The Portland daily press., 1866-07-26
How shall the Fund. be U.ede

i This seems to be the important inquiry at
the present time. All are, of course, DESTROYS
that they should be used in the most Judi
cious manner, but variety of opinions pre-.
vail and hence variety of suggestions. We
are too apt to resort to temporary expedients,
and there is danger of adopting short sight
ed policy. Fr .re s3- 6qs nj = q. q. :.
It is wise in time like this not to follow
too readily hasty counsel, too often Hinged
with selfishness, but to look about for courses
already marked out, and proved to be safe by,
experience. The. line of action adopted by
George Peabody in ameliorating the condition
Of the poor of London, is profitable to con-
slider at this time. Some years ago George
Peabody having for long time considered
plans for elevating the condition of the poor,
and having seen the various religious and
cnar1tapie societies OF the great city in which
he resided send their missionaries by scores
through the noisome and pestilent districts
inhabited by the poor, with scarcely any. per-
manent results, concluded that the place to
commence was at the lowest round of the
ladder; and that the first work to accomplish
was to improve their material surroundings.
Acting on this, he erected model tenement
house, in an airy and healthy locality, SO ar
ranged as to accommodate large number of
families with separate apartments, at very
moderate rent. A description of this build
ing is very interesting, but the columns of the
Press would not allow it at the present time:
suffice it, that each family had its own domi-
Gle with everything connected necessary to
health and cleanliness. Of course these tene-
ments were eagerly sought by the poor, who
lWere'very ready to comply with the require
ments, among which neatness, order and So
briefly were prominent With comfortable
and cheerful surroundings, the moral As we'll
as physical Improvement of the occupants of
this building was marked, so marked indeed.
that it became common theme, and even
the city of London in its corporate capacity.
as an economical as wen as a philanthropy
cal measure, followed Mr.. Peabody's wise ex-
ample and began the construction of model
tenement houses. At the present time many
OF these houses exist and others are being
constructed in London, and the greatest sue
cess follows the plan thus inaugurated bv orr
noble countryman for redeeming the poor from
degradation and attendant crime Nor is 4
London alone in this good work. Other COM cor
mulnities are following its example, and ere
long we may hope to see every city of promi- i
nence possessing model tenements for it,
poor, The system which has been found so %,
successful, provides among other things for it's
own growth. The revenue derived from rents
after paying fornecessary repairs and superin-
tendence, goes into q. fund for the building Of
similar tenements. Now why can we NOT
have something of this kind started in Port ~
land !? Large amounts Of money are being
sent here for the relief of the needy, and this
money is being freely expended in furnishing
them with food and clothing. This is ali well
but only temporary wants are being relieved.
and these wants are daily becoming less mr.
gent, owing to the remunerative demand for
oil kinds OF labor. Agreat, aye, an appalling
necessity will soon press upon us. Hundreds
Of families are without prospect of shelter
for the approaching winter. Would it not be
wise to follow the example set us by other
communities, where the need is not so press
ing as with us, and with the funds at our COM
mand, at once begin the erection in some To-
cation where land is cheap, of certain mum
Der OF tenement houses after the plan of Geo.
Peabody. Let them be substantial, fire-proof
buildings, OF three OR four stories in height.
under charge Of superintendent, employed
by the City Government to attend to the let
ting, collecting of rents, keeping in repair, &c.
If the tenants are not able for the first few
months to pay a rent, let them occupy them
nee. This, however, will not be necessary, as
labor will be in demand at remuneratiye pri-
ces' The rents from these buildings can be
applied to the building of others, and in time.
in place of such filthy haunts as Gorham's
corner, the Blight and Sebastopol, we may