MANAGERS OF LETCHWORTH VILLAGE To the Honorable, the Legislature of the State of New York: As required by the act organizing Letchworth Village, the undersigned managers submit their ninth annual report. Honorable Henry M. Sage of the Senate Finance Committee on March 10, 1917, in an address on State Finance delivered at the City Club, New York City, said: "There is another subject which is engaging our attention. It is estimated that there are something over thirty-three thousand feeble-minded persons in the State of New York. To-day the State is taking care of about five thousand of these people. Many experts on the subject of the feebleminded estimate that the feeble-minded population of the State including those of so-called high grade is one hundred thousand. The Legislature has been timid in attempting to meet this situation. If it is allowed to continue as it is now it means that the State will become bankrupt both financially and what is far more important, mentally. Every one of these people at large is a menace to the State. They are constantly propagating. The only possible answer to the problem is segregation. Do you realize what it is going to cost? Whatever it costs it is the duty of the State and of the Legislature representing the people of the State to take the question up and settle it, and I, for one, have not the slightest doubt that again the tax payers will approve.' Senator Sage, as Chairman of the Hospital Development Commission, in an address entitled "Feeblemindedness and the State" delivered before the State Conference of Charities and Correction at Binghamton, N. Y., on November 15, 1917, said: 66 LETCHWORTH VILLAGE MUST BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." The Board of Managers welcomes Senator Sage's suggestions and criticisms and considers his address so important that it should be circulated as widely as possible. WAR WORK On April 18, 1917, the President of the Board of Managers wrote the following letter to the Superintendent: 55 Wall Street, New York City APRIL 18, 1917 DR. CHARLES S. LITTLE, Superintendent, Letchworth Village, Thiells, New York: DEAR DR. LITTLE.-I am glad to hear from Mr. Kirkbride that that you are planning to make the production of crops and other food stuffs your principal activity this year. The more nearly you can make your institution self supporting in the matter of food, the better it will be. Will you also think over the possibility of using the institution and organization a little later to care for sick soldiers and possibly later on wounded ones? Am I right in feeling that it would be possible for you to organize a convalescent hospital on the property at Thiells and manage it in connection with your regular work. Would you be willing to assume the responsibility for organizing and administering a hospital of this sort? If you think well of the idea, I would suggest that the Board of Managers formally make such an offer to the Governor. I shall be glad to have your views. Sincerely yours, (Signed) F. A. VANDERLIP. Dr. Little replied as follows on April 24th: LETCHWORTH VILLAGE THIELLS, NEW YORK April 24, 1917 HON. FRANK A. VANDERLIP, The National City Bank, New MY DEAR MR. VANDERLIP. In reply to your letter of the 18th relative to our organizing and administering a hospital here at Letchworth Village for the use of the Gov |