New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-24
COAL FOR THE POOR.
GROCERIES FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ALSO GIVEN


OUT BY THE TRIBUNE FUND
The work Of distributing coal to poor families
from The Tribune Fund necessarily has to be
carried on in a different manner from that en-
ployed In giving out the groceries. Both coal and
groceries, however sent TO families whose cases
have been carefully investigated by mission work
and the agents of charitable organizations ana
who are found be worthy OF charity. Some
families do not need both coal and groceries, some
are able to get article II they can be helped
with the other; others are utterly unable to get
either food or fuel. and all the groceries when
are given out are uncooked. quarter or haii
ton Of coal is sent to all such families.
The lists of families who need coal are prepared
by those who investigate the cases and sent 10 the
agent of The Tribune Fund. who passes upon 'he''
and then sends out orders for the coal. The order
blanks consist of two parts is sent to coal
dealer directing that the amount of coal speclhed
shall be delivered to certain family; the o'her
part Is sent to the family, who present IL as ucKe.
10 the person who delivers the coal. Nineteen
families were supplied each with one-half ton OF
coal on Monday Orders for haf-ton OF coal
werc sent to 200 families yesterday. and twenty
three families also received orders for one-quarter
of a ton each. the amount being regulated 10 'he
need Previous to yesterday SO families rece''eu
2iO tons Of coal.
TWO WAGONS CONSTANTLY EMPLOYED.
A norton OF the delivery each day Is made with
two
loaned to The Tribune Fund. These wagons bear
tho e,cr along tho sides "The Tribune Coal and
Food Fund Delivery" one is a light wagon which
carries n half ton each trip. and the other Is
larger wagon divided into four compartments eac"
Of which holds one-quarter OF ton n tribune
reporter accompanied the driver OF the larger cart
on one OF his trips to Essex-st. yesterday after
noon The lower part of Essex-st. Is one OF the
most crowded sections of the city. The street IL
self is turned into an open-air market every AFTER
noon and hundreds Of push-cart men ana Keepers
Of movable stands display all sorts OF wares there
The blocks bounded by Essex and Hester SIS are
said to be the most densely populated IN the city
II was almost impossible to get the cart near
enough 10 the sidewalk to deliver the coal. Empty
wagons lined both sides of the streets for many
blocks wherever the space was not appropriated by
the street dealers. The attempt TO clear n place
to unload the coal in front OF house between Hes
ter and Division SITS. attracted a large crowd. but
the effort was finally successful The family lived
on the top floor back They were Germans and
could sIeak little English. but they we'll Understood
the meaning Of the word coal" and their faces
frightened when they were Informed that the much
needed fuel had arrived. There six children
in the family. The younger crying. The
father ha1 been out Of work for many months
The family had received groceries that morning
and had to depend upon their nelghbors TO cook
their first meal
The coal dumped upon the sidewalk. and the
older children with pals and baskets were
busIly work carrying IT upstairs They picked up
every little piece. wasting nothing.
HOW THE POOR STAND ny EACH OTHER.
Another family who received coal lived a little
further up the street The same difficulty was ex-
pcrlcnced there In getting near the sidewalk. Re
fore the coal unloaded the reporter went into
the building to- find the family and see II they had
received their ticket.
'Do the Rosenbergs live here7" he asked OF the
"Oh. yes" they answered. upstairs. near the
roof"
1t was tenement house. five or six stories high
After reaching the top floor hs problem pre-
scented Itself which 81 the four apartments to
apply. \ knock a door brought the response
Come in''
40 the Rosenbergs live herc?' was asked
no"
''Do they live on this noor?'
80"
"Is there not a family by the name o, Rosenberg
living In this building
we do not know Of any such family" the
reply
The answers to the questions had been given by
a young woman English after consulting with
several other members Of the family In German
Finally she asked: what do you want with them?
What have they done"'
"Why they have done nothing. 50 far az know"
said the reporter. Il have come 10 bring them coal
from The Tribune Fund"
OH said the young woman. they live nj the
other end Of the hall"
why DID you say you dill not know them"
asked the reporter
because" was the reply. I'VE thought that you
had come TO put them out. They are very poor. and
have tried had 10 pay their rent but they can
not get work. II would be- shame to put them
out. but the landlord has threatened TO do H."
the hall, respectable Hebrew people they appeared
to be. but in extremely destitute condition
pawnbroker had forcstallcd the landlord.
MANY FAMILIES RECEIVE GROCERIES,
Groceries for 10 families were to the De
Witt Memorial Church. No. 272 Rvington-st. yes
terday The Rev. W. r. Elsing. pastor Of the
church. IS one Of the best-cquppcd workers among
the poor on the East side lie and the missionaries
under his charge have made careful invcstiga
ton Of the distress among the poor In the neigh
borhood OF the church. and from the most needy
families which they found they selected 10 which
they knew to be worthy to receive the groceries
The families selected were nearly an Germans. Inc
Who were employed by Mr.. Esins for for, the PURPOSE
ih he reciniends knew that charity was being be-
slowed This plan prevented the assembling or
large crowds which are always an accompaniment Of
~ avn, ont Of charity when the fact Is generally
known The list was as follows;
one package Of homIny ..............."-s pounds
One package Of goldfish pounds
can OF corned beef ............'......s bounds
one ' can g Of condcnscd milk. v,
One package OF Pou'a
Each baskctful cost 81.
SOME OF THE LETTERS ASKING AID.
Mr. Elslng spends considerable time each day over
his mail which contains hundreds Of applications. IL
IL significant that most OF them are for work. The
following are samples. The requests were found to
be for deserving people and the answer to each was
Il basket of groceries
"Doar Sir: Would you please see IF you cant do
something for Mrs. S and daughter? she Is In
mood she has nothing eat and her husband Is out
~ ,rork and she viii be sick In bed. and she
has nothIng to put on Annie would be glad II you
,,rniG please be 50 kind and help her along they
vas going To break up their home. but Tor Annie
,bcv didn't She help her husband along. but now
shc cenu A Young man OF the church gave Annie
So IN nav half OF her rent. Please be SO KIND and
help her"
This was from friend OF Annles.
Date January IL. 1884,
.peaso and be so kind and give me a JOB ] am
M, ,y"rI,ing already four months and ] have been
, ,r,s,,I already In the grocery about ~ ana now
~, ,l,'h ia 10 nay rent and have none TO pay
We ,nd he 90 kind and help me with something
n " cam have two children and my wife to sup
port and have no WORN
80