Biennial report of the Board of Trustees and Superintendent of the Caswell Training School

              North Cafoi;r!a c>ta(« Liorary
Raleigh
N. C.
Doc.
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA
School for the Feeble Minded
KINSTON, N. C.
For the Years 1913 and 1914
BALEIGH
Edwaeds & BKOnPHTQN J?EH-rai:?rGTCo.
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BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA
School for the Feeble Minded
KINSTON, N. C.
For the Years 1913 and 1914
RALEIGH
Edwards & Beoughton Printing Co.
1915
\|A^
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Hon. J. Y. Jotnek, President ex officio Raleigh
Dk. a. a. Kent (resigned) Lenoir
Dr. R. N. Caetwmght (resigned) Fairfield
Dk. L. B. McBkayek Sanatorium
Hon. J. R. Daggett Littleton
Dr. W. H. Dixon Ayden
Hon. W. A. Thompson Aurora
Hon. R. E. Austin Albemarle
Hon. a. B. Justice Charlotte
Hon. Chas. Dewey Goldsboro
Col. a. C. Davis Goldsboro
Rev. R. N. Caviness Morehead City
Hon. J. D. Boushall Raleigh
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Dk. a. a. Kent, Chairman.
Chas. Dewey.
J. D. Boushall.
D, of D?
FEB - 1 Wttl
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Hon". Locke Craig, Governor of North Carolina,
Ealeigii, ISTorth Carolina.
Deak Sir :—I liave the honor to present herewith the report of the
Board of Tmstees of the Executive Committee and of the Superinten-dent
of the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded for the years
1913 and 1914. Veiy respectfully,
J. Y. JOTNER,
President ex-officio of the Board of Trustees.
THE FACULTY
C. Banks McNairy, M.D.,
Superintendent.
Miss Sarah ShaW)
Principal.
Miss Coka Coceofft,
Domestic Science.
Miss Makie Christian,
Primary.
Miss Minnie Culver,
Wood Carving and Assistant in the Literary Departments.
Miss Agnes Puett,
Music and Assistant in the Literary Departments.
Mrs. Florence Leonard,
" First Matron.
Mrs. Emma Hickerson,
Housekeeper.
Miss Annie Nichols,
Second Matron in Boys' Building.
Miss Bettie Quinn,
Second Matron in Girls' Building.
Mr. Robert L. Wilson,
Governor of the Boys' Building.
Miss Annie Ramsey,
Trained Nurse and. Steivardess.
Walter Masset,
. Farm,.
Chas. E. Rosemond,
Engineer.
Miss Catherine Kluttz,
Stenographer.
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE
ISortK Carolina ScKool for tKe Feeble Minded
KiNSTOjs^, N. C, December 1, 1914.
To His Excellency, Locke Ckaig,
Governor of Noiih Carolina.
Sir:—We, the Board of Tinistees of tlie ISTorth Carolina School for
tiie Feeble Minded, beg to ask your careful consideration of this, our
bieunial repoi-t. of the work, progress and needs of the institution over
which A\'e have been appointed to exercise supeiwision. The period
from December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914, covered by this report,,
embraces the greater part of the life of this institution. Owing to the
fact that no apipropriation was made by the regular session of the legis-lature
of 1913 for continuing the constructive work of the institution,
we were compelled to suspend active work till the appropriation made
by the special session of the legislature in September, 1913, became
available. At said special session of the legislature there was appro-priated
$68,934.17 to be used for the following purposes:
For paying old debts $19,891.17
Permanent improvements 24.508.00
JIaintenance 24,535.00
At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees on December 6,
1913, Dr. A. A. Kent, Mr. Charles Dewey, and Mr. J. D. Boushall were
elected as the Executive Committee for the next year.
They were instructed to use the first funds a^'ailable, for the pajanent
of the outstanding indebtedness of the school and to resume and complete
the constructive work, looking to the opening of the institution at the
earliest date piossible.
Prior to the meeting of the Board of Trustees on February 18, 1914,
very little of this work had been done on account of lack of funds ; all
expenditures up to that time of any consequence having been made in
payment of outstanding obligations.
The greater part of the debts had been i^aid prior to the date of this
meeting which was duly reported to the Board by the Executive Com-mittee.
At this meeting, Dr. C. Banks McNairy of Lenoir, jSI. C, was duly
elected Superintendent of the school for the remainder of the year. His
election and tenure of office to go into effect at once. Funds were now
6
available with, which to rush to completion and open the school, and in-structions
were given to the Executive Committee and Superintendent to
proceed with the work with all reasonable dispatch. At its annual meet-ing
held at the offices of the school on December 16, 1914, the Board
was highly pleased with the progress made and the character of the
work done by the Executive Committee and the Superintendent in thus
far completing, equijiping and furnishing the institution, and also in
organizing a faculty and working force for the successfiil opening of
the institution. The Board was greatly gTatified with the manifest gen-eral
improvement and happy and healthy condition of the children under
the very excellent management of the Superintendent and his efficient
corps of assistants.
The Board of Trustees beg to make the following recommendations
to the coming legislature of 1915 for the welfare and urgent needs of
the institution
:
1. That the name of the institution be changed to the Caswell Train-ing
School.
2. That the laws be changed and enacted as suggested by the Super-intendent's
report.
3. And that appropriations be made for the different purposes as
recommended in the Superintendent's report, as follows
:
1. Building for dining room and school rooms (estimated cost) $30,000
2. Two dormitories or cottage buildings for imbeciles and idiots (esti-mated
cost) 28,000
3. Additions to present boys' dormitory and present girls' dormitory
for rooms for matrons and hospital wards; total (estimated cost) 5,000
4. Four cottages for carpenter, farmer, fireman, and engineer (esti-mated
cost) 5,000
5. Dairy building and additional cows (estimated cost) 2,000
6. For wagons, horses and farm equipment (estimated cost) 2,500
7. Reinforcing foundations and concrete floors for dormitories (esti-mated
cost ) 2,500
Total for these improvements (estimated) $75,000
Maintenance for year 1915 30,000
Maintenance for year 1916 60,000
The above additional buildings and equipment will enable us to take
care of two hundred and fifty pupils.
The biennial financial statement is herewith submitted.
SCHOOL FOR THE FEEBLE MINDED
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
From December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914.
1912.
Dec. 1. Balance on band ?19, 612.13
1913.
April 15. Appropriation for support 10,000.00
Oct. 23. Appropriation for maintenance 24,535.00
Appropriation for present indebtedness 19,891.17
Appropriation for equipping plant 24,508.00
Rent of land 610.00
Norfolk-Southern Ry., damage sewer pipe . .
.
8.50
Sale of crushed stone 2.00
Sale of farm products 466.67
Total receipts ?99, 633.47
Disbursements.
Audited vouchers from December 1, 1912, to
December 1, 1914 $93,881.26
Balance December 1, 1914 $ 5,752.21
Fob the YiiiR 1913.
From December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1913.
1912.
Dec. 1. Balance on hand $19,612.13
1913.
April 15. Appropriation for support 10,000.00
Appropriation for maintenance 24,535.00
Appropriation for present indebtedness 19,891.17
Appropriation for equipping plant 24,508.00
Rent of land 175.00
Norfolk-Southern Ry., damage sewer pipe . . . 8.50
Sale of crushed stone 2.00
Sale of farm products 24.93
Total receipts $98,756.73
Disbiirseme7its.
Audited vouchers from December 1, 1912, to
December 1, 1913 $36,337.54
Balance December 1, 1913 $62,419.19
8
FOK THE Yeak'1914.
From December 1, 1913, to December 1, 1914.
1913.
Dec. 1. Balance on band $62,419.19
Sale of farm products 441.74
Rent of land 435.00
Total receipts : . .
.
$63,295.93
Disbursetnents.
Audited vouchers from December 1, 1913, to
December 1, 1914 57,543.72
Balance December 1, 1914 $ 5,752.21
The reports of the Executive Committee and the Superintendent were
unanimously adopted and are herewith submitted.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
KiNSTON, ]Sr. C.J December 16, 1914.
To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for
the Feeble Minded:
We, your Executive Gominittee, beg to submit the following report
:
ThirLking that you are more interested iu tbe things done and the
work accomplished than in the details and tedious work of overcoming
hindrances and obstacles, and especially of trying to obtain results with
less f^inds than are actually nfecessary for their accomplishment, we give
results briefly.
Old Debts.
The first matter of prime importance directed to be done by the Com-mittee
was the payment of the outstanding debts of the School. Of the
sum appropriated by the special session of 1913 for that purpose, $19,-
891.17, we found that $7,182.15 had been paid out by our predecessors
on old accounts, leaving the sum of $12,709.02 to be expended by this
committee. On January 1, 1914, we issued warrants for $8,849.10 of
said debts, as was reported to your Board at its last meeting. In ac-cordance
with the instructions of the Board on February 18, 1914, we
issued warrants for $4,199.69 on said debts.
There was so much trouble growing out of the fact that certain of
these debts were not being paid that we held a meeting of the Committee
iu Raleigh on May 16, 1914. The chairman of the Board, Dr. J. Y.
Joyner, Attorney General Bickett, and Treasurer Lacy, were invited to
meet with us for the purpose of considering how best to dispose of these
debts.
After consulting Mr. Bickett and Mr. Lacy and obtaining their ap-proval,
it was ordered that these debts be paid out of the Maintenance
fund, which was done and warrants issued them and subsequently for
$1,941.36. The $250 due York & Cobb, contractors, was forfeited by
them. There are now none of the old debts outstanding.
Sewee.
The sewer line which was being put in by the management of the
school has been completed and all connections with the several buildings
have been properly made, at a cost of $862.78 for the unfinished work.
Great difficulty was encountered in finishing this work due to much
quicksand to be gone through. An experienced man was finally em-ployed
to finish it. Curbing and cofl^ers had to be used to retain the
•walls of sand till the pipe could be laid, thus entailing additional cost.
10
Keseevoie.
The excavation for the reservoir was done under the direction of Mr.
Rosemond at a cost of $357.58. Competitive bids were asked for on the
work of building the reservoir. The best bid being $1,198 which was
accepted and paid upon completion of the resei-voir—the total cost of
reservoir being $1,555.58.
Watee Main and Steam Pipe Line.
Bids were asked for on both of these lines and the work of putting
them in was left to the lowest bidder in each case. As we had on hand
much of the material for both lines, we furnished the other necessary
material for the completion of these lines. The total cost of these lines
were $4,085.64. We were later compelled to put in a duplicate steam
pipe line from the boiler house to the laundry and kitchen, and to put
in reducing valves on the main steam pipe line.
Heating Two Doemitoeies.
The plan of heating the two dormitories was changed because the
original plan was found to be expensive to construct, and to entail heavy
expense in running. Hence the steam heat system was adopted. The
contract was let on competitive bid to B. MacKenzie of Greensboro,
ISr. C, for the sum of $3,500. Two-hundred gallon hot water tanks to
be put under each of the two dormitories being included in the bid.
The contract was completed as to one of the buildings prior to ISTovember
1st, and the sum of $1,750 was paid for same. The other has been
completed since.
PowEE HousEj Pump and Laundry.
A cheap structure was built over the boilers which had j)reviously
been located, said boiler house costing $860. This cheap structure was
built in order to keep within bounds of our appropriation.
The contract which we found had been entered into previously for the
laundry equipment to cost $3,400 was felt by the committee to be too
expensive ; and the original plan of laundry building it was found would
cost $5,000. We finally succeeded in getting the bill for the equipment
down to $2,707.70 ; and changed the plan for the building so as to
reduce the cost there also. The lowest bid on the new plan adopted for
the building was $2,515.
11
Itemized cost of pump, power house and laundry:
Power house ? 860.00
Laundry Building Plans 88.37
Contract for building 2,515.00
Laundry equipment 2,707.70
Dynamo 190.00
Meter and transformer 82.83
Repairs for pump 131.88
Foundation for pump, etc 1,243.19
$7,818.97
Cattle^ Fence ajn^d Barn.
The Superintendent expended $580 in the purchase of nine good
grade Holstein cows. We need five more cows to furnish milk for pres-ent
use.
We have built, in all, 550 rods of ham lot and pasture fence, some
being made of 'woven wire and barb wire, enclosing between 150 and 200
acres of land. Cost of material in fence $498. We need about 150
rods additional fence to enclose the entire farm.
Our barn is under process of construction and when completed will
have cost about $2,500.
rUHNITUEE AND FURNISHINGS.
The matter of furnishing the buildings preparatory to opening the
school has proven to be a much larger undertaking than we had antici-pated.
We have expended for this purpose $5,254.72, but this equip-ment
was absolutely necessary to the opening of the school.
Screening Buildings.
Since the school was to be opened in midsummer it was imperatively
necessary that all windows and doors should be well screened so as to
exclude mosquitoes and flies. This, we submitted for competitive bids,
the price being $500.
Water Supply.
One of the most serious problems that we have encountered has been
that of securing an adequate supply of water. One of the artesian wells
was not flowing when we took in charge the work. We procured a
specialist to put it in repair on contract at a cost of $100. We then
found that we had only about fifteen gallons per minute which was to-tally
inadequate for the present demands of the school. The water
closets could not be flushed as needed, there was not sufiicient water for
baths and ordinary domestic purposes and none whatever for fire protec-tion.
Your committee negotiated and closed a contract with the Syd-
12
nor Pump and Well Company of Richmond, Va., to bore a ten inch well
near the boiler house. This we did in full expectation of securing a
water supply sufficient for all future uses of the school. To our great
disappointment, after sinking this well .500 feet, we have found almost
no water. We ha^'e suspended further effort to secure water awaiting
the meeting of your board.
Genekal Maintenance.
We have expended for general maintenance $15,603.94. Thi.9 sum
includes all expenses of board hieetings, executive committee meetings,
salaries, feed purchased for teams and cattle, labor on fann, of making
clearings and of building fences, and numerous other expenses in addi-tion
to the ordinary living expenses of the school.
This being both a custodial and an educational institution, it necessi-tates
a force of attendants for custodial care and a faculty for educa-
.tional work, requiring a larger expenditure per capita than for an insti-tution
doing only educational or custodial work. Furthermore, these
children are in the institution twelve months in the year, and to the
'6theT expenses must be added that of clothing. The per capita cost in
•opening the institution is of necessity higher than in an old established
•one. Our estimate, based upon our short experience, is $20 per month.
Thus far we have received only State wards.
Financial Statement.
Balance on hand December 1, 1913 . ; $62,419.19
Sale of farm , products 441.74
Rent of lands 435.00
$63,295.93
Disbursements.
Paid on old debts $14,990.15
Permanent improvements 26,949.63
General maintenance 15,603.94
Balance in bank 5,752,21
$63,295.93
Permanent Improvement.
Furniture and furnishings $ 5,254.72
Sewer line 862.78
Heservoir 1,555.58
Water main and steam pipe line 4,085.64
Heating dormitories 1,750.00
Power house, laundry and pumps 7,818.87
Barn, fence, and cattle 1,172.04
Screening buildings 500.00
iifi;.»tM iiiw^iVpj
tM. iti
'
ii ir ^ r iWi h> Mf «w ,
i^ji>pi;i
13
Cook house, work shop, coal house $ 650.00
Duplicate steam pipe line 600.00
Team, wagon, hack, and harness 700.00
Boring 10-inch well 2,000.00
?26,949.63
In all of our planning, contracting and purchasing for the institution,
Tve have constantly had two objects in mind, efficiency and economy.
We have endeavored to the best of our ability to obtain efficiency in
everything done and have, at the same time, endeavored to keep strictly
within the bounds of our original appiropriation.
Whatever of success we have had in the payment of debts, completing
.and furnishing the buildings, and opening the school for the use and
Teception of the unfortunate children of the State who are here now
in numbers almost to the limit of the capacity of the institution, we
•owe mainly to the untiring efforts of our Superintendent aided by Mr.
Charles Dewey, the most faithful and attentive member of the Execu-tive
Committee.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
A. A. Kent,
j. d. boushall,
Chas. Dewey,
Executive Committee.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
KiNSTON, 'N. C, December 16, 1914.
To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for
the Feehle Minded:
In making this, my first report, I deem it proper to make tlie follow-ing
statement
:
I wish to express my high appreciation to my engineer, principal,
stewardess, and matron, and all subordinates for the loyal support and
encouragement they have given me. And further, I wish to make
acknowledgment to the citizens of Kinston and Lenoir County for the
courtesies and encouragement they have both shown and given me,
which has been such a comfort and without which, my labors would
have been more trying.
On taking charge of your institution, I was somewhat aware of the
magnitude of this work, and it was with considerable misgivings that
I gave up my life's work and old friends for a new field and new work,
but the truth is, the responsibilities and cares, labors and trials involved
in this work had not fully dawned upion me, and I am frank to confess
to your honorable body T have not accomplished what I had hoped.
It was quite a disappointment to me when I found so much of the
constructive work yet to be completed and the length of time necessary,
and owing to the scarcity and high cost of labor and to the excessive
rains of the early spring, I was unable to finish in the expected time that
T thought I should, and had it not been for the encouragement of your
-Executive Committee, and especially the advice, counsel and friendship
of Mr. Chas. Dewey, I no doubt would have long since fallen by the
wayside.
"We were able, however, to begin to receive pupils July 1st, and as per
instructions of your Committee on Reception, we admitted, to begin
with, only fifteen girls. These were supj)Osed to be of the highest gi-ades
of the applications on hand. The committee's instructions were that we
receive the higher grade girls, a limited number, and gradually increase
as circumstances and conditions would permit, giving preference to the
applications on file.
Owing to the fact that the Superintendent was inexperienced and not
permitted to visit or see the pupils before being admitted, there were
many errors and ahnost insurmountable obstacles brought about from
these conditions, as we had nothing except the applications to guide us.
We had hoped to give each child, upon entering the institution, the
Simon-Binet Mental Test, and thereby grade them mentally, but we soon
15
found that we liad a herculean task in governing, providing food, cloth-ing,
etc., therefore we were unable to give any special study of the men-tality
of the individual pupil.
Here agaiu many were the questions that ai'ose of which we had never
dreamed. Not only in our duties to the children and our institution,
but in relation to the public, and especially to the parents of our
inmates.
So far, we have received none except as State wards. We have been
gradually increasing until we have received in all, 122. Two have
been granted an indefinite leave of absence, two were taken back as per
advice of the Superintendent, four being of a very low type, were
returned over the protest of parents, two were permitted to visit homes,
but were never returned, and nine were taken away by parents over
protest and advice of the Superintendent.
The object of our School Department is to train whatever is "train-able"
in the child.
Some are apt in their reading, some (a few) in arithmetic, some in
drawing, in writing, there are others in nothing pertaining to books.
The latter class, including the epileptics, idiots, the ones who can't talk,
and the very simple minded, are in a class to themselves and are called
the "Outdooi-" Class.
These classes, one for boys and one for girls, are under the care of the
matrons, supervised by the principal. They are taught to lace, tie and
button their shoes. To do this, the top parts of old shoes are tacked on
a board of convenient size, making them much easier to be handled.
Likewise cloth with buttons and buttonholes is tacked on boards.
Mats are given to those who have mastered the buttoning and lacing.
These mats teach the beginning of weaving and darning.
Some are skilled with their fingers, while others forget as soon as
they have learned.
The "School Proper" includes the ones who go in the school rooms
and are taught as normal children are taught. Of course, with these
children, "Patience and Eepetition" are the keynotes.
The method used is the one which seems especially adapted for these
children : namely, the Aldine Method, a combination of the word and
phonetic method. The other subjects are taught using this method as
a basis.
Two characteristics, love of music and an apt memory, seem predomi-nant
among these children. With some, they are the only foundations
we have. With others, the peculiarity of the memory is that it has
reference especially to personal favors or injuries and not so much as to
the ability to retain what has been given them in the way of instruc-
16
tion. For instance; for a week or uioutli or so, they seem to improve
and learn, then will come a period of lethargy in which the mind seems
to lag and do nothing.
Of all the training, musical, school, outdoor, the most important is
the moral and ethical training. This, of course, is in no special de-partment,
but is continuously impressed throughout all departments.
Besides the regiilar school, the girls are trained in the dining-room,
to arrange the tables, place the chairs and serve the food. In the laun-dry,
to iron neatly and fold the sheets, etc., and in their building, to
sweep, make beds and keep their dressing rooms in order. Also, they
have lessons in domestic science, taught by the domestic science teacher.
The boys are taught tO' haul, chop, cut wood and grub. They make
very good dairymen, feeding and milking the cows. Of course, all of
this is under the supervision of the governor of the boys' dormitory.
While some of the boys, under the direction of the matrons, become
very good housekeepers—sweeping, cleaning and making beds.
With both boys and girls, the desire for personal neatness is always
kept before them.
We think quite a few of the boys will be able to do considerable fann
work.
As a personal reward for neatness and obedience we pennit a limited
number of the boys to attend church and Sunday school in the city, a
privilege very highly prized by them.
Farm Report.
Sold farm products, hay, etc., $100.25. Deposited in First ISTational
Bank, Kinston, to the credit of .State Treasurer B. R. Lacy.
Raised on the farm: Four acres in corn, estimated 150 bushels; made
about 1% tons oat hay ; about 5^2 tons pea hay ; raised about ten bush-els
Irish potatoes; about 120 bushels sweet potatoes; 5 bushels onions;
various amounts garden vegetables ; quite a few watermelons. Had only
a few acres to fainn. All the farm was leased save about ten acres.
Killed 764 pounds pork. Killed 251 pounds beef.
List of Bents of the Farm for 191^.
Sutton farm—(Young) $175.00
Sweikhert farm and land right of the driveway to building to the
Central Highway 260.00
Horner, between Central Highway and river 200.00
DeePree land, east of the driveway to river 137.50
Total $772.50
17
All the land laying east of the Hull road to the JSTeuse Kiver on the
south and Dr. Pemberton's land on the east is reserved for the use of the
institution. The Sutton and Sweikhert farms have been leased for
1915.
We have, at present, more than one hundred and fifty applications,
and requests coming almost daily for blanks accompanied by some of
the most heart-rending and pathetic appeals from mothers .whose finan-cial
conditions have become embarrassed and who are careworn and
almost physical and mental wrecks, begging that our institution come to
their relief, which makes it absolutely necessary that we make plans for
the future.
Therefore, I beg to submit, for your consideration, the following rec-ommendations
:
First. That the name of our institution be changed to something more
euphonious and not so odious, such as the ISTorth Carolina Training
School, The Caswell Training School, The Wiley Training School, The
ISTeuse River Training School, The Tidewater Training School, or
The Aycock Training School.
Second. That the laws pertaining to our institution be changed as
follows
:
An Act pertaining to manner of admission of feeble minded
children and adult feeble minded women and men into the
North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (Caswell
Training School) and matters properly connected therewith,
repealing all laws in conflict therewith and declaring an
emergency:
The General Assemhly of Xorth Carolina do enact:
Section 1. That hereafter there shall be received into the Age limits.
North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (The Caswell
Training School) subject to such rules and regulations as the
board of trustees of said institution may adopt, feeble minded
or idiotic boys and girls between the ages of six and sixteen
years, and feeble minded women between the ages of sixteen
and thirty years, who are not pregnant or helpless, and feeble
minded men between the ages of sixteen and thirty years who
are not afHicted with any contagious or communicable disease.
Sec. 2. Application for the admission of a child between the Admission oi
ages of six and sixteen years shall be made to the board of <''"''i''"'°-
trustees of said school with the approval of the board of
county commissiohers of the county wherein such child has a
legal settlement, and in the following manner: (1) by the
father, if the father and mother are living together: (2) if the
father and mother are not living together, then by the one
having custody of the child: (3) by a guardian duly appointed;
(4) by the superintendent of any county poor asylum, or by
18
the person having the management of any orphanage, associa-tion,
charity society, children's home workers, ministers, teach-ers,
or physicians, or other institutions where children are
cared for. Under items 3 and 4, consent of parents, if living,
is not required.
Commitment of In case of adult females or males between the ages of six-adults,
teen and thirty years, any person may file in the office of the
Clerk of the Superior Court of any county, his certiiied peti-tion
stating that some woman or man (naming her or him)
of said county is not being or cannot be properly maintained
or cared for by those who have such person in charge. That
such woman or man is a feeble minded woman or man; that
she or he is over sixteen and under thirty years of age; that
he or she is idiotic or feeble minded; that slie or he is in good
bodily health; that she or he is not helpless; tliat she or he is
not afflicted with any chronic or contagious disease; that she
or he is a menace to society; that she or he is a legal resident
of the state and county where the application is filed; together
with such other statements as may be necessary to show that
she or he is a proper person to be admitted to said department
of said institution, and that her or his admission thereto
would be in conformity to the rules and regulations estab-lished
by the board of trustees of said institution for the ad-mission
and care of such persons.
Court procedure. Sec. 3. Hereafter, no adult woman or man shall be admitted
into The North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (The
Caswell Training School) unless committed thereto by the
Superior Court of the county in which such person has a legal
settlement.
Upon the filing of an application or a petition in the office
of the Clerk of the Superior Court of the county in which
such applicant has a legal settlement, by the proper person, as
designated in Section 2 of this act, the clerk of said court
shall issue a summons to such person named in said applica-tion
or petition, requiring her, or him. to be and appear before
said court, or the judge thereof, at some time to be fixed by
said clerk, not more than ten days thereafter, and shall bring
said matter at once to the attention of the judge or clerk of
said court. That the judge or clerk of said court shall, as soon
as convenient, pass upon said application or petition, first hav-ing
had reasonable notice she or he is unable to attend the
hearing of said matter; and that it shall be the dutj' of said
court to examine such witnesses (among whom shall be at
least one physician) as may be necessary to prove the truth
or falsity of the statements in said application or petition,
(-jggjg And if the court finds that each and all of the allegations
contained in said application or petition are true, and that
said person is a proper person to be cared for in said institu-tion,
it shall be its duty to make an order committing the care
and custody of said person to said institution. And it shall be
19
the duty of the clerk of said court to make a certified copy of
said application or petition, and of the finding and judgment
of said court, and transmit the same, together with a state-ment
of such facts as can be ascertained concerning the per-sonal
and family history of such person, to the superintendent
of said institution, at Kinston, North Carolina. The costs of
said proceedings shall be allowed and paid by the board of
county commissioners of said county.
Sec. 4. Upon receiving such order of commitment it shall Clothing for
be the duty of the superintendent of said institution, at once,
if there is room for any more inmates, or as soon thereafter as
there shall be room for such person in said institution, to
notify the clerk of said court that such person will be received
in said institution. That with such notice said superintendent
shall send a list of such clothing as shall be prescribed by the
board of trustees of said institution, and a blank form of
certificate of health and freedom of exposure to contagious dis-ease
at such time. In case the parent or custodian of such per-son
shall be financially unable to furnish the clothing as re-quired,
the said clerk shall procure such clothing at a cost
not to exceed twenty dollars ($20), and the payment for same
shall be made out of the county treasury upon the certificate
of the clerk and order of the county auditor.
Sec. 5. Upon receiving notice that such person can be ad- Transportation of
mitted to such institution, the clerk shall order the parents, ''"i"'*^-
custodian or applicant to convey such person to said institu-tion
without expense to the institution or the county. In
case such parent, custodian or applicant is wholly and finan-cially
unable to bear such expense said clerk shall convey said
person to said institution in the same manner and in accord-ance
with the same forms as are now provided by law for the
transfer of patients to insane hospitals, so far as they are
applicable.
Sec. 6. In case the parents of a child between the ages of ciotiiing and
six and sixteeen years are wholly unable to bear the expense tin"sp°rtation of
of furnishing the clothing required by the rules of the board of
trustees of said school, or of furnishing the money for trans-portation
of such child to said school, it shall be the duty of
the county from which the child is sent to bear such cost, in
the manner provided for adults in sections four and five of
this act.
Sec. 7. That the county commissioners of each county of
which any child in this institution is a resident, to provide to
pay the actual annual cost of the clothing of said child at the
institution, a statement of each shall be annually, on or before
the first Monday in September of each year, submitted by the
Superintendent of the said institution to said board of commis-sioners,
and that the institution shall be authorized to bring
suit against any board of commissioners refusing to pay for
said clothing, and to collect the same by law, providing further
20
that the county commissioners ot any county shall be author-ized
to demand and collect by law said amount out of any
parent or guardian of said child that in their opinion the
county board of commissioners deem able.
Sec. S. All laws or parts of laws in conflict with the pro-visions
of this act are hereby repealed,
mlpils"^'^
°* Sec. 9. Any pupil of said school may be discharged or re-turned
to his or her parents or guardian when, in the judg-ment
of the trustees, it will not be beneficial to such pupil, or
will not be for the best interests of said school to retain the
pupil therein.
Sec. 10. This act shall be in force from and after its rati-fication.
In view of the number of applications and the continued call and
the "urgent aj)peals that are constantly being made that we receive more
pupils, embracing all grades of feeble mindedness, and in order to keep
pace "with the present demands of humanity and to accomplish "what we
think is our mission, beg to present for your consideration, the following
suggestions
:
First. That a building, the plans of which the Superintendent will
gladly suggest, to be used, the basement for a general store
room and cold storage department; the first floor to be used
as a general dining room; the second floor to be used for
four school rooms and an assembly hall or large school room,
which, we think, can be constructed for $ 30,000.00
Second. That we 'secure an appropriation sufficient to build two
buildings or a number of cottages, as you may advise, for
the care of the low-grade imbecile and idiotic girls and a sim-ilar
building for the imbecile and idiotic boys, at an esti-mated
cost of 28,000.00
We would suggest that the girls' play room, or day room, now
being used as the only assembly hall, he completed to a two-story
building; and also ask for a similar building to be
added to the boys' dormitory. We think these can be con-structed
for 5.000.00
We must have homes for the engineer, carpenter, fireman, and
farmer (estimated cost) 5,000.00
Additional cows, dairy (estimated cost) 2,000.00
Putting concrete floors in each of the dormitories and reinforcing
foundations (estimated) 2,500.00
Horses, wagons, farm implements, and equipments (estimated
cost) 2,500.00
First year's maintenance 'estimated cost) 30.000.00
Second year's maintenance (estimated cost) 60,000.00
Making a total appropriation for flrst year (estimated) . . 105,000.00
For second year (estimated) 60,000.00
21
We appreciate the interest the State Board of Health, the Board of
Public Charities and the Board of Internal Improvements have mani-fested
in lis. We have found all most cordial and sympathetic in their
interest and endeavors to help us.
The Secretary of the State Board of Health made the following rec-ommendations
which we are glad to accept
:
That we keep a proper set of tables shomng the weights and measures
for children at different ages, and that the school shall keep the weights
and measures of all children entering school and also bimonthly weights
and measures of each child.
In closing, I frankly confess that I have not been able to come up to
my ideal by any means, much less yours. I have simply done the best
I could at the time and under the circumstances and conditions, and
respectfully submit this as my report.
C. Banks McIsTaiet, Superintendent.
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