Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
LADS OF TENDER YEARS
UNDER CONTROL OF THE SEA-
soNED RoADsTERs.
Plan in Vogue Here for Utilizing the
Unemployed Who Seek
Public Aid.

class of turnpike tourists" who pass
through Washington. At this season or
the year the great unwashed army OF no.
hos who have summered in the north, the
east and the west migrate to the sunny
south, and incidentally some of them stop
over In this city to 'hit up few or make
a few collections for the purpose of provid-
ing themselves with food, otherwise termed,
in the vocabulary of the road, vital statis-
ties for use on their journey.
II is by coming into official contact daily
with this class that Mr.. Belt and Mr.. An
drew III. Tyson, superintendent OF the mu-
nicipal lodging house, have noticed the
increased number of mere lads who are
entering upon the life of tramps. Many OF
these bright faced, intelligent boys who
have no doubt been attracted to the yaga-
bond existence by the spirit of adventure
omnipresent in the breasts of the youth of
America.
Then, too, Mr. Belt observed that the
amateur boy tramps travel in groups of
three, four, five or six, each party being led
by a grizzled old hobo of the dyed-in-the-
wool tramp class, who no doubt in some
instances caused the lads to leave their
homes by retailing to them exaggerated
stories of life on the road and of adven-
lures such as will captivate the average
boyish mind.
1t was recalled in this connection that
several Washington boys in recent years
We're induced to leave their homes by
tramps, and that in two instances, at least,
the laos never returned to their parents
and were given up as dead.
Fifteen to Eighteen Years Old.
"The boys who came to the municipal lodg-
ing house this season." said Mr. Belt to a
Star reporter, ranged in age from about
fifteen to eighteen years, and generally
they have been bright fellows, their appear
ance and manners indicating that they were
reared in respectable homes by Christian
parents.
Il recall one of the lads" continued Mr..
Belt. He had dark curly hair and brown
eyes that beamed benevolently and poetical-
ly. l took deep interest in that boy and
talked with him. He was evidently under
the influence of his tramp leader, a bearded
and repulsive-looking fellow. 1 asked him
about his home, and pearly drops of moist
ure came from his pretty and expressive
eyes. Finally he told me of his mother in
1ronton Ohio. He said he loved her dearly,
but had been induced to leave his home and
lead the life of an idle Wanderer. I begged
him to turn back before 1t was too late
and return to his mother. who no doubt
was heart-broken. But the influence of his
tramp taskmaster was too strong to be
broken by me- and the lad started south
with the gang. Reaching Virginia he came
into contact with a bad case of smallpox,
and was brought back to Washington,
where he died. His last words were about
his mother.
81 want my dear mamma, he pleaded
mamma a"
Homeless and hungry men and boys to
the number OF from twenty to twenty-five
a day are being taken in and accommodated
at the municipal lodging house on 18th
street by Supt. Tyson since the cool
weather began. 1t has become too uncOm-
Portable for the itinerants to sleep out un-
der the starlight, as had been the wont
of many of them during the summer and
early fall months. When the north wind
blows colder and the air is filled with flying
snow the dodgers are usually so numerous
as to fill the District of Columbia free hotel
to its capacity-from fifty to ffty-five men
night. Now that the lodging house has
been prepared for its winter work, the num-
Der of gratis guests will gradually Increase,
it is expected, until the limit is reached.
Model Of It's Kind.
Officials from other cities who are inter
ested in the several systems of lodging
houses with wood saving and splitting at
tachments, and who have inspected the
local institution, pronounced it in nearly
every instance to be the model of its kind
in the United States. The superintendent,
Mr.. Tyson is regarded as an inventive ge-
MUS, and he has originated a number OF
new ideas which have been put into prac-
teal operation at the Institution.
Among these are the beds or cots, which
will compare favorably in cleanliness and
comfort and from a sanitary standpoint
with those in any of the hospitals; frame
or rack for measuring and inspecting the
wood that is sawed and split by each guest
to pay for his meals and lodgings; and
fumigation system for purifying the cloth
ing of the men who seek refuge there, as
well as the bedding they use.
Two overhead hoDpers have been placed
in the alley in the rear of the wood yard
and they are so arranged by their inven-
tor. Mr.. Tyson. that by pulling trigger
they load vehicles below with sawed and
split wood without the expenditure of any
physical labor after the fashion of the
tender of a locomotive being loaded in
stantly with coal from an overhead chute
These hoppers not only load the wagons
instantly, but they also measure the wood.
III order to meet rush orders, Supernten-
dent Tyson has installed electric saw in
the institution to tide over the busy season
He says he expects to handle 500 cords of
wood during the ensuing season.
Another improvement invented and in
stalled by Mr.. Tyson is an elevator or self
dumping wood box for elevating the
dodgers tasks to the second floor, where the
wood chopping is done.
The first floor of the municipal lodging
house Is used for the offices in trent; the
kitchen and dining room, sitting room and
the wood yard, in the rear. On the second
floor is the bath room. fumigating and
dressing rooms, while the third floor Is fit
ted up with fifty-five comfortable cots for
the city's sleepers.
Professional Roadsters Dodge.
The majority of professional tramps that
pass through Washington usually dodge the
official lodging house. Superintendent
Tyson says only when the professional
roadsters are hard pressed will they become
the guests of the municipality, where the
shibboleth Is that man must live by the
sweat of his brow. Those who do patronze
the place and do the required task of saw
ing and splitting wood receive as pay a sub
staEtial breakfast and dinner and a COM
Portable bed preceded by bath.
A man who enjoyed the hospitality of the
municipal lodging house several months ago
Is now married and doing well. said Mr..
Tyson. He is manager of a business in
this city, and whenever he is in need OF
help he goes to the lodging house and Sc
lects some Industrious appearing man from
among the inmates and gives him employ
ment. He does this. he explains. because he
sympathizes with these men. many of whom
are Industrious mechanics, who through no
fault of their own are out of work Last
season the records show that ninety-six of
the dodgers secured positions and made
| fresh starts in life.
| v. Baldwin Johnson's Coal. 612 9th ST.
Note-If any customer has received dirty
or inferior coal please report in writing
now.--Advt.