The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-15
SHIPPING THE POOR WEST

HOW POVERTY IS BEST RELIEVED AND GOOD
Observation-Disclosures CITIZENS OF OUT
CAsTs-rHx MISSION OF THE cHILDRENs AID
SOCIETY.
The Childrcns Aid Society sent out West yesterday
in charge of its agent Charles Il. Fry company of
families numbering about hundred souls. two
thirds of whom children ranging in age from
one to sixteen years Their destination chiefly
Iowa, where homes among the farmers are expected
to be found for them Adult persons sent by the
society only where it happens that they already
surcd by friends relatives out West that work and
home awaits them and that they have family of
children hopeessly depending upon them for support
in this city, The society. it's title implies. seeks
only to aid the children. but when it that the
parents of such to be found and be made use
of for the better of the little
it is thought desirable to afford them assistance If
the parents have money enough to pay their own
way out West they permitted to do So while the
society assists the children; but IL not they share in
the aid extended to their offspring. Twice month
an average batch of fifty homeless children taken
West beyond Chicago by the agent. They range in
years from five to sixteen and belong to the poorest
classes in this city. The society finds them in its
schools and lodging houses and in reply to its all
veriscments in the newspapers. No child is taken
on Its application, but must be Identified or
recommended by some one in whom the society
may have reason to have confidence. These home
less children are in many cases the offspring
OF parents who may be either in the Workhousc or
the Pententary, but they are frequently the help
less legacy left to the charity of the world by the
sudden and perhaps violent deaths of their natural
guardians. The name of each child is registered in
the Office of the society before IL transferred West
and that it's identity and whereabouts in it's new
home shall not be lost sight of the agent is required
to visit II at specified times and report progress.
WHERE THEY SENT no.
The children are sent to Kansas, Iowa. Missouri,
Illinois. Nebraska WISCONSIN. Minnesota. In
have been settled east of Chicago. They
are almost entirely placed in the families
of farmers, and the work they have to do depends
young and interesting frequently adopted by
childlcss husbandmen as their own, and they
sent to school and treated of the family.
Others. who strong and have a taste that way .
are put to ploughing or to one Of the many odd
chores that require To be done daily q farm
There IL local committee in each town which the
agent visits acting In cooperation with the society
and 1t is only such farmers employers this
COMMITTEES recommends that the children are per-
mitted to settle with
SUCCESS OF THE EXPERIMENT.
The society has scnt since its labors in this line
began over ten thousand boys to the West. and the
experiment has been admitted all hands 10 be a
complete success. Girls too, have been despatched
there, and they have thavcn quite well the
boys The Astor family have great faith in this
project Tor relieving the distress among the homeless
this city. for diminishing the ranks OF and
making good citizens out of the wretched outcasts
of the street. and subscribed toward IL last year $1,000
GUARDING AGAINST IMPOSITION.
The agent. Mr.. Fry, in answer to the que ton as to
how they make sure in the matter OF adults going
West whether they really have any prospect of
bciorc them. ssid-'Wcll. we look into the CORE
spondencc they get from the West and inquire about
them here in the city. aud. adding thins aud am
other together. pretty well able to tell whether
they are honest not. OF course would not
dream Of taking man aud his children out West aud