The New York herald., 1877-03-23
BETTER. TIMES DAwNING.

THE SPREAD OF EMPLOYMENT AMONG THE
woRKINGMEN--rHH LESSON OF THE PAST
wISrER-NIoHr SHELTERS
There Is daily increase IN the number OF working
men getting employment In all the trades a hopeful
condition OF affairs Is reported. and tho spring trade
promises be brisk and lively After such bitter
experience most OF the mechanics have had during
tue winter THIS change received by them grate
fully They have learned, as they admit, that the
Efforts made by them heretofore In the way OF
seeking control capital have been a failure;
but, believing siill In organization, they
engaged, under the principle OF
secret cooperation, IN organizing their UNIONS on
basis which they believe will be productive OF con-
trolling influence The leaders OF this movement say
they have nothing 10 report now thai coait ip
teres tho public than that the secret WORK OF organ
zaton Is .ons on most fayorably At all events the
idlc men rapidly getting work, but this Is due
SIMPLY TO the exgencics OF business, aud not To any
manipulations or eGorts oi the workingmcn them
selves. When tue blow fell upon them early last win
ter the work nsmcn absolutely without funds 10
ani themselves IN any way nnd rom ms iact no
doubt, tuey have learned u lesson winch may serve
them IN good stead IN the future.
sHELTERs
The winters distress has developed one good idea
which rs the permanent establishment ol night shell
tcrs IN the city IN which homeless men and women
can hnd nights lodging. BY the aid OF these the
station houses relieved OF tho crowds OF respects
nbie people who used 10 DO compelled 10 seek shelter
with those OF the lowest class These shelters stl
nightly hiled 10 their utmost capacity Tho Shiloh
shelter oi Prince Marion streets continues
ass'' 81 us for y .wo esns Seary loar
hundred men arc nightly lodged AT this place. AZ
the Leonard street shelter dodgers arc charged hva
cents night, aud here also 500 nightly
lodged. AZ The night shelter corner oi avenue - aud
Tenth street 400 women gct iodg-
ng every night and breakfast ot mush both frco Of
Charge odsers are allowed To remain here only Ior
live consecutive nights. except special cases The
managers OF tins Institution started II only IN tho
winter AS an experiment. aud II has worked 50 adnlra-
bly, and done 50 much good during that t,ino
that may he ialry considered success
Some such place Is badly needed all the
year round ia this CITY, and ccted with all
the police stations respectable homeless people
applying TO the police are always sure TO lind
selves a ittic before presenting themselves
employers lu this shelter II has been noticed that
large number ol thoso seeking admission are rom
other cites, merely passing through Now York
destined Tor somc o,ncr place. Al the Young Mems
Christian Association II WAS also stated that tho
majority OF applicants Tor help are strangers IN tho
CITY, who become destitute OF money ana have no
friends or acquantances here. Al the BUwery branch
oi tho ssoc,iion the poorer classes received
the formula OF securing employ Is very street. both
at tho Central and DraDcn offices Al tho Bowcry
branch, Tor instance, II Is necessary for the em-'
ployer wanting help TO deposit 81 when making
tile application, and when tho workingman Is select
ed he has 10 pay to The employer hall that amount.
In ordinary good times an institution likc tins would.
no doubt work admirably, but ia the midst OF genc
raj distress among The Working classes tho system
must necessarily become coulncd 10 narrow circle.
The rooms oi the BnNcry branch, or Carmel Chapel,
us It is Called are open iny icr any idlo mon who
may desire TO rest themselves there
ECONOMIC CHARITY.
There ~ no doubt that tho now closing has
taught the charitable societies much in pcriocting
method Of distributing relief; but ths was duo mainly
At their disposal visit to tho various societies
showed that The funds now IN their treasures were
only sufficient 10 reach comparatively small number
of poor families, and that very tho sick alone
could expect TO receive assistance