The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-06
Feeding the Hungry on a SyS-
tematic Basis.

II seems as il Boston has perfected a
method which can be called safe system,
as nearly iaultless as can be found any
where. At the least possible expense 10
the taxpayer, it gives to thousands Of
people means Of existence which is abso.
lutely needed, and that, too, in way
that dcgrNdes no one and does not en-.
courage Incidence or attract pauperisln.
FIRST, the police statistics called Atlen.
ton to the distress among the poor; they
showed what parts Of the year this was
most felt, where the needy we're located,
and what the effect Of municipal aid was.
They showed thus that vice and crime
were in n measure stayed by providing
srstenance 10 class Of people within
certain months, and that as a matter OF
public economy ii was better to help
such persons TO live in established homes
than TO await their direct necessity and
then take them 10 criminal or pauper
institutions TO fully support, and then
TO watch and keep from crime those who
were left without paternal or maternal
care. .l aN.
The Chieiof Police has given his espe.
cial attention to the matter. He finds
that the largest markets are the surest
and best, He buys Of men in whose
honor he can rely, and he knows from
dag to day just what quality Of provision
il supplied and oil about il. This year
he has completed his contracts at very
low fgures. Beef he gets at 4 cents
per pound; mutton, cents; salt pork, 10
cents; fish, So cents; potatoes, 81 per
bushel; onions, 90 cents; turnipS, 40 cents;
carrots, 40 CENTS flour, Sc so per barrel;
rice, 6 cents per pound; salt, ! cent per
pound pepper, 20 cents, and hard bread
B cents. These are all the Ingredients,
except Cochituate Of Mystic waters used
in getting up the dinners. The food is
cooked at several station.houses, large
kettles having been supplied for the pur-
pose. Details Of officers assist in the dis.
tribution, SO at the rate Of 81 so per day
for each cook,makes small sum expend.
ed for laber. The fuel for the fires comes
from the Bureau Of Public Charities,
hence the $1,000 provision by the City
Council goes great way. The bill Of
fare includes mutton and beef soups and
fish chowder.
This is the first day Of the distribution,
and the amounts made at the several sta.
tons were based upon estimates Of last
year. II there is too great quantity,
then the surplus is 10 he warmed over
Friday. Each captain makes return
on printed blank, showing how much
was made at his station, the number Of
families supplied, number of meals for
families, meals eaten at tho station, and
the supplies wanted for the following day.
These the chief takes each morning, and
issues orders according to the aggregate
TO the beef, the mutton and the lish con-
tractors, and later in the day the pro-
visions are taken 10 the inspection and
acceptance Of the police captains, and re-
ceipts exchanged for them.
The city has TO he protected against
tramp5, the proiligate and the undescry.
ing from whatever cause. As each one
comes for soup, his or her statement is
taken, and the officer on the round having
the place Of residence enclosed looks up
the case. The finds the place ever 70
mean and there arc "boardGrs' there, that
person does not again ask for soup; and 1t
is surprising what rookeries in this city
do accommodate boarders.p The govern.
ing rule is TO give assistance to only those
who have families in Boston, and there
are other matters Of moral nature the
officer is Instructed to look into. As
every residences thoroughly overhaulcd
and the officers generally know the people
there is little chance for imposition, and
certainly none for continuance Of any
thing Of the kind. The police think that
by this timely help much crime is pre.
vented, and, il 30, there il religious as
we'll as humane consideration in tho so.
luton Of the problem, shall city aid its
deserving poor by FREQ soup?-Bos,on
Journal.