New-York tribune., 1875-02-25
SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENT WORK.

SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENT WORK.
THE LABoRs OF THE NEw-YoRK ASSOCIATION FOB
IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THE PooR-rrs
PRESENT NEEDS.
Tho New-York Association for Improving
the Condition Of tse Poor Incorporated by an act OF
the Legislature approved and passed April ~ ls Inc
Association has been existence for 81 years, its objects
being the elevation of the physical and moral condition
OF the lpdigent and, far ia compatible with these
objects the relief OF their necessities Since its organ
zalon the City OF NewYork has more than doubled In
extent and the population has increased from S2S2 10
el22o But such the exbility OF the system OF the
Association, that 1t has met every emergency,
while adhering to sound economical principles
in distinction from all sensational measures, appeals
and devices The efforts Of the Association were never
moro successful than during the past year. The visit
ors duties this Winter have been made douby arduous
by the failure OF the Commissioners OF Charities and
Correction TO give the usual outdoor relief In consc-
aueuce Of this has been thrown upon the Asso
citation greater burden than it can possibly bear
Some explanation of the extent and character OF It's
work may be Of interest The organization covers the
entire city from the Battery to Harlem River. The
wards are subdiyided into 37 sections with visitor for
each. Each ward has select committee OF five per-
sons, 1iO in amen specially fitted for the service,
whose duties supervisory and executive. Hence,
the laboring force Of the Association, Including tho
managers consists of 51s persons all actual workers.
whose services voluntary and entirely gratuitous
The character of the work discriminating, appears
the following conditions contained In It's funda-
mental rules
each case by visitation inquiry. To relieve no one
except through the visitor OF the section in which the
What is Immediately necessary 10 give assistance at
the right moments not proong beyond the duration
to to 'eS eStend S'0'' restrict S'n and cans modify relief
according to that necessity. To require Of each
drink; OF such have children OF proper age, that
they be kept at school, except unavoidab. clrcuT-
years to some trade, or send them TO service.
This Association voluntarily charity. sustained by
the spontaneous contributions Of the benevolent 1t re-
celves pecuniary aid from churches, as such nor
from the CITY corporation State Legislature. Its re-
lief is direct and supplementary 1t neither supersedes
nor ignores existing charities but far practicable
makes them available and, when necessary, supple
ments their Deficiencies from its own resources This
supplementary work i on principle, one OF its distin
gushing features. This Association 1t is claimed. is
unlike every other OF the almving societies In the city
nature objects, and extent and in the number OF
workers necessary carry out its abOrs 10 beDefccnt
results OF the than 2o0 benevolent organizatons
NewYork it Is asserted that there's no other which
by division OF labor and respoRE bty covers the
entire ciyhaving adequate arrangements TO traverse
ment from cellar garrett for the purposoof invesga
zion, counsel, and tudicious relief
Never the history of the Association 5ts been so
taxed to relieve the worthy poor as this Winter Ia
January it relieved 1914 families, containing 3025 per-
sons made 10 655 visits, and expended $4,000 Toe con-
tnued depression in city industries has SO Impoverished
the working classes that many suffering, and
they were generally unprepared for this unprecedent
edy nclement season. The funds of the Association
are rapidly diminishing under the heavy drain upon its
Golfers 1t pleads not for the idle, the incorporate and
profits gateior these public charity should provide; but
for the undebased and unfortunate. One OF the most
remarkable features in the general distress s the re-
spectacle character OF many OF the applicants. The
distress has reached its hight the number aided by
this Association the present month Is vastly greater
than II has been in the corresponding month for 25
years.
In order to continue the good work, the Association
cannot without additional receipts meet the claims
which come upon it, Contributors become members Of
the Association, and supplied with directory and
tickets, which will enable them to refer ali applicants
for aid to the proper visitor and thus relieve them from
assisting applicants at their doors or elsewhere without
previous investigation,