The morning times., 1896-09-20
New Departure in the Work
of the Salvati0niStS.
BOOTH FUCKERS PLANS
Scheme to Make the Needy Self
supporting-Outiine of the Spring
WOrk-Large Outlay Of Money.

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The lowest estimates place the num-
Der of homeless men and omen in
New York city at 10000. The number
| is enormous. Every one in the comInu-
! nifty whose heart responds to the cry Of
| the suffering, desires to do something
| toward the aid and succor OF this hcnc-
less, helpless, hopeless multitude. Hun
dreds of charitable people have asked
what can be done for the relief OF this
army of unrortunates. We stand ready
to help, but We want that which We do
to afford permanent, as Well as tenn
| pOrary, relief.
| The same problem has vexcd every other
municipal lily in the world Charitable in
stitutioDs and phlanthropic societies in
| every section OF The globe have discussed
it and experimental with plans and prof
ects. but with the ever rapidly Increasing
| population in the great cities. the honicless
| throngs have increased and multiplied
| The Salvation Army believes 1t has
solved the problem. This winter il will
| give its plan practical test Plans much
similar have been put in 'peration in Lon
don, Paris, and Anisterda m. and other Of
| the great cities Of the Old World, and the
results have teen signally gratifying We
believe our plans will he equally Success
full here. They are So simple that as they
| are studied and unde rstoOd they will be a
| revelation
SHELTER FOR FULLY 900
Before the first SNOW falls we shall he
| ready IT, care Tor. shelter, and feed 900
| homeless men and women. And by spring
time We hope to be able to come o the
| succor and relief Of eco more. This VIII
| be but the beginning. Ii the plan Sro-
cceds, and it's simplicity and thorouehness
leave us no Room for doubt that L viii
| N the near future, there need lie no man
or woman among the millions that make
| up tue vast population OF Greater New York
who need say, Where shall l 20 Tor
shelter? or whom shall seek reli.f H. IN
these terrible pangs or hunger"
The warehouses, the IaIis. the I,ylr'ns,
| the hospitals. gather a large percentage
of their tenants from those who ar. rriy.u
there by tie pltllessne>s OF vagrancy.
Shelter. food. good Counsel cheering friends,
would rescue the great ma iority OF these
The cost of their maintenance in iails,
hospitals and workhou,es. and their bur
ial IN the silent cities OF the uukno wn dead
is enormous. The city hears 1t.
Our plan VIII change this. Anew IL
illustrates the truth OF the old adagc,
An ounce OF prevention is worth a
pound of cure" Experience has shown
Us that there is bur small percentage
OF the outcast OF the community who
cannot, with proper care aud amid proper
surroundings, lie restored to manhood.
WILL LOOK FOR THE HOMELESS.
The shelters which we Will establish
Will supply these conditions As soon as
our shelters are Completed, We VIII send
Dur patrol corps and our bicycle corps
throughout the city, seeking out those who
are in need OF our assista nee, and Kidding
them welcome to our homes. Our sal
Walton lassies, noble souls that they are.
will speak words OF consolation and hope
TO the most hopeless and bid them come
with them where wsrmest shelter. food
and good counsel await them. None will
be despised. The conditions OF the home
less unfortunates will interfere in no way
with the work.
With an expenditure Of less money than
the city expended in providing its floating
home for the shelter of but so men We
VIII be able TO care for and feed 600.
and we will continue TO care for them IN
Ill we restore them to self supporting self
respectful workers of the community When
this is proven. will not the city authorities
tell why in similar manner the entire
army OF the homeless cannot be provided
for at 4 great saving in the expenditure Of
public moneys? \ word about the cost
OF this work
4 GREAT QUESTION.
one 9f the greatest questions Of the hour
IS that Of the housing Of the homeless poor.
IN.
one and worthy of the most thoughtful
Limiting each individual to two meals
a day. and valuing each meal at 3 cents.
and each nights lodging at 10 cents
we have a minimum cost OF SUBSISTENCE
OF 90 cents per capita. II appears then,
that the problem to lie solved is:
Can this financial burden tie minimized.
and if so how?
In what way can IL he ad justed so as
to press the least heavily upon the wage
earning classes?
1t appears to me that the burden can
be miniiniZed in no small measure by
the provision of cheap shelters II the
average cost of lodging can be reduced
from 10 to cents for the voorhees, classes,
we at once cut off % per cent of the
expense they constitute to the wage-earr-
ing community.
How far this is possible in the case OF
teDements, without over-crowding. in view
of the high rents prevailing in New York.
hardly feel able to say. though l have
little doubt that there is n grand field
open for Christian and philanthropic enter
prise in this direction. Ifeel sure. however.
that the end of the wedge may be driven
in with regard to lodgings for single men
and women