The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-08-31

ed IOf the supply OF food for the sufferers. they
turned their attention to clothing them, and
organized committee of gentlemen and la
dies, who have worked assiduously in furnish
ing and supplying applicants with clothing
and clothing materials. Their labors have
been arduous and perhaps even mere irving
than those of the distributors of rations. as the
clothing SO many persons of both sexes and
all ages, suiting all their tastes and supplying
all their wants, was even more troublesome
task than catering to their palates. "a
Inc clothing committee have, by the aid of
efficient lady visitors, investigated carefully all
cases brought to their notice and have endeay-
ored todojustice to all. They too have been i'm
posed upon, but not more than they might rea-
sonbly have expected and the executive COM
mlttee believed that no more efficient organi-
zatlon can be arranged to meet the purpose
Their object has been not to replace lost ward
robes, but as far as in their power to furnish
all applicants with good serviceable clothing,
suited to their condition in life, and thus en-
able them to be decently attired until they are
able to provide for themselves. This depart-
ment has also included within its sphere. fur
nlShing bed clothes as well as wearing appar-
ell.
The executive committee have great pleas
ure in adding that their clothing department
has been managed with scrupulous care and
special attention to supplying the wants OF
those who before the fire were in comfortable
circumstances, as well as those of the poorer
classes. The distribution has been managed
with SO great delicacy and consideration, that it
is believed that all classes have been reached.
and that none have been left to suffer tor want
OF clothing or clothing materials. The
Commute deem it necessary to make this
statement because OF attempts which have
M o. a inc rfn
organizations only distributed clothing amono
the very poor, and that those who had seen
better days were absolutely neglected. This
statement has no foundation in fact, it is due
to the ladies and gentlemen in charge of our
clothing department that it should be known.
that being the only official organization in
charge OF this work, it has been faithful and
successful in its efforts to reach all who suffer-
ed and desired aid. .r a.~ rs1
SHELTER.
The next requirement Of the sufferers was
shelter, and this the committee were readily
able to furnish through the thoughtfulness Of
Capt. lnman, who, without waiting TOR official
orders, provided at once an ample supply of
tents, with which and the Accommodations fur
nlshed by our more fortunate fellow citizens
In opening their houses, we were able to speed
NY snelter the houseless and homeless.
we foresaw, however, that such shelter
could be but temporary, and at once arranged
for the erection OF sufficient number of wood
en- tenement houses to accommodate the house
less. The committee having this in charge
have labored to have these houses hurried
forward to completion as soon as possible
and we look forward to having a sufficient
number in readiness within the next thirty
days to accommodate all who require them.
This committee have in addition furnished
to those owning or having leases of lots, suffi-
Gent quantities of lumber and shingles to en-
able them to erect small tenements, thus re-
lieving tho committee from the labor and ex-
pense Of building.
The executive committee are satisfied that
the tenements which they are now erecting
will be comfortable for the sufferers, and such
as in many instances, will be quite as good as
those from which they were removed; and
they expect to arrange such system of rents
as will bring them within the means of all,
and yet not permit the occupants to live with
out work. Having thus provided for the more
pressing wants of the sufferers, the executive
committee appointed subcommittee, whose