The San Francisco call., 1897-02-19
A ROOF OVER
THEIR HEADS
Unemployed Have Secured
a Home on Howard
Street.
Over Three Hundred Men En-
j)yed Hearty Meals Last
Evening.
Activ. Steps Are Bling Taken To-
ward Providing Food, She ter
and Emp oyment

One of the first and most important
movements in behalf of the unemployed
Of San Francisco was made Yesterday
when the large building at 614 Howard
street was secured for the shelter of those
who by i'll fortune have no homes Last
night over $50 men slept in the large hall
which was TO some extent warmed by a
huge range, donation from w. W. Mon
tague. To be sure the place did not con-
tain al the comforts of home, but it was
godsend 10 the poor fellows who other
wise might have been obliged to tramp
the streets all night-for the night was
bitter cold and the atmosphere was as
damp as it was chilly.
The new headquarters of the unem-
ployed was engaged early yesterday morn
ing by s. A. Leffingwell, chairman of the
general and executive committee. He
agreed to pay $75 per month for the prem
ises to J. Martin, the agent of the prop
erty. The main apartment is q large hall
capable of accommodating about 1900 men
by making use of the gallery. AS quickly
as possible all of this space will be filed
with beds, cots and hunks for the men.
adjoining the large room are several
smaller apartments that viii be utilized
for storerooms, kitchen, washrooms, etc.
after the plan OF the old Bijou Theater
that stood on Market street where the
new Spreckels Market now stands.
The executive committee will at once
reduce the management of the new home
for the unem ployed 20 a system. so that
only worthy people will be provided for
and the most deserving cases will be pro-
vded for first. The list of applicants for
assistance will be very carefully looked
over, for those in charge are determined
that they will give a good account OF all
OF the money and donations received from
the pubic.
So far the committee has met with con-
siderable success, and from present iudica-
tions the public will by is generosity see
that the worthy poor OF San Fran cisco are
provided with the necessaries of life.
At 1880 O'Clock yesterday morning
/ Chairman Lethngwell presided over q
/ body of about 1200 men, who assembled ct
/ III Turk street, but there were several
/ important committees still out, the meet
! ing adjourned until 2 P. NJ. In the after
noon the committee appointed to call
] upon Mayor Phelan with reference to Sc
| curing employment for as many men as
! possible presented as its report the follow
ing letter:
Gentlemen; I regret to inform you that
Mayor Pnelan is confined to his room by
sickness and, consequently, VIII not be able to
i =. NJ.
to-day. He has directed me 20 say that The
road proposition is receiving due considera-
,tion and that he is anxious 10 do everything
possible for the betterment of the present con-
dition OF the unemployed. Yours truly,
w. B. SULLIVAN, Mayors Clerk.
The three soliciting committees then
reported. a. ]. Swell reported that Muir
ply, Grant & Co. had donated $40; W.
Rodgers reported that Police Judges Low
and Campbell had each donated IS, James
En-a nf MIGciOQ Goot- nF
the Spring Valley Water Company had
promised all the water the men required
at the new headquarters on Howard street;
William Grim mer reported that HolbrooK
Merrill & Stetson had contributed about $50
worth OF cooking utensils, w. w. Monta-
que large cooking range and the Ameri-
can Tea Importing Company twenty
pounds of tea.
BY this time the afternoon was we'll
spent, and about 600 men fell into line and
in the drizZling rain marched from the
Temple to the new quarters on Howard
street. All were well pleased with the
premises. Chairman Leffingwell and A.
J. Fobe delivered short addresses from the
gallery in which they expressed the be-
lief that the hour of dehverance was close
at hand, and tina. the public would pro-
vide means by which the mems imme-
diate wants will be filed and that ere
long employment will be furnished by
pendent.
Fobe then placed the men in line and
gave ont 3l5 ten-cent meal tickets. In
short time these pieces of paste board were
presented at the restaurants, where the
hungry ones were we'll received.
1t required but glance TO see that the
assistance was not rendered in vain, and
that every ian present really deserved all
that he obtained. There was soup, roast
beef, mutton stew or pork, beans, pota-
toes, coffee and all the bread required, and
all served smoking hot. Maybe there are
many in this City who would not be at
tracted by such a spread, but the cold,
wet hungry fellows who sat at the tables
found no fault with their fare. After the
meal large mum ber went back to the
headquarters and put up the range and
dried their clothes by the fire; and those
who had blankets spread them on the
floor and slept. The others slept in chairs
and on the benches-none too comfort
able, to be sure, but still, better than
tramping the streets in the cold and wet.
While the men were sleeping the execu-
tive committee again repaired to III Turk
street TO discuss future movements One
! OF the soliciting committees was instructed
to make special efforts to secure lum Der
| from the lum ber merchants in order to
make hunks, tables, benches, ETC., which
are much needed.
Lights In the building are another ne
| cessity that will have to be looked after.
| Messrs. Moody, Grimmer and Swell were
| appointed as committee to see that none
| but worthy people are provided for and
that all lmposters are thrown out OF the
! ranks.
A committee consisting of w. Grimmer,
]. Kline and II. Townsend was appointed
to draft plan for the organization of the
unemployed in the headquarters and for
the management of the same; also to sug-
| gest officers and outline their duties for
and In the various departments of the new
home. There will be several meetings
! held TODAY