The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-04
IT'S WORK DONE.
The Christmas Box Bureaus
Is Now Closed.
FOUR WEEKS IN EXISTENCE.
Details of the Big Enterprise and Its
Successful Operation - Adopted
by Another Association.

During the four weeks that THE CALLS
Christmas Box Bureau was in existence 1t
received, in response to appeals published in
The CALL, and to over 5000 circular letters
sent out. contributions of money, provi-
sions. groceries, clothing, wood and coal
for the purpose Of distributing to the poor
of this city.
The exact value of the articles contributed
cannot be given. For instance the value Of
the thousands of pieces Of clothing sent in
cannot be fixed. The CALL does not wish
to exaggerate. but 1t Is safe to say that the
contributions exceeded in value $2500.
The idea of distributing Christmas boxes
to the poor was q new one III this city, and
In the limited time in which the work was
done what was accomplished Is indeed won
derful. Over 430 families received boxes
and nearly 200 families received clothing.
In addition to paving the salary Of en-
ployes who devoted their whole time to the
work of the bureau, THE CALL contributed
the sum of 500 toward defraying the ex-
penses OF carrying on the bureau from the
4th of last month until yesterday. In addi-
ton to this money. there was received 10
cash from number of persons an aggre-
gate of S315 35. With this was purchased
groceries and provisions to help make up
the parcels that were prepared for the
poor. Some of it was used to pay meals of
helpers, who were without means to pay
for them themselves, and to pay express
men to deliver the goods to those who did
not call for them In answer to postal-cards
sent Several expressmen volunteered their
services. but they could not attend to all
the cases.
One hundred and seventy sacks OF coal
were received. Cards were issued to those
who stood most In need of fuel, but in only
two or three in stances did the parties have
the means TO take the coal home, where
1t was sadly needed. In order to meet this
difficulty it became necessary 10 employ ex-
pressmen to deliver the fuel. This was
done, and the last Of the coal was delivered
yesterday afternoon. Over ninety families
were supplied.
Since the bureau closed the manager was
notified that there was at the terminus of
the North Pacific Coast Railroad five cords
OF wood for the poor of San Francisco.
There was no letter of advice, consequently
the manager is unable to give the proper
credit, but he will do so as soon as the
donors name can be aseertained.
In view of the fact that the bureau Is
closed this donation has been turned over
to the San Francisco Benevolent Society,
which will continue the WORK commenced
by THE CALL, and distribute the articles it
receives from the bureau to the
worthy poor. This association yester-
day received large quantity of clothing,
some groceries and some reading matter
from the bureau. 1t also received q number
of applications sent to THE CALL for aid,
which will be looked into, and if the parties
are found worthy they will receive such as
sistance as can be afforded them. The as
ISOLATION will to-day receive the last of the
groceries that have not yet been distributed.
One OF those who did much toward Sc
curing contributions for the bureau was
Mr.. Frederick III. Dewey, commercial
editor Of The CALL. By individual exer-
tons he secured donations from number
of merchants, who, when first approached,
to give. The many contributions he Sc
cured did much toward filling the boxes
with good things.
The Star Delivery Company Is entitled to
thanks for volunteer services in delivering
parcels.
All the property received has been dis
tributed with the exception Of that turned
over to the San Francisco Benevolent
Society. If some of those who received
boxes were disappointed in the quantity
the fault is not with the bureau. 1t is be-
cause there was not enough TO give more to
each family.
Some persons who did not contribute any,
thing to the bureau, but were very busy
hunting up cases which. in their opinion,
were in great need of Christmas box, have
remarked that IHE GALL boxes ola not
contain sack Of potatoes, sack OF flour, a
five-pound can of coffee. side of bacon or
ham, half a sack of beans, a ten-pound
chest of tea, half dozen cans Of vegetables,
half dozen cans OF preserves. half a box of
apples, ten-pound sack of oatmeal. a quar-
ter OF ton of coal, five sacks of kinding,
brand-new clothing of exact fit and dozen
or more dclicacies thrown In.
That is the kind of box these persons
would have sent out. so say they. So
would the manager. il he had had the
goods, but with what was on hand he had
to do the best he could. and that he did.
He did his best to please all. He pleased
some, for they have said so, but he did not
others, for they have growled that they did
not get enough.
Since the distribution the manager called
haphaZard al q dozen places to ascertain il
the goods sent had been properly delivered.
In every instance the recipients of the boxes
were thankful for what they received
They were not only thankful. but said that
what they did get was a godsend to them.
On the whole the work of distribution was
a good one, and as we'll carried out as SO
great an undertaking could be.