Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-23

The report of the shelter committee 0
the Relief and Aid Society for Monda,
shows the following facts: Application
for houses received on that day, 220; tota
to date, $3.50. Applications granted OF
that day, 121 total to date. 1899. Appli
cations rejected on that day, IA. Held
for investigation, 143
Since the last report the committee
have delivered the following articles
Stoves to barracks, 5S stoves to houses
40; mattresses to houses, go; bedsteads
81 joints of pipe to barracks and houses
1411 chimneys, 476.
1t is the desire of the Executive Com
mittee that any one knowing of persons
receiving aid to which they are not en-
titled, should report the same, as well a,
cases where deserving persons receiving
aid to which they are not entitled, shonld
report the same, as we'll as cases where
deserving persons have been overlooked
| Such communication should be address
ed to Writ Dexter, chairman of the Exc
cutive Committee.
The following statement of the Execu-
i've Committee will be read with inter-
est:
The Executive Committee of the Chica-
90 Relief and Aid Society are aware that
the public desire to know the amount of
the subscriptions to the relief fund. 1t is
impossible at present to give a detailed
account of the amounts, for the reason
that purchases made in some cities, in
voices of which have not yet reached us,
are to be deducted from the gross amounts
of the subscriptions, The previous report
of our treasurer stated the amount actual
ly received at that date. We are now
able to give the amount received to this
date, November 7, and the probable
amount of the entire subscriptions, with
approximate accuracy. We have actually
received $2,051 023 So. Arrangement
have been made by which the society
draws per cent. on all balances in bank
So far our present information goes,
and we think we have advices of all sums
subscribed, the entire fund will vary but
little from So 100000. This includes the
funds in the hands of the New York
Chamber of Commerce, amounting to
about 100000, and the balance of the
B )ston fund, about $240, 900, both amount
ing to about $4,000 not yet placed to
the credit of this society, but which may
undoubtedly be relied upon to meet the
needs of the future. AS to our disburse.
ments we can only say that we are at
present aiding 10000 people at our regu-
lar distributing points. Some of this
vast number we relieve in part only, but
the greater portion to the extent of their
entire support. This is in addition to the
work of the special relief committee for
people who ought not to be sent to the
general distributing points, and which is
largely increasing upon our hands. 1t is
also in addition to the expenditures of the
committee on existing charitable institu-
tions.
The great matter pressing upon the
committee is shelter for the coming
winter. We may feed people during the
mild weather, but where and how they
are to be housed-permanently housed
we regard as the serious question. To
this end we have been aiding those burn
ed out to replace small but comfortable
houses upon their own, or upon leased
lots, where they can live, not only this
winter, but next summer, and be ready
to work in rebuilding the city. OF these
houses-which are really very comfort
able, being 16 by % feet with two rooms,
one II by 16 feet, and one s by 16 feet
with a planed and matched floor, panel
doors, and good windows-we have al
ready furnished over 1000 making per-
manent houses, allowing five to family,
fer 10000 people, and with the 1000
houses which we expect to build, shall
have rooms for $4,000 people. These
houses and some barracks, in both of
which is moderate outfit of furniture
such as stoves, mattresses and a little
crockery will consume, say 1850 900,
leaving 50 250,000 with which to meet
all the demands for food, fuel, clothing
and general expenses, from the 18th of
October last-when we took the work
until the completion of the same, which
cannot possibly end with the present
winter.
The committee need hardly say that if
the demand should continue as great as
the present, the fund would be exhausted
by midwiHter, but we hope to cut this
down very largely as soon as we can get
people into houses, so that they can leave
their families and find work Indeed,
this is being done already. Within few
days we shall arrive at the exact daily ex-
penses of food and fuel retions; but the
demand, as might be expected, is a fuc-
tuating one. If the weather is good and
men can work, it falls off; if cold and
stormy it at once increases at a fearful
rate.
The work has so pressed upon US. night
and day, that we cannot present detail
ed report to the public, but furnish this
statement for the purpose of affording
general idea of what we have done and
are trying to, with an organization neces
sarily composed largely of unskilled
forces, but the only one at hand for the
emergency. Within the next ten days
we shall be able to give detailed report
of all Gums contributed.
WRIT DEXTER.
Chairman Executive Committee.
GEORGE NJ. PULLMAN, Treasurer.