The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-15
FIVE POINTS HOUSE OF INDUSTRY.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In your columns today under the head OF "a
Model Charity" we feel you have Inexperienced
the cost OF the workings OF this institution, and
your statement that it costs s26 1o4 to expend
$14, 4o6 is liable to convey wrong impression.
which am sure the HERALD, with its usual desire
for fair play, will allow room to explain II the
amount paid for fuel lights and transportation be
reckoned as part OF the sum spent for the poor,
why not the cost OF repairs, furniture and
incidental house expenses which was as neces-
sary? The house must be kept liz repair to provide
q shelter for our family OF over 800 children and
adults, and furniture must be had for the inmates,
VINO could scarcely sit or lie on the doors. We
should be very glad indeed II we had no taxes or
assessments to pay, but we are compelled when
assessed to settle with the city the same as any
private citizen. We take 1t that no prudent
property runs the risk OF entire loss by fire,
and we have but followed the dictates OF ordinary
prudence In insuring our buildings. 1t must be
remembered that. this Institution is designed
mainly ior the shelter OF poor children. As an
asylum, therefore, there must DE buildings. These
buildings have TO be paid for, and 1t happens that
the year we have selected was an expensive one
to US, as bills amounting to $2,627 43 were paid,
being balance due for the erection Of q five story
brick building. 1t was also an exceptionally ex-
pensive one IN the way OF assessments, We being
compelled to pay 50, 435 "a Tor the extension
OF Church and Worth streets aud for the paving OF
Worth street, also taxes on property The interest
on our indebtedness for that year was s2,9S4 r.
We had no choice in the expenditure OF the sums
above referred to- the alternative being to have
the property sold for non payment We print 1000
to 5000 copies monthly OF publication called the
our work, and that medium we have found
to be necessity. In regard to salaries:-
years, and to care for go children and
Is homeless women who live here requires
a corps OF employees, who must be paid for their
services. We have to support hospital for the
care OF our own sick, which is also open TO invalid
children from the outside, requiring resident
physician and two nurses a nursery also for our
little ones under Jour years OF age, or whom we
have some twenty-five requiring special nurse;
In addition TO which we have superintendent, an
oyerseer Of the boys one ioI tne gris' n mouse
Ing twenty people, exclusive OF school department.
Our school Includes all the children able TO go,
VINO live IN the house, and rom loo TO 100 VINO
come In from the outside, for whose education we
employ eight Notwithstanding total OF twenty
eight persons among whom the salaries referred
ceives 81 900, the next IN ONCE $1,000 and so on
down g the cooks at $40 d0.,P per cb month
We cothe ana eed the ere oatsae tea surar
potatoes and coal TO the lam h repre- a
sented, some OF which, both OF food
given US and not therefore included In the Hgures
you quote The sum OF 1918 when you cal at
tent0n to only represents the cash expended ana
moneys spent are passed upon by the Board OF
Trustees, all bills are audited by q committee VI
the Board, all checks are counterslgneu ny .ne
treasurer, and vouchers are taken and tue Boaru Vi
Trustees, whose names follow, invites the Iuiless
and closest scrutiny into the affairs OF the insuIu-
ton by any authorized party. The treasurers re-
know where every cent goes.
Trustees twho are also incorporatorsI Morris
urer; George f. Belts. Secretary; Charles Ely,
Marshall Lederts. Frederick q. Foster. A. van