Orphan Train Riders to Iowa

Orphan Train Riders
to
Iowa

~ Des Moines County~

The Burlington Hawkeye
Burlington, Iowa
Thursday Morning, 20 October 1898

Brought From New York and Given Homes on Western Farms.
Agent of the New York Juvenile Asylum Disposing of Nine Children in the Vicinity of This City.

Yesterday J. W. Shields, agents of the New York Juvenile asylum brought to the city seven boys and five girls, which had been rescued form the streets of New York. All the children were between six and ten years of age. The children were nearly all disposed of yesterday to well-to-do farmers in this vicinity. The conditions imposed upon the people desiring to adopt the children, are described in a circular as follows:
l. The children will be placed on trial for several weeks.

ll. At the end of the trial period the agent will meet the parties at a place designated, and, in case they are disposed to assume the specified obligations a written agreement will be executed.

III. The agreement will provide (1) that the child will be cared for until it is eighteen years of age, both in sickness and in health, with proper medical treatment, food and clothing: (2) instructed in some business: (3) sent to school four months in each year, until it has advanced through compound interest: (4) trained in normal and religious precepts and habits: (5) paid in money at the expiration of the agreement, fifty dollars ($50), one new outfit of clothing and a bible

IV. Each guardian will be required to make a written report concerning his ward, semi-annually, to the agent, in reference to health, conduct, attendance at school and advancement in the several branches of study, slot to notify the agent in case of desertion.

V. In case a ward should desert his guardian without sufficient reason, all claims against the guardian would be forfeited, and after duly notified the agent in such case the guardian will be free from all subsequent liabilities on account of such war.

VI. It is understood that if a guardian shall become dissatisfied with his war, or if for any other reason he shall desire to be relieved from further charge of his ward. He may make a written application to the agent for such authorized to make a settlement with such guardian on reasonable terms and resume charge of the child. The cost of removal in such cases must be born by the guardian.

The children were all intelligent and seemed to be well cared for by the society, being well clothed and happy. The agent does all in his power to choose from among the applicant s only those who have good homes, and who will give the child adopted a Christian rearing. The waifs are nearly all boys, but when girls are brought to a western city they are much easier placed as they are more easily handled than a wild street boy. Mr. Shields makes Union Hotel his headquarters.

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