io6 THE KALLIKAK FAMILY 



sufficient to nearly, or quite, offset the expense of the 

 new plant. Besides, if these feeble-minded children 

 were early selected and carefully trained, they would 

 become more or less self-supporting in their institutions, 

 so that the expense of their maintenance would be 

 greatly reduced. 



In addition to this, the number would be reduced, in a 

 single generation, from 300,000 (the estimated number 

 in the United States) to 100,000, at least, and prob- 

 ably even lower. (We have found the hereditary fac- 

 tor in 65 per cent of cases ; while others place it as high 

 as 80 per cent.) 



This is not the place for arguing the question or pro- 

 ducing the statistics to substantiate these statements. 

 Suffice it to say that every institution in the land has 

 a certain proportion of inmates who not only earn their 

 own living, but some who could go out into the world 

 and support themselves, were it not for the terrible 

 danger of procreation, resulting in our having not 

 one person merely, but several to be cared for at the 

 expense of the State. These statements should be 

 carefully considered and investigated before any one 

 takes the stand that segregation in colonies and homes 

 is impossible and unwise for the State. 



The other method proposed of solving the problem 



