New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-09
THE CHARITIES" YEAR.
Brooklyn Bureau Reports on Work
Up Till April so.

The annual report OF the Brooklyn Bureau OF
Charities for the year ended April 80, 1904 has
just been issued This is the report OF the twenty
fifth year OF tho bureaus work. and the general
secretary refers the meeting held IN celebration
OF the twenty-hfth anniversary, report Of which
has also recently been printed in q small edition
no: yee distributed.
Tbs Bureau OF Charities. which has become one
Of the leading charitable organizations IN Brook
lyn. has been fortunate IN IT'S officers. The men
who are most active in the conduct OF the work
to-day have been members Of the beard from its
establishment twenty-five years ago. The Brook
iyn bureau is one OF the oldest charity organiza-
tion societies IN America; only three other socle-
ties are older and two OF these were organized in
the same year as the bureau. 1873. The general
secretary. in his report. calls attention to the
service which the society has rendered during its
quarter Of e century and describes the principles
on which the bureau works. In the beginning the
methods were subjected TO criticism from many
charity workers. including some clerGymen. Now
II Is safe TO say that would publicly oppose
the principles which the bureau works. The
founders Of the bureau were largely instrumental
In securing the abolition OF outdoor relief in Brook
Ign. in which course Of action Brooklyn was a
pioneer among American cities. ana ny which
millions Of dollars has been saved. ana the de-
moralizaton which was resulting from the ds-
tributiOn OF public funds among applicants Ior AID
has been largely prevented.
The bureau has laid special emphasis on provid-
ing temporary employment for those needing as
sistance and has built up one Of the best equipped
systems Of Industrial agencies in any city
The bureau three buildings wen 10
Gated in different parts of the city. for accommo-
dating all who may need assistance. The central
building is at No 50 SchermeThOTn-st; the Bed
ford building at No. 1850 FUltOn-st opposite Lew
is-ave.. and the northern building In Williamsburg.
near Marcy and Division aves.. close to the new
Carnegie Library and the property on which the
Young Mems Christian Association Of the Eastern
District is erecting its building In each OF the
buildings workrooms for women. with day
nurseries attached. and in two Of them are indus
trial laundry training schools. where women are
taught to do first class laundry work. Connected
with each Of the buildings also are woodyards. IN
which men out OF work have temporary EN-
ployment in cutting wood. The bureau also owns
dwelling house opposite Its central building 10
which homeless women are provided temporarily
with lodgings and meals. for which they have OPP
portunity to make payment in work in the indus
trial agencies at the central building.
In the last year 1O7s1 applications for assistance
have been received at the three offices. from 50SS
different persons. Employment has been furnished
20 over 1900 different persons Zoo days.
and about S1sOoO has been distributed in the form
OF wages for work performed. This may be
regarded as having taken the place OF relief which
otherwise would have been obtained from relief
giving societies or individuals but IL serves very
different purpose from relief, tending not to create
dependence but to promote independence and self
support. The bureau also has conducted the work
Of sending trained among the sick poor.
employing five graduate OF special skill and
ability, who have made nearly 5000 professional WIS.,
It's attending to some 2O00 patients. In connection
with tho report of the general secretary report Is
presented by Mrs. S. E. Tenney. conference secre-
tary. who has had charge of the conferences OF
Friendly Visitors in the northern district. where the
church district plan has been in successful opera
ton, The report contains the Lames of nearly all
the churches in that section Of the city which have
agI eed to cooperate with the bureau by providing
personal service for those needing aid within ths
special districts assigned 20 their churches.
The Bureau of Charities Is private organization,
depending entirely upon voluntary contributions
and receiving appropriation from public funds.
II appears from the report that little less than
$1,000 was received from contributors and about
81, 200 from Invested funds. The society needs a
very much larger income TO meet the continually
growing needs OF the poor resulting from the in
crease OF population
The special enterprise in hand at the present
time Is the securing OF funds for the erection OF
new building on the property In the Eastern Dis
trict. where there IS the greatest Increase IN the
applications for assistance. few friends have
offered 20 contribute $4,000 toward this project,
provided the additional $4,000 which i is estimated
will be required can be secured.
ANY who are Interested TO know more parsicu-
lariy about the work OF the society are cordially
invited 10 call at any OF the buildings and those
who are willing 70 render pecuniary assistance
may send checks 10 the Central Building No 60
schernerhorn-st