for the unfortunatef
cared for at the institution. He out
lined the needs of the colony.
The following are the permanent
improvements requests of the insti-
tuition: White boys dOrmitOry. $36.-
600; colorcd boys dOrmitory, $780,
coo; infrmary, S25.O0O; milk house,
$1,000; barn. 10000; two silos, L.
200; central heating plant. $4,000.
For maintenance, $12,SOO is asked
for the white boys dOrmitOry: $3.50
for the colored boys dormitory, and
$4,000 for the hospital.
Howard Ennis. superintendent,
said, in part: AS the colony has de-
veloped, the applications for admis-
sion have increased, not, we believe,
because of an increase in the num-
Der of individuals whose minds Gail
cd TO develop normally so much as
the increased interest in the proper
care and segregation of this type of
individual. A survey of the State
listed LOGS subnormals. This is ap-
prOXimately One-half of one per cent
Of the total population of the State
and is about the same as the aver
age for the u. S. or this number
about One-half are institutional
cases and the other half could be
benefited by institutional training
for Il period Of four to eight years.
This does not include 'borderlinG
cases which can he better taken
care of in sO-callcd opportunity or
special classes in the public
schools.
shortly after the colony was es-
tablshcd the commission divided it
into five sectors. The northwestern
sector, where we are now, was set
aside for white females, the north
eastern sector for colOrcd females,
the southwestern sector for white
males, the southeastern sector for
cOlOrcd males, and in the center was
the administration sector. This plan
of development so far has been fol-
lowed. The cottage system has also
been followed
"A cottage housing from so to 60 !
children is the largest unit desirable
for this work, This will permit
where the institution is fully devel-
Oped, the classification of the three
main groups-idiOts, imbecilGS and
mOrOns. IN this plan also provision .
is made for cpilcptic, inGrmary and .
other special cases"
Mr.. Ennis further pointed out that .
'it should be kept in mind that this .
is comparatively new institution
in Delaware and its development has
been governed not by its urgent
needs but by tho Importance that the
State has attached to this work in
with other State func-
lions. The State will not have done
It's duty until 1000 more cases have
been institutiOnali2ed and the
others properly trained. The sooner
his is done the better because the
compleXity of modern
ife is making it constantly more
lnicUlt for the subnOrmal to adapt
himself to life, resulting in sexual
which threatens an in
,rease in the birth-rate among the
and crime which is re-
lected in the higher stratas of life.
il view of this we are making
modest request for new
ottasc for white boys, one for col
rcd boys, an infirmary, barn. and
he Strengthening of our boundary
ines. We have also submitted for
our consideration the matter of Il
Cutral heating plant. The present
for white boys has been fill
ed for the past eight months with
. boys. The agencies through
which most of our applications
ono have ceased to make applica-
ion until there is another cottage.
t is safe to say that had there been
mother cottage there would have
ocn 28 or 80 admissions to it in the ,
asst eight months. A cottage for ,
OlOred boys is certainly needed
ince we have had to refuse all APP
licatiOns for colOrcd boys since the !;
was opened. 1t does not =,
ocm to be a well balanced develop !,
lcnt program until provision Is ,,
lade for cOlOrCd males. An intirm-
ry we consider one Of our most ur .
cnt needs. If n child in one of !
Iesc cottages should contract an in
,CtiOus or contagious disease, is it 4
llr to the other children in the cot \
lgc to be exposed to this danger?
nd their parents, naturally are
cry much concerned. We would
Ike a section of the infrmary for
le segregation Of contagious cases.
mother section would be devoted {
those cases that could not be ad- G
tilted to the cottages due TO their u
'ippled condition. and there are
any of these cases. They could be II
'eatly helped by proper diet and i,
rising and the suffering to which u
ey arc doomed could be alleviated.
lseS for admission having vcncr- I
Il diseases and syphilis would be b
Gated there as well as any acci- "
mt cases, infantile cases and par D
ytics. 1t would be medical and Il
,ntal center to house equipment N
I'd supplies as we'll as service. b,
eve are greatly in need Of barn. 81
ost of our hay has to be stacked is
It in the open. Exposure to the ty
Gather destroys the nutritive con- m
mt approximately 40 per cent. We Il
we no place to store grain seeds II
ccssitating immediate sale from
e fields and ropurchasc at seeding II
ne. We have 16 young cattle for bt
lich there arc no housing facili- 81
IS. A new barn would also be used