Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1911 — Nebraska May Have ‘Vagabond City’ [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nebraska May Have ‘Vagabond City’

LINCOLN, neb. —Nebraska may soon have a vagabond city and all tra'mps, drunkards or delinquents of other kinds who drift into this state will be in danger of being made citizens of the new colony. The "city” will not rob the penitentiary of any of its prisoners, but is intended to take care of that large class of unfortunates designated by professional charity workers as "below the poverty line.” It will be the first institution of its kind in the United States and as an experiment along untried lines Is sure to attract the attention of sociologists everywhere. No real criminals will be admitted to citizenship, but only “unfortunates” will be accept-jOd.-lfrodo- ■ ' A bill before the legislature calls for the establishment of a colony on

the prairies, far from the temptations of a large city. The size of the institution is not mentioned in the bill, but its backers think from 5,000 to 10,000 acres will be necessary once the colony is in full working order. In addition to a big farming area there will be shops of all kinds, an Iron foundry, a shoe shop, a book bindery, a tailor shop, a furniture factory, a planing mill and others of this kind. The output of the colony will not come in competition with that of private concerns, but will be used, In great measure, by the state in the different state institutions. When one coming within those lines is brought before the proper autho-i----ties, instead of being sentenced to the city jail or the state prison he will be sent to "Vagabond City.” No fixed term of incarceration will be set, but the delinquent will be Blmply sent to the city until he becomes self-sup-porting, after which he will be sent back to the world as a man able to take care of himself. While in thej “city” he will be taught an occupation or trade.