New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-11
A PRACTICAL CHARITY.
REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR
IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF
THE POOR.

SUCCESS OF THE PEOPLES BATHs-crITIvATING
VACANT CITY LOTs-EDUcATIoN By THE
sEAsHoRE-THE VACATION SCHOOLS
The Association for Improving the Condition OF
the Poor has begun he Issue OF series OF "A. l.
{. p Notes to be issued blmonthly. No. l. pup
llshed In December, dwelt with The Cultivation OF
Vacant Lots by the Unemployed" The second num-
ber Just issued contains the annual report OF the
association.
While tho association has continued the genera!
relief work with the nature of which the public Is
less familiar. large amount OF special
work has been undertaken. free labor bureau
establish II DC. ober Great care is taken to
insure tia, the men placed on the books are worthy
Of recommends don. During the first heavy snow
storm. Oh February 4. the bureau supplied Herbert
Tate the contractor. with 9c0 men to clear away the
snow, and their work efficiently done. Enough
time has yet elapsed 10 estimate the value OF
the work, but there as been a STEADY increase OF
business and every confidence is felt that the WorK
is pre- -enlnently which will give valuable asst
ance &c both employers and employees. The saving
OF time money and trouble Will in many cases. b.
considerable. while the facility in obtaining posi-
ton will undoubtedly relieve many from the neces-
sty OF applying for relief 1t rs desired to Work IN
cooperation with other bureaus OF this Kind IN
other cities labor might be directed TO the place
WHERE II was most needed. The bureau has con-
neither assisting the strikers to obtain work at their
own employment nor supplying men TO NIL tho
places OF strikers. Bat assistance was afforded 10
the starving cloakmakers by giving them work on
clearing away snow. the association supplying the
money This was given as relief. and not as help TO
strikers
POPULARITY OF THE BATHS.
The report tho Peoples Baths. on Centre Mar
ket Pace opened In August 1891 Is eloquent OF inc
need there is of such places in the city We
are a water-ioving people No other city can CON-
pare with New-York in the number of baths per III
hab!tant. There were $.735 baths taken during the
wear cndne september 80 1885, 655l7 being taken b.
men The receipts were sil6j %. and operating ex-
penses Sig 81 No doubt IL fet that were the paths
douhe the size they would be more IMAM seii-sup-
porting The expense the city Is going TO undertake
in providing baths for the people is sure TO be repaid
in an increased freedom from disease. The associa-
tion feels gratlned that the baths have served as
model 70 this city and also Yonkers in the move
ment TO establish baths under municipal control
Much valuable Information and assistance have been
given by the general agent. Dr. W. H. To.man, TO
the secretary Of the Mayors Public Bath Commit
too at Trenton ~ j.. and to the Public Baths Asso
citation of PHILADELPHIA Following the report of
this department is an excellent photography on pub
re baths which should prove very vauao.e 10 So
cletos or cities intending to establish them
The instruction given the children sent down 10
Island
have been heartily welcomed by many children OF
tho better class who wander by the seashore with
on. learning the lessons which these fresh-!Nr ch-
dren received "a part OF their enjoyment Inc an
swer child gets TO question mat comes 'Io'"
him naturally more likely to be reHeinpered ina"
knowledge acquired I'm other ways microscope
helped the children TO see the wondertui cons''
OF even n. simple grains OF sand
In the city the association malnia lined SIX vacation
schools FOR six weeks In the summer. conuhuano"
OF TIE snme work IN the three scnoos III the SUM
rner OF isal There no Thought OF suppah'Ims
hu, rather % experimenting the pubic schooS me
Hoard ~ Education gave the use OF the schools fte'
All the cos, was only SO cents per child per day
,h.,. hcing an Acreage attendance OF S3l9' -FOUR
time. AZ large az last year. In orler 10 gam '"'
closer attention Of the pupils no teN'-ooo"s W.
used and the instruction consisted almost - .,
o, manual training work AMI kndergar'en'
ISOLATION hopes to the ultimate extension oi
mi. work 10 4 place Of greater Usefulness III inc
methods OF our public schools a,-o.,,or ~ the
rs .ssTS q, p fooa Supply ha, acory car
nd eShins ,Snos ar ffr % "S 81, when found
a'as' NO FRA, interest in the work. An ex-
p.nsive OUTFIT MAS avoided only sach h nverv home
Ard the dietary was within the means OF me
poorest
CULTIvATING VACANT LOTS.
Tho mos, interesting feature OF the report is the
accoun, o. the cultivation of vacant city lots by the
iss, and was an unqualified success. one thousa"u
families were supported through the winter al ii"
EXPENSE 10 the Mayors committee OF y" ear"
Bolton Hall first introduced the subject IN th'S '''
the monthly Conference OF CHARITIES Inv
citation FOR Improving the Condition Oh '"e TUE
was asked to assume the management us P'e9i-
dent r.. Fulton Cutting. becoming chairman OF the
Vacant Lot Committee. Land In Long ls.inh CITY
in thre. large tracts. l$ acres. was donateh py
william Steinway. Mrs John Lowry. IL. H. hoiins
and the Long Island Improvement Company "a, a,
first applications for land came In slowly Dut WI
the crops began appear there were iordy OF ~!
day eghtyfou families representing zol pe orre
receiving allotments. The usual size was one " re-
though where there was extreme poverty or IN. h
applicant had practical knowledge OF ,a AR nnGm oue
amount increased To avoid FISK tne comm ' ny
tee insisted on half the land being pah,eu y, h pc
tatoes The otter crops grown were pusS lettuce
onSns and padsR. Much o the produce
phs. w Sns IS TSs shS s the
farms vas awared the second przs at sns
of the choceness OF the product The commi h,c
Tsa oy a. we're rasad tar expense
seeds tools and labor amounting to $500 a. 49,, ,,,,
that s ssPf fnfms W are sed the river the
Long Island Ferry Company refusing any Gomez
sSn and also the ana that the ct
walton is on scientific principles but II is des,rea
basis. As an additional charity, It mrst be failure
A. educator and natural social dcvelopmednt.
'Ss GTm' su Innss viii do per
cscuab!e good; All assistance given IN see Gus 81 OF
the produce OF TIE "farms.' or by labor expended
on the co-opo .aiive branch so as to eliminate en-
tirely "alnsgvinH
4 committee appointed ia iSA to consider the sub
,ect of agricultural depression. recommending In It's
report a conference for further discsso on This was
called for December g. 1895. and George T. Powell
Crlcilturai depression II is intended to undertake
a special campaign OF education during the months
OF March and April model programme given IN
the report includes papers various subjects or
practical Interest TO farmers. and should produce
mi ked efect Such work Is already Undertaken IN
other countries In England the new County Coun-
ellis are spending considerable sums Of money on
AGRICULTURAL education, having realized how far Eng
ilsh methods were falling behind their competitors.
and every endeay or Is made to keep the instruction
AS practical but at the same time scientific as
possible. -. ,,, .
Those who read this report Will be astonished at
a doing Idle the