The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-02
INCEST TOWN WE
EVER STRUCK"
Everybody is Generous and the
Police Amt Mean"
THE SENTIMENT Of TRAMPVILLe
A Serious Problem Confronting tho
People OF RichmOnd--Two Hundred
Tramps Wutering out Near
Che New Pump-lIOuse.

The tramp question IN Richmond Is
assuming proportions. truly enormous.
The matter mas teen Josh,d al ng IN
rather merry way. every one SEEMS u
beneve that sDmcenins rcaay ousne 10
be done but when they are assed Tor
their opinion OF METHODS their earnest
ness departs ana conversations VIA
Weary Wine as a subject usually end uD
with some long cherished Joke.
But The tramp s. no joking matter and
be reaLzes ~.
To me thinking mind a stroll along
the canal banks that stretch thar mar
row euees m mere loot holds from Holly
wood 10 the Sew Pump House would
yield starting results
Two hundred tIamps. IN all ages and
conditions. OF anu-s rvltudA maintain
profoundly lazy existence Ia this narrow
territory
ASK the hen roosts O.; Hollywoods
sacred vicinity. OF peaceful Barton
Heights whose homes are without mas
culiue protection ten hours in day
THE VILLAGE VISITED.
A reporter NItu a view Go substantial
ting the stories of the number OF weary
Rayiarcrs that hang DO abJcct squa or to
the skirts OF The city. q menace io the
safety and comfort OF lie in The sub
urbs. made a trip through the infested
region.
Making o start over the tracks OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio hardly had ne
Byrd-street Station been len ere groups
OF shiftless roughly dressed men and
swearing youths were passed on their
way 90 their begging beats in the city.
These tramps are crisp and bus ness-
ike in their manners. they begin work
regularly just before sun down and con-
tinue until the streets are deserted
when their idle hands furnish easy meat
Tor satan.
The reporter struck the hot bed Of the
tramps within a fourth of a mile from
the old pump house just around tho
bend in the track where ths representa-
tivos OF the great unemployed
and unWashed can behold 40 their
ease, the mellow spring sunshine
as lt fits over th3 velvet wales and
valleys OF the "Clty 0t silence. me
view possibly affords them am inspiration
10 uphold their motto eternal rest
Where the shadows lic th.ckcst 90
evening and where the solar warmth is
most genial al n0onld.. with the tau
tresue OF Dead Mans Hollow looming
in skeleton blackness against the shy, i5
where the tramps huddle closest.
Three noisoms nuts buut of rocks,
brush and nondescript ends OF un totm
the first tramp village
Here We're found about twenty az Che
"loys"
Zach shanty seemed TO have ts leader
who was introduced 90 the reporter as
the chairman of the house commit
tee"
In each case this cheerful uncuonary
pleasantly welcomed the scribe and ofer-
ed the best seating accommodation the
hut afforded.
EVERYBODY GENEROUS.
"Nicost town we ever struck.
chorused the crowd in the first shanty.
Everybody Is generous ami the police
amt mean"
IF met man yesterday" said one
who gave me Il dollar dion ask
MIN for 70. 1 only asked hlm Tor
grub stake and De nshcd Out dol-
lar."
NO. we don't strike many Ike that
do We want ware repeated tha
chairman. "you bat and We so 100.
Whatever dlrogdtory may be SAID of
the genus us memtcrs axe to man pa-
trioIc one old fellow whose average
inch OF CRIME 900 silent eioquencl tod
his antipalhy TO soap but whose stout
AmeliCaulsm differed iaitcrngy through
his soft Italian. was especially ioud ln
ms remuneration of Spain ana what he
tailed 90 express with his tongue was
terribly suggested ln the fash of bis
eye as bee welded am imaginary stuctto.
At hut number TWO, The same scenes
were presented The man lay about
choking Stove. Some snuhled greasy
deck OF cards while others read yellow
literature in the World and Journal
columns.
They seemed polite and attentive but
the fasud.ous reporter found DO COM
tort ON tao grimy bench and soon took
mis- leave.
The same conditions exist an along the
canal within a mile from town.
one fact was noted that bore testimony
Of fowl disappearance and it was tae
piles OF feathers that eddicd ln Che ltiul
breczes in discriminating proximity to
many Of The tramp habitauons. Some
Of these piles would have made comfort
able feather beds and the feathers SCENE
ed recently picked.
What this growing danger VIII become
with mo- legislation 90 famner IN is Ques-
ton that the future can solve.
The tramps eVdenuy uo not expect
that the present municipal legislative
condition will always exist hut are pre-
pared TO make The best OF their oppor-
tunit.es
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r-oR pfsE4SES on THE IINIu