The evening times., 1900-06-25
IN BEHALF OF THE BLIND
Aid Association Committee Appeals
TO Commissioners for Funds.
Thinks II Has Priority in
Claim for the Appropriation Of
TO the Gift Of House by Mr.
Hutehins-Seed of Workshop.

a committee of the officers Of the Aid
| Association for the Blind called on Com
missioner Maefarland this morning to pre-
sent a formal application for part Of the
appropriation OF $1,000 to be expended for
the INDECENT blind Of the District for the
fiscal year Of 19OO-190I. The committee
was composed of Charlotte E Main, Act
mig President Of the Association; May D.
Russell Young, chairman of the admission
committee. and Alice L. Hunt, correspond
ing secretary.
The ladies in presenting the claims Of
their association stated to Mr. MacfarIand
that in their view of the case they have
priority Of claim 10 the appropriation, as
being the only institution whose sole pur-
pose 1t is to care for the INDECENT blind OF
the District. The appeal Of the association
was submitted in writing and was as fol-
lows:
In a letter under date OF June :. 1900.
the Board Of Directors Of the Aid Associa-
ton for the Blind OF the District Of Co
IUmbiR addressed the Commissioners OF
the District as follows:
" In view Of the fact that the Aid As
sOciatton was created not only for the pur-
pose Of caring for INDECENT blind persons.
but also for the purpose OF promoting their
employment at useful and gainful indus
tries. We ask that in the disposal Of the
S5,0GG appropriated for the care mainte-
nance and instruction Of the blind and for
the equipment OF workshops for the Blind
for the fiscal year 1901. the association be
given such consideration as Is justlfed by
its charter, work and prospects,
In accord with the above request for
consideration they now state that the Aid
Association for the Blind Of the District Of
Columbia was organized on December S
1897 with the Sect Of stsblishing an
Industrial Home IOr the Blind On April
l3, 1899. the Association was Incorporated
under ,he laws Of the District OF Columbia
and the object somewhat more specifically
stated as
80 establish uon-sectarian home for
the blind OF the District Of Columbia, in
the said District.
To promote the education and Industrial
training Of the blind and 10 aid the needy.
dependent blind. and help them 10 become
self supporting.
The incorporation. previously Cs.1y de
layed, was made al that time 20 enable the
association 10 accept an ot1eT from one Of
Washington's phiIauchrcpic citizens. 10
whom the very FIRST appeal for help was
This gentleman. Nr StiIsou Hutchlns.
in his letter accompanying hts gifs says.
Washington. d. C.
d" November l. 1853.
" MIS-. Henriette c. He,zsrott. Mrs. A..ce
/ Hunt and Mrs Laura v. Sylvester
Subcommittee OF the Aid Association
for the Blind Of the District Of Colum-
bia-
" In pursuance Of nv promise TO you
last April / convey 70 you herewith q deed
in fee simple Of the premises. No. gI5 +
( street northwest. improved by fOUr-stOry
brick building in good condition; q two
story brick addition. and a brick stable or
workshop Ia the rear aud facing The alley
This property Is subject 10 au iucumtrauCe
for the balance Of the purchase money Civ
en- by Carl Petersen.
" There IS ample room for twenty o.
thirty Inmates and a shop or r Street
where the product o. their labor can be
sold. The stable 70 ths rear would maEa
a suitable workshop. where broom making
and clatr-CaDlEg could De ClrrIes on
" II you viii permit me 70 suggest a
plan Of action / should edsise ,r8t YOU
begin az once 20 obtain q sam sufficient TO
pay on the debt and furnish you d s-1aI,
capstal for the worEshC5 II ought not 90
be difficult 10 90 this and euergetica.Iy
taken hold Of I have no doubt you car
soon collect enough 10 cancel the debt and
also insure the payment Of your running
expenses.
'' To start right is the main thing and
this YOU are now enabled 10 do Your Ioca-
tion viii soon become known ana the
wares your inmates viii be able % MAKE
viii be bought readily 81 your own store.
and all commissions and charges saved
/ know Of no charity more worthy:
none that appeals more strongly 70 the hu-
nH a
the blind to read and write. 10 assist them
from youth 10 manhood and womsnhoo1
and then 10 practically turn them out 10
staTve by abandoning them is the acne
Of crueltr
a home for the industrious. self help
ing blind ought 10 be one OF the boasts OF
the CAPITAL City. From this small be-
ginning Great results may be predicatef
Energy courage and zeal Will do the rest
The pubic VIII literally aid whatever they
find to be worth supporting.
" Wishing you immediate and contin-
ued success, I am very truly yours.
'sTGLSON HUTCHINS. "
Majsr SvIvester's sympathy.
Major Richard Sylvester. Chief OF Pc
lice I'm a letter addressed to Mrs AIher,
c. Braekett. President Of the Ala Associa-
l On for the Blind, at the time Of the o7ea-
ing the home. says,
Your association OF benevolent men
and women is an effort for their care. pro-
lection. and indoor employment. and 7 am
Ia thorough sympathy with The uOvemert
and VIII be pleased to act as YOUR treasurer
until your institution, WI lch is to Include
home and work hops, Is inaugurated
80 You have had given you. through tie
generosity OF StilsOn HUtcbins. ESQ. a
magnificent building for the purposes 7
have named. on which ! am informed Won
must defray mortgage in reasonable
time
% In order to provide for those who
must leave the streets. il is first neces-
s2ry that your home should be put under
way and sustained. Il should be your
first aim to secure support for your build
ing and home for without IL there would
re no quarters for the proposed ,-ork in
instruction. The employment Of the blind
Is contingent on the success YOU have in
ms'nJIning the building.
- I wish you success with your project
| and trust that money and donations for
your home will be given hberalIy and
| promptly. so that you may first protect
| those deserving and then advance to their
proper training, that they may become
| self-suppOTttng in q measure at least
Weighing well such valuable advice as
| quoted from these gentlemen the Board
| Of Directors realized that il had before II
| a work of no less grave responsibility
than great need and were obliged natu-