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1939: Delaware

Area and Population.

Delaware, the second smallest state in the United States, has a land area of 1965 sq. mi. and 405 sq. mi. of water surface. According to the 1930 census, the population was 238,380; the latest Federal estimate, July 1, 1937, was 261,000. Of the 1930 population, 205,694 were white; 32,602 Negro; 10,285 Italian; 8,939 Polish; other races, about 125. Wilmington, the largest city, had a population of 106,597 in 1930; Dover, the capital, 4,800.

Education.

For the school year 1938-39, the school population (5 to 20 years) was 44,538. The state had 215 elementary schools with 890 teachers and 26,305 enrolled pupils, and 33 high schools with 784 teachers and 18,233 enrolled pupils. The state expenditure for elementary and high schools was $4,994,925. The average salary paid to teachers, exclusive of superintendents and principals, was $1,420 for elementary teachers and $1,663 for teachers in secondary schools.

Agriculture.

Agriculture is the most important industry in Delaware, 73 per cent of the land being in farms. In 1939 these numbered 10,381 and covered a total area of 921,251 acres, of which 504,171 acres were crop land. In 1938, the cash income from crops amounted to $7,179,000; from livestock, $8,022,000; and from poultry, $9,078,717.

Delaware farmers are also engaged extensively in the production of poultry and dairy products. Sussex county, in the southern part of the state, ranks first among broiler-producing counties in the United States; it is estimated that 36,000,000 broilers were produced in the state during 1939.

At the close of the fiscal year, June 30, 1939, the total acreage of state forest lands under the administration of the State Forestry Department was 3,078.11.

Industry.

The number of manufacturing industries in Delaware in 1937 was 359 with 21,052 wage-earners, earning $22,991,808. The industrial plants of Delaware include many connected with agriculture, such as canning, fertilizer mixing, and basket manufacturing plants.

At Milford, an internationally known dental supply manufacturing plant is located; and the largest chicken packing-house in the United States is at Dover. Wilmington's manufactures include car wheels, boilers, pipe, brick, cork products, tanning extracts, silks, rayons, and jute products. Near the city many fine yachts, steamers and other sea-plying vessels are also made. Other industrial plants in Delaware include the largest single cotton dyeing and finishing plant in the world, the largest single plant for braided rubber hose, plants devoted to building and repairing steel and railway coaches, airplane manufacturing plants, titanium pigments plants, and various chemical plants. Paper, vulcanized fibre, glazed kid, morocco leather, and leather belting are important industries. During 1939 a nylon yarn plant, costing about $8,000,000 was constructed at Seaford and production is expected to begin in 1940.

Legislative and Political Affairs.

Due to the political set-up, consisting of a Democratic Governor with both houses Republican, the Legislature was in session longer than usual in 1939, adjourning sine die on August 28. Since the Republican members enacted certain 'ripper' legislation over the Governor's veto, the Democratic members formed a bloc and decided to vote against all measures requiring a two-thirds or three-fourths majority for passage, until the Republican members should recall such legislation. One of the most important laws passed, of state-wide interest, was the establishment of a permanent Budget Commission for the state. The office of Vice-Chancellor of the Court of Chancery for the state was also created at this session. The American Holly was adopted as the state tree, and the Blue Hen's Chicken as the state bird.

Former Governor Robert P. Robinson of Wilmington, who was Chief Executive of Delaware from 1925-1929, died March 4, 1939.

On Nov. 16, 17, and 18 the city of Wilmington observed the 200th anniversary of the chartering of Wilmington, with a parade and special programs.

Finance.

The state debt on June 30, 1939, was $4,872,000,00. Relief expenditures by the state from July 1, 1938, to June 30, 1939, amounted to $301,114.56; Old-Age Pensions, $172,667.00, and Mothers' Pensions, $60,251.00. Unemployment Benefits paid from January 1 to June 30 totaled $397,563.01.

Banking.

On June 30, 1939. Delaware had 15 licensed National Banks with deposits of $17,357,000, loans of $8,285,000, and investments of $9,113,000; as well as 31 licensed State Banks and Trust Companies with deposits of $191,427,000, loans of $70,079,000 and investments of $98,089,000.

Welfare and Correction.

The only state institution that deals with the care of aged persons is the Old Age Welfare Home at Smyrna. Private institutions for the care of the aged, which are partly supported by the State, are the Palmer Home at Dover and the Layton Home for Aged Colored People, Wilmington.

The State Board of Charities, with offices at Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown, cares for children in the state. Among the functions of the Board, one of the most important is the care and protection of dependent and neglected children, generally through foster homes. Other functions of this Board relative to child care are investigation in all adoption matters, and the licensing of child-caring institutions and agencies, and boarding homes for children. The State Board licensed the following private child-caring institutions during 1939: Catholic Welfare Guild, Children's Bureau of Delaware, Children's Home, Florence Crittenton Home, Delaware Children's Home Society (ceased functioning August 31), St. Michael's Home for Babies (ceased functioning March, 1939).

The Delaware Commission for the Feeble-Minded supervises Delaware Colony, a home for feeble-minded persons, near Stockley. Delaware State Hospital at Farnhurst cares for the insane and for persons suffering from mental and nervous diseases.

Brandywine Sanatorium, near Wilmington, for the treatment of tuberculosis patients in the state, and Edgewood Sanatorium, at Marshallton, for the care and prevention of tuberculosis among Negro patients in the state are both under the direction of the State Board of Health.

State reformatories include: Ferris Industrial School, Marshallton, for delinquent boys; Delaware Industrial School for Girls, Claymont; and the Industrial School for Colored Girls, Marshallton.

State Officers.

The chief state officers are as follows: Governor, Richard C. McMullen; Lieutenant Governor, Edward W. Cooch: Secretary of State, Josiah Marvel, Jr.; Treasurer, Fagan H. Simonton; Auditor, Benjamin I. Shaw; Attorney General, James R. Morford; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Harry V. Holloway.

United States Senators.

John G. Townsend. Jr., James H. Hughes.

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