The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-23

Tar TRANP BRIGADR.-ITs NUMBERS
AND In CLAsgEs.-There are at present
sixty.fye trAmps marched out Of the city
prison each morning just rs the first rays
Of dawn are breaking in the east, and
under the command Of Supt. Sylyis and
his Adjulant General, Paddy MAhoney,
begin their days work. The tramp or
dinance has reduced the brigade some.
what in numbers, still several familiar
veterans may be recognized "a the bril-
gade marches by. Forty'fiye Of these
tramps work al the stone quarry under
the direct Superintendence Of Mr.. Sylvis,
while the remainder are at present EN-.
ployed under the charge OF Officer Ma
honey in cutting the ice from the streets
and alleys, The latter are scattered about
in gangs Of from three to six,
working In localities several blocks
apart, yet they neyershow any disposition
| to take advantage Of this circumstance
and take French leave. The fact Ia, that
these times, when 80 many are out Of
employment, they are content TO abide by
the restrictions Of the city prison and
work for their food and lodging.
Those best qualified to judge divide the
members Of this motley band into two
classes. First-and this is by far The
largest part those who are tramps from
4 primitive love Of the free and easy na.
ture Of tramp life. These are fellows
given wholly up 10 idleness. They were
evidently intended by nature for AsiatiC
nomads, but having their lot cast in
another cline the end Of their ex'
islence il defeated TO q certain extent
and they become simply tramps. No
matter what the times may be they are
invariably vagabonds. Should they earn
the largest wages during the summer, Il
would all be consumed rs fast rs earned.
There is no desire to practice even the
iorethought Of the squirrel or bee, which
make provision against the cold Of winter
These gay and festive vagabonds, relying
implicitly upon the charity Of m induI.
gent public, perform some little labor
perhaps, during the summer, because
benevolent institutions are not then nc,
cessiblO, and reside in station.houses and
work houses in winter. The second class
are tramps from necessity. They are on
their way from one place to another ID
search Of work, and, happening to reach
the city, are obliged to obtain food and
lodging M hest they may, and naturally
fall in with the tramp4. This latter class
although sometimes committed for va,
! grancy, are always permitted TO leave
when they secure work. e
There should be n rigid distinction
made between these two classes. The
members Of the first class should be con.
signed to the city prison, while those o.
the latter class should be properly as
sisted. We believe there would be fal
less vagrancy were this plan followed
lMen who have no shame in being stamped
with the ear marks Of vsgabondism, and
who are perfectly content to work during
the summer and spend their earnings a,
they go, with the expectation Of beinI
marched about as tramps during thu
winter, would, with the prospect OF the
city prison before them, be induced tC
take more Thought for the morrow"
The tramp ordinance, however, la,
not reduced the number Of beggars thai
90 from door to door demanding cole
victuals, ETC., and making life miserable
by piteous tales. The beggarly visit
are more frequent than ever before. Thu
present number Of trAmps at the cit,
prison, too, is larger than at any tint
during the winter.