The San Francisco call., 1897-03-02
Work May Begin Upon a
a Part of It This
Morning.
The Spring Valley Deed for the
Extension Has Been
Filed.
The Work of the Relief Committee
of the Unemployed Keeps
Growing

The situation. of the big army OF the un-
employed at the barracks on Howard
street was not materially changed yester-
day except by an accession to their ranks.
The 'commissary department" with the
donations secured yesterday, was fairly
we'll provided for. The coal supply, which
was entirely exhausted the night before,
insomuch that the cook was embarrassed,
was yesterday replenished by a donation
OF a full ton of the black diamonds from q
dealer in them.
The wagon was utyesterday on two ex-
peditions and each time returned with q
number of bags and boxes of needfuls.
Several bundles of clothes we're received.
The relief comm ittee, com posed of five
members of the organization, have.a busy
and distressing time of it during their
every afternoon sitting. 70 them is re-
ported all the cases Of distress of married
men or families that apply for relief, but
who do not live or take their meals at the
barracks. Many of these cases are pltlful
in the extreme. The committee holds its
sessions in a small room at the head of
the stairway leading from the street. The
room is unlighted save. by q small oil
lamp. Around a table sits the committee
and hears the applicants one by one. The
applicant is required to state his or her:
circumstances, and if they are physically
able are required to pledge themselves to
do their share toward collecting the pro-
visions upon which they wish to draw. II
they decline to do this they are turned
away with empty hands. Tbisis often a
sticking point, and the applicants rather
than take hold of the rope Of the wagon.
goes away hungry.
Chairman of the com mittee and vice
president of the organization, Charles A.
Davis is chief inquisitor. He explains to
the applicant that. ''to be plain, th g men
here have begged these goods. You will
at once see that you are asking them to
have gone out upon the streets and begged.
OF course, it Is humiliating to have to beg
anu these men here do not like the task
any more than do other people, You will
see, therefore,. that it is not fair to ask
them to beg for you. Now, if you expect
to get share of the goods you will have
to share in the work of collecting it; you
rest of the boys. Will you do it2"
Of course this speech is modified and
varied according to the physical condition
of the applicant. II it is an old man, or
person in any way disabled, they are
asked as to their. willingness to assist in
any way they can; to ride on the wagon,
for instance. In almost every case the
utmost Willingness is expressed, though
sometimes with a deal OF swallowing of
that something that rises in the throat of
sensitive people in facing such conditions
In few instances the conditions were too
much and the applicants went their way
unassisted. Sometimes the applicant is
set to work at something about the bar
racks, such as sweeping down the stairs.
In q oJ
again yesterday in this way, for in every
case. where the persons were able, some
work was exacted of them.
No less than forty-two applications
were heard and relief granted. Where
any doubt existed concerning the truth of
the tales of woe that were told they were
Investigated by men appointed for the
purpose. Among all the others there was
one particularly painful case yesterday.
An old man and old woman, man and
wife, who live together in little cabin
beyond the Five-mile House, walked all
the way IN to the barracks yesterday to
ask for aid. When they arrived they were
so eI hausted as to be almost unable to
tell their story. The old woman, being
and began to CRY. They were taken up
stairs, however, and food placed before
them, and they ate as though half
famished. They were given some sup
plies and then asked how they intended
to- get back home and they replied that
they would have to walk. They were
given carfare after the odd man had
"done his turn" at work about the place.
A committee, headed by President
Letfingwell, visited the Y. M. c. A,
rooms yesterday with the expectation of
stating the case before the Monday Club
of Ministers, but they did not know the
hours of meeting and were too late.
Mrs. Sheppard, an old. lady living at
1928. Lom bard street, gave to the relief
committee $40 in gold to be used for the
relief of destitute families. -.
Following is list Of. contributions se-
cured yesterday by the wagon men:
Three sacks potatoes, 16O pou Ids fresh meat
3 sacks -four, butter, box macaront, 25 pounds
rolled oats, rs pounds corn meal, 60 loayes
bread, half barrel corned beef, 2 bottles wine.
8 hams f. cans salmon, 2 cans tom atoes o can,
pounds tea, dozen saucers, dozen plates dozen
cups, 3 coffee pots, lots clothes, pair shoes.
cans milk, ton OF coal.
The executive committee have made
arrangements for the publication of "Hard
Times" which Will contain official an.
list of articles and the names of those who
have so generously donated them from
time to time. The committee states tbs
while the daily press has been very lib.
eral IN giving space it cannot be expected
to publish every detail which the lit
tee feels should be given to the public.
The paper will be published on butcher
paper and sold from door to door by the
registered unemployed only. twill make
its appearance early next week.
The Spring Valley Water Company has
prepared the form OF q deed giving strip
100 feet wide for the extension of Seventh
avenue and 'his was presented to the
Board OF Supervisors yesterday. Adolph
Sutro telephoned that he would have the
deed for the strip he will donate ready on
Thursday morning. It is expected WORK
will begin on the Spring Valley half of the