The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-12-14
Classes Will
Start About
January Is
BOARD VOTES Al TO
CLOSE COUNTY HOME
AT STORMY SESSION

Classes at a National Youth
administration school with an
enrolment of 60 girls will be-
gin about January Is it was
indicated Wednesday with
the completion of prelimin-
airy arrangements for vacat-
ing the Redwood county
home, just west of the city,
which will house the institu-
ton.
The county board, by a vote
of four to one, adopted a re-
solution Tuesday afternoon
to make the home available
to NYA officials for use as a
school for six months, SUBJ
ject to suitable arrangements
being made to care for pre-
sent inmates and confirmation of
legality of the action. There is
every assurance that the lease will
be renewed in June to run for
the NYA's next fiscal year.
Jean Tucker, executive secre-
tary of the county welfare board,
assured officials that arrange
ments can be made for care of
county home residents at an act
ual saving to the county and
County Attorney Tom Reed went
to ST. Paul Immediately to consult
attorneys in the office of j. A. A.
Burnquist. He returned Wednes-
day with an opinion of the attor-
ney-general removing any doubt
as to the legality of the county
boards abandoning use of the
county home under the circum-
stances.
The board met again this morn
ing to carry out statutory require
ments regarding execution of a
lease to the NYA.
Purposes Outlined
The boards action followed one
of the stormiest board sessions in
years in which Commissioner
James P. Kragh of the third dis
trict, supported by w. R. Werring,
Morgan attorney and delegation
from the district, opposed the
move bitterly. Mr.. Kragh cast
the sole dissenting vote.
The meeting started soon after
10 a. m. with an explanation of
the project by John Laserri of the
state NYA office, Frank Heleniak,
district NYA supervisor and Irene
Pullman, assistant supervisor.
Then for an hour, opposition
speakers held the floor. Several
Redwood Falls persons spoke just
before noon and at the afternoon
session before the commissioners
went into executive session 10
make their decision.
NYA officials reviewed the or
ganization of the Fairmont school
and discussed it's accomplish
ments, setting forth a record that
was not contradicted. Of girls
completing the six months course
offered there, 80 per cent have
found employment Immediately,
they said.
Girls Paid Wage
They stated that their depart
ment of the government was pre-
pared to spend $25, 900 per year to
| give course of training partic-
ularly in homework and home
management but with exploratory
work in clerking, restaurant and
clerical work, to 60 girls, ID to 25
years old, unable to take school,
work elsewhere, from about 20
! counties. Later in the meeting it
was stated that the school will
accept as many Redwood county
girls as apply and qualify.
The girls receive $50 per month
from the federal government for
work on projects such as sewing
garments to be distributed to
needy persons in the home coun-
ties of the girls. From their earn
ing students pay $18 for room and
board per month, a major part of
the cost of the project.
The SIS, 900 would also provide
salaries for five instructors and a
caretaker, pay all incidental ex-
penses and a small rental for the
property. The county would con-
tribute nothing beyond offering
the building at very reasonable
rental. The county board insisted
and was assured by NYA officials
that William Johns will be placed
on the NYA payroll as caretaker
and that no alterations of the
building will be made. Through
out the meeting Mr.. Johns was
frequently commended for his
work as superintendent of the
| home.
| Has Is Residents
Miss Tucker furnished list of
the Is residents at the home and
figures showing that Sc, 229.36 was
paid by the county in 1888 for
the care of an average of 1888
inmates, or $29.95 per month per
person. This year 15.5 persons
have been maintained there at a
cost of $6,434.44, or $34.40 per
month per person. Allowance
was made in both instances for
expenses not directly connected
Continued on page two)