The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-30
TO WORK ON STREETS
Board Of Works and the Relief
Committee Agree on a Plan.
The Committee to Pay the Men and the
Board TO Find Work for Them
The Food Market.

A committee from the Commercial Club
relief committee including Messrs. Lilly,
Hanna and Fortune, called on the Board
of Works yesterday afternoon to ascer-
tain to what extent the board would aid
the committee in Its plan for putting men
to work. The board told the committee
that it had put to work all the men 1t
could with the funds at its disposal, but
the fullest extent possible under the cir
cumstances. The committee explained that
it intended to open the food market to-day,
and that it wanted men to work in payment
for the food furnished. Would the board
put the men to work if the committee paid
the mems wages? The city thought it could.
The committee did not feel like paying the
same rate of wages paid by the city nor
have the men work only eight hours. as
they have been doing on the city gangs
In answer to a question, the street COM
missioner said the distress among laboring
people was extensive, and that he was COM
PEELED to turn away every day men who
begged him to put them to work In order
to keep their families from starving. They
had even come to him at his home. He
has now about forty men on the streets.
improved streets. He said he could find
work for at least a hundred men on the
streets if the funds were available.
The conference finally resulted in an
agreement on the part of the board to make
an experiment, beginning next Tuesday.
The money of the city for street work will
be used in hiring teams. while the relief
committee will furnish the men, their wages
- -,
men will be put 10 work on this PLAN Men
that are furnished food at the market viii
be expected TO work, and in this manner
pay the committee
The question of making a lake at Car
field Park was also discussed. but was
afterward laid over. Mr.. Kramer's plan
was to have a lake of about five acres
Much of the carrying away of dirt could
be done with wheelbarrows. There are q
number of improved streets for which the
board has let no sweeping contracts and
it has been suggested that the city put
men TO work cleaning the streets by hand
charging the cost against the property own
contract The city engineer will report
next Tuesday on the probable cost of the
lake in Garfield Park.
Food Market VIII Open To-Day.
The todd market will open for business
to-day The room in the Burford Building
on Pearl street has been fitted up with
long counters, the interior resembling a
large market stall. No provisions had been
received up to o'clock last night, but the
bureau management stated that by 8
O'Clock this morning everything would be
in readiness to deal out food to applicants
The Charity Organization will issue no
more orders for rations from Plymouth
Church after to-day. The society yester-
day sent to Chairman Hanna, of the relief
committee, between seven hundred and
eight hundred names Of persons to be sup
piled with weekly ratiOns, whose cases
have been examined into by the agents OF
the society and found to be worthy appli-
cants. These viii be supplied with proven
der from the food market hereafter. Those
who have received aid from the Charity
Organization during the week need not ap-
ply at the food market until seven days
have elapsed and their we ekly allowance
which has been doled out from Plymouth
Church headquarters is exhausted. The
market will deal only with heads of fam
lilies. Children applying will not be sup
piled; their parents or guardians in every
case must present themselves in person.
Every recipient of aid must first be in
vestigated as to necessity and citizenship,
and must sign a contract to pay for the
same either in work or money. Work will
be paid for at the rate of 1919 cents per
hour for common labor and current prices
will rule in all other employment.