The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-02-08
Boy Scouts OF Waterbury Observing
3Oth Anniversary Of Organization
Special Church Services
Arranged For Local
Units.

Scouting advanced with its years,
but not without financial pain to
its sponsors and officers. It began
with donations fro minterested In
dividuals close to its formative DAYS,
and by stringent control Of small
donations the organization held to-
gether. Borrowed furniture equipped
the National Office. The third an
nual report shows that there were
but nine gifts Of 1000 or more, but
by 1915 five-year period Of large
scale mass campaigns had begun, to
be concluded at the close Of the
World War.
First World yamboree
The First World Jamboree, held
In England in 1920, accented the
extension Of the Boy Scouts Of
America in the second decade Of
its history. The movement had be-
come absorbed by every community
in the nation. It had won recogni-
ton, and its financial structuse was
secured to promise further develop
ment. Scouting had arrived in full
power. Newspapers devoted columns
Of space to Scout activities and en-
phaSiZed the civic Good Turns
which developed in such bulk as
forest conservation and emergencies
as the Knickerbocker Theater fire
in Washington, floods in Colorado
and Texas, and the hurricanes of
Florida and New England.
Based on this progress, the 1900
Boy Scouts of America who attend
ed the World Jamboree at Eng
lands Arrowe Park in 1929 had
plenty Of room to brag.
Depression blanketed memory Of
the World Jamboree and recessed
the accomplishment of the past. It
demanded the fullest of every avail
able resource to maintain the
Scouting Program. Local Councils
slashed budgets. Banks failed and
enveloped Council funds. But.
strangely, Scouting expanded.
At the close of 1928, the Boy
Scout registration showed 8l9,701.
The following three depression years
showed increases: 842,540; 864,341,
and 889,55O.
Cub Scouts Inaugurated
In the midst of the national en-
Urgency the Cub Program for boys
younger than Scout age was formal
ly launched, with 5000 members at
the end of 1880. That year also saw
that 1928 boys were taught to
swim at Scout camps, that an in
crease of S per cent in campers was
reported-400,00 900 boys camping that
summer. Sea Scouts increased In
number by SO per cent. Scout cir
Dcuses, Merit Badge exhibits, EXPOSE
tons and other shows awakened
and maintained interest In Scout.
ing. Over 1853 colleges and UNIVERSE
ties conducted Scouting courses, and
more than $4,000 adult leaders par
ticipated.
Scout registration figures for the
next year passed the 100000 mark
| for the first time. Camping interest
increased also. But all was not play.
In relief work Scouts cooperated on
a nation wide scale likened to their
World War service.
25th Jamboree Postponed
Scouting's 25th Anniversary In
this country was to have been cell
ebrated with a National Jamboree
in Washington in August 1885. En-
gineerS and weather observers raj
lied to aid. Plans were developed 70
provide over 10000 tents to house
81 AIS Scouts and 1856 Troop Of
ficers, to prepare 100000 meals a
day-250 tons Of food each day, 49,
900 pounds of meat for one meal,
10000 quarts Of milk a day. Over
$4,000 Scouts had paid their $25
shares of the cost and everything
was perfect, even to the weather
previously selected by weather men.
But infantile paralysis appeared.
The Jamboree was postponed. Boy
Scout reaction was commendable.
Although their dreams were de-
stroyed for a time, they took 1t on
their respective chins. Two years
later larger group, 27,232, repre-
senting 536 Councils, participated in
still greater Jamboree. It was
followed by the World Jamboree in
Vogelenzang, Holland, with 814
Americans attending.
Subsequent emphasis on Troop
camping courses resulted in larger
scoutmaster response at ,summe,
camps, and the gife Of Philturr
Rockymountain Scout-camp on the
eastern slope of the Continental Di.
vide offered a place for extraordi.
nary adventure for Senior Scouts. In
1882, Mrs. Jacob Schiff had presen-
ted to the Boy Scouts Of America
the Schiff Scout Reservation in New
Jersey, as a memorial to her son
Mortimer L. Schiff, former Presi-
dent Of the Boy Scouts of America.
Its 500 acres provide National
Training Center and laboratory Of
camping.
Scouts at Worlds Fair
The past year was the Fair year,
and Scouting won notable recogni.
ton at both the New York Worlds
Fair and the Golden Gate EXPOSE
ton in San Francisco. In New York
$500 Scouts and Scouters partici-
pated in a service camp located on
the grounds. On Boy Scout day
some $1,000 Scouts and Scouters
watched Associate Justice owen j.
Roberts, of the United States Su-
preme Court, induct group of 81
year -old Scouts and former Scouts
into full voting citizenship in the
Court of Peace.
Throughout its 80 years Scouting
has appealed to boys as a game.
Character building and citizenship
training have developed through its
recreational facilities. The move
ment suggests conservation of the
nations boyhood, or coming gen.
erations, and it answers the boy
problem.
RENSSELAER, GRADS
OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS