The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-17
Weekly Letter Oh
Municipal affairs
XIV. - MUNICIPAL LODGING
HOUSES.

New York Nov H.
-HE MODERN CITY the world over. is be-
II coming more and more concerned about
j the welfare of its inhabitants-particuarly
of its unfortunate ones. All sorts of schemes
for relieving the sutfcrinrs of sucb as are
'.down on their luck" have been projected and
successfully carried forward. The municiual
lodging house is among the latest ventures. The
cities Of Europc and Grc,t Rrtain hovc led tho
way. and the United States cities have followed
in their wake.
In Boston the institution IL known as tbe
"woyforers' 1oduo ;, and 10 in chorre ~ tho noor
board. The nlan wns ino,,o,,ratcd bv former
Mayor ouincv and s;ncn ;ts ;ncont;op eoven
veors 400 bos .ccommod,tod somo % ooo ,odaors
and provi,led we'll on N IN Oo0 meals
The men ara regulnr,v o,;storoL 90 a. :,
hotel and. in addition information 10 ob,,ined
as to their desire for work All comers ors
received whose circumstances arc suob 40 n nre.
vent them from having for the nocess;tios Ev.
ery announcement poss;ble 10 o;von IA the mon
and in order that thov NAV ro,,ir t,a;r cole
respect. tbev are reouired to labor in tbe various
cty tcparmcnts in naynent for tbcir ,ody;pp
and rations. The princinol cmnlovmopt how.
ever is in cutting wood. which is sold In tbe
fall and winter the proceeds of which oro added
to the support of the institution. Tho lodging
house costs the city of Boston about Ss. 900 per
year, and, it is claimed. saves the ctv indi
reCtly more than S2O,OOO wear, saw nothing
of the general good Accomplished
For more than ION vo,rs tb, o;,,, -, wos,
ington, d. c., has successfully conducted A lodc.
ing house. congress annually appropriatinr the
sum necessary for its maintenance. Its capacitv
is limited to fifty inmates per night whose wants
are looked after by seven cmploycs. All sorts
and conditions OF men are received. but there
are no accommodations for women. Each opnll
cant for admission Is Registered. asked wbor. ho
worked last, and how long he has been ont Of
work. lie is then given a ticket which entit,cs
him to three days' subsistence. Two meals
day are provided, which consists Of broad cof
fee, and stew made OF bread, potatoes. beef
and rice or barley. Meals are served at 7 a. M.
and y. m.
In consideration for this subsistence, the bene
fciary saws and splits twenty.one sticks Of wood
which entities him TO n supper n bath. n he'd
and breakfast; the same work upon fourteen
sticks of wood entities him to n bath. a he'd and
breakfast Besides a commodio,s bathroom thc
ipstitution has n roon for ,ho dis;n,,ot;",, ~,
clothing. A small library and readinp room il
also provided for the use of slch as desire "a
read in the evening. Other belpful influences oro
thrown about the men. while they ara rcceiving
the benefits of this institution. During the Inst
five wears more than 25, ,OOO dodgers have becn
accommodated, at an average expense Of about
twenty.6ve cents ncr dav More than 10 ooo
meals have been served while about 0OO an.
plicants have been provided with permanent no.
sitions,
Syracuse. n. v. has successfully conductsd :,
similar institution for wear and more, nous