The New York herald., 1876-12-13
Increasing Numbers Of the Hungry and
Homeless in New York.
TIE BOlRD OF APPORTIOyMFyTS ACTION
How Men Talk on their Way
to the Alnshouse.
CAPTAIN kENNEDYS EXPERIENCES.
"Hard Times" Painfully Brought
Into Prominence.

|. does not require argument or any very forcible
language TO depict tho struggles Of poor mechanics
when in their las. eor, maintain themselves Facts
speak better than words this city the present
ume the facts are abundant There very little dif-
ference among tho workinGmcn In the stops by which
tncy have come down penury The savings OF most Of
them Tor three years past did not amount 10 much,
ana were mol sufclen. 10 meet any extended season
OF dlcness. Among the vast minority OF the men who
had families 20 support there were no savings at all,
Tor during these three work has not been steady
ana the result IN wages moro than sufficient 10
supply the neccssaries OF lfe On average, may
bo said thai tho men now unemployed aa,c been out
Of work for the past thrco months this making with
the ensuing ihreo months, a total OF siS months Of
idleness, strain tha, in theso days out Of
hundred workingmen could stand
AT TIKI PoLicn COURTS.
At the Tombs. Essex Marke, and tho Fifty. ninth
Street Police courts the unemployed continue apply
for commttas TO the Almshouse the Island 1t
stated yesterday 10 the HERALD reporter BY
chanic who Is fortunate enough to be as work. that
tho number OF applicants would be far greater
not that they foel persuaded here viii be something
soon done their behalf and that they Will be spared
what :hcy consider DO tho degradation of the Island
IL a TACT that the feel moriicd and Inundated
at the thought of becoming inmates OF tho Aimshouse
not little with which feeling is tho that
clngs to tho very of the county institutions In
the repeated interviews the reporter has had with tho
workinga>en awaiting at the prison transfer TO tho
Island, they have beon in nearly every nstaece
ul to ask that their should be published.
Relow Will bo found tho pith o! some of these conver.
satons-
INTERVIEWS WITH THE
painter met at the Tombs said:-ssrhis is my hrst
visit TO the Island. thought that this city
mechanic would havo 10 60 to the almshouse Tor
OF work, but so II is. Four months OF pretty
tough time, tho best Of il. is than a
stand I'look hearty and strong ut this moment,
but don't believe that even with good food every day
should be able work steady for week. tell you
that when you havo 1.-Two poor farc and but little
Of that takes the strength Of you sooner
than you would think knew until this time
what want food, what tho feelings of man
when ho has not place TO lay his head Talk as
you like, but does not understand hunger until
he mas had experience OF II. Hunger makos you SEQ
the world as IS and Is arst rate to show you who
your friends orc"
A baker said :--.'During Gvo months worked about
seventeen days in all. never wanted lew loayes OF
bread, but Tor seven weeks that was oil had think
! could have held out only Tor the rent. and my
family were put out three times. There
trying 10 pu, through any longer Ny wifo went to
live with sister OF hers anu took the youngest child
a little eir. Another girl and boy sent 10 tho
snall 1.-Two again together l not myself the man
used to be- don't expect that my wiic will be able
to do as much scrubbing as she thinks she will for
sho is well nigh broken GOWN AS it rs from what
have gone through ! lear We shall all be 10 some Of
A tailor said:- :-'.I have worked few days once in
while, during six months past ! did nothing IN six
weeks. How lived for the past three weeks don't
know. did not have on an average moa q day, but
had place 10 sleep all the time. cIt my strength
giving way and feared should get sick. As II Is
ieoi sick all through, bus suppose is wcnkncss
account al what have gone through. know several
as badly OIL az have been, but how they manage
pet along cam say. In my opinion hall the
nginen oil the city viii 10 the Island before the
winter Ia over. met frond OF mine yesterday who
had not eaten mouthul Tor three days ana had slept
In the pirks-out all the cold His eyes
ing out Of hIs head he seemed II he half
crazy. asked him TO 10 the Island and reasoned
streets nrst and walked away as If he getting TO
DO desperate rho mcn hate tho idea OF gong TO tho
island, and they can't be blamed Tor that surely
cAPTAiy KESxEDys OBSERVATIONS.
The reporter called on Captain Kennedy at the
Ninth precinct station house 10 hear his views the
worEiugmcn's distress. The Captain was so long IN
charge OF the Sixth precinct, locality aboundins in
poverty and wretchedness, that his observations Of
The homeless and distressed II any such were noM
cquentcrs OF his precinct would bc OF value In the
Ninth precinct, however, there Is very little OF that
poverty the cry from which IS now beginning to tarilo
the city, and, as he SAID himself he dii not wish TO
sieak oi any otncr ward officially. The following
vers.ition occurrcd-
.'Wnat class OF mon, Captain, do you have
dodgers hcrc."
$50 far this winter Tho men presenting themselves
for lodging arc oil tat large class known
You would be astonshod 10 the fine king strong
who completely destiIuta, utterly homeless
and without TODD. In this precinct VIC do not have
very many applying 10 but those who do come arc
evidently respectable mon Who have been long out
OF work that tncy are completely penncss In scvcfa
instances the applicants were 50 manlics,ly hungry
and respectable in ihcr appearance tlat became
a simple duty 10 gyo othcm food. These men n
trely uuaccussomcd to be lodgcIs In station house,
and whenever wc can We send them somewhere that
they get nights rest, for you know the station
houses there is only shelter from the weather af
fordedr
s'.arc there many places 10 which you send appli-
cants Tor good !odsngY"
s.yo. There 10 only one place that has authorized
sond body, and thai IL the lodging the old
church on the corner of Prince and Marion streets.
We are furnished here with tickets TO be died up by
the officer IN charge, aud these At admits
sion Tor the night Here Is one OF them:-
n the church. corner Prince aud Marion streetA
Applicants name, - ------.