Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-13

Richmond the same narrative may be
told, with all iis narrowing details. Pro
badly no city I'm the country has greater
proportion of poor people who are 100
proud 10 make known their actual needs
tnan any other in this country, and yet
there are thousands who live upon The
generosity Of private individuals or upon
the appropriations Richmond makes 10
her poor.
IN THE CHARITY OFFICES.
In actual sums Of morey these allow
ances are not large. but by their judicious
and economic disbursement they reach
all those who are in one way or another
deDendent upon the municipal commls-
sary. IL is well worth any ones time to
visit the Offices Of Superintendent Of Pub
lie Charities. Mr.. George h. Davis, IN the
northwest corner Of The basement OF the
CITY Hall, any morning 10 see the streams
Of people, Of all kinds and classes, colors'
and natiOnalities, pouring into his recep-
tion-room awaiting the issuance Of tickets
for meal wood, or shoes. These are the
only articles distributed by the city to its
poor outside the city almshouse. The coal
IS given out by the ladies OF the City MIS-
sion. But are these not the main
attributes of mans necessities?
Hare every day come widows and or
phans. one-armed men, and men who
have been deprived Of one or two legs
black and white, frail creatures OF the
fair sex upon whom the fortunes or this
life have not smiled with favor; poor ne
groes with scarcely sufficient raiment to
make them presentable upon the pubic
thoroughfares, and occasionally a lady
who selects her opportunity TO secure a
private interview with the Superntend-
ent-one whose station in life by blood
and merit would insure for her more in
no OH obtains In "A IDDnfh--
with an appeal for a load OF wood or a
pair Of shoes.
ASSISTANCE FOR THE WORTHY.
The awful agency poverty, has not
hewn its way through any specific lines
here. but has invade every section Of
the CITY Superintendent Davis, with the
allowances Of the City Council. and I'M
der the direction OF the Committee In RE
lief Of the Poor, turns deaf ear TO
none OF these applicants VINO can cstao-
lsh their worthiness. II IS with him a
matter Of whom the needy are. Between
the hours OF A. NJ. and =. NJ. he sits
at his desk in his Office and serves tickets
20 these unfortunate creatures, upon
which they get wood, meal and shoes,
and makes glad the hearts OF hundreds OF
them daily This department Of the CITY
Government spends In this splendid work
about 5000 a year, and b. system in
augurated this year by Mr.. Davis a won
drous amount OF good viii be &C
complished during this winter. For
years it has been the custom
Of the city TO simply issue the
wood from the depots and the
CIV Algnshouse. and the recipient
had 10 raise the funds TO pay
for the hauling and saving. IT is stated
rnon pallobe authority that in some in
stances the teamsters would charge those
VINO could not pay the % cents charged
for hauling a load OF wood one half Of the
load for that service, while the wood
sewyers would take one third 10 one
h0f or the remainder for cutting up
what was left IL can be easily seen that
the poor widow under such circumstance
would only set little less than one third
q load OF wood. while the spirit and
intent O. the city's act was that she
should have gotten the entire load BY
The system Mr.. Davis has put into opera
ton, all the wood Is sawed at the aims
house by steam saw, at the remarkably
ioh price Of 10 cents a cord. and arrange
Iac1t5 have been made with certain team
tters Interested In this charitable work al
'ie price OF 20 cents a cord, and all this
= borne by the city. The economy IA
t''s can be observed az a glance The
person who gets ticket for quarter
cf cord Of wood now gets tho fun
quantity, whereas. II he had gotten but
tne third OF mat quantity ne would have
10 cali upon the Superintendent again for