New-York tribune., 1908-01-13
AIDS CRIPPLED WOMEN.
JOHN ARBUCKLES PLAN.
Installs Sezcing Machines for Their
Use on the Jacob Il. Stdmter.

John Arbuckle coffee and sugar merchant and
philanthropst, will put into operation this week
the ship Jacob A. Stamler which is herthed
permanently at Ast street ard the North River
as lodging house for men and women OF mod
crate means, plan whereby crippled women may
not only a livelihood and obtain COM
Portable home but may even put money in the
bank. Mr. Arbuckle made public the details OF
his plan yesterday at dinner given on board
the ship in honor of DIR. H ". Wiley of the De-
partment of Agriculture.
In a large room on one of the upper decks Mr..
Arbuckle has installed specially constructed sew
ing machines, which operated by electricity
controlled by steel which ends in a padded
cushion The cripple wheels herself in her in
valids chair into position in front OF the machine
and the chair is then fastened TO the table. BY
moving the body forward the operators chest is
brought into contact with the padded cushion
the steel arm and the machine is set in motion.
Drawing the body back releases the steel arm and
stops the machine
On one Of these machines n cripple who has
lost the of or both legs or is par
alyzed from the waist down may earn from 81 TO
" a week sewing the bags which used in the
coffee ana sugar business. An operator
from 20oo TO 5000 Of these bags a day, and tests
conducted with the machines have proved that
cripple can earn as much any other person It
will even be possible for women who have lost
the use of one or both hands operate these
chimes, providing stump of is left with
which to guide the cloth. The plan, however is
to provide means of income for those who
forced to go through life in invaIid's chair.
Extensive alterations have been made aboard the
ship to accommodate the cripples, who will arrive
early this week. The various decks have heen con-
nected with a hand-power elevator or large dumb
waiter uron which the crpples wheel them
serves in their chairs and which they operate
themselves, thus giving them the full run of all
the decks Of the ship Adjoining the vorkroom
are the bedrooms and baths which have been
fitted up under the eye of a doctor well acquainted
with the needs Of cripples. Here are be found
all the comforts of a modern hospital
From the moment the crippes come aboard the
snip they Will be made TO understand that they
are paying their way and are in no wise recipients
OF CHARITY This Mr.. Arbuckle expects 10 be one
OF the strongest points of his new plan. Each
woman will pay 81 50 week for her board and
lodging, and as she will make at least 81 a week
there VIII be a fair margin for clothing and saving
Trained nurses will be in attendance.
Four machines have been installed for start
ana TWO dozen more Will soon be set UP. Mr.. Ar
ouckle expects to demonstrate that it not neces-
sary Tor men or women who have lost the use of
lher lower limbs to be helpless charges all their
lives The experiment will be confined at present
TO women. as it is certain that men can stand the
work IL women can.
Mr.. Arbuckle's experiments with the Jacob A
Stamler have extended over several wears and
have been uniformly successful He opera+ed il one
summer as floating hotel, which went to sea each
night and returned to the city every morning
Guests for a nominal charge enabled to OBJ
tain dinner, breakfast and lodging and a cool trim
on the ocean. Later he used the ship for free ex-
cursions, taking out a thousand women and chill
dren on every trip Luncheon was served for five
cents, with tea, coffee and milk cent a cup.
The ship has been used as a lodging house for
the last year. Women pay s. 50 week and men
So 90 The ship is steam heated and lighted by
electricity, and of the food served comes
from Mr.. Arbuckles farm at New Paltz N Y
One Of the features is laundry where the guests
can wash their clothing at night The women
sleep on the Jacob A Stamler, while the men sleep
on the yacht Gtana, which is moored alongside
The dining ROOM parlors and upper decks are open
to the and
The bedrooms are neat and clean Two persons
occupy roonL and many Of the womens rooms
have private bathtubs Hot and cold fresh water
and cold salt water are always ready. An elabo-
rate ventlating system insures pure air at all
times while the ship is well protected with fire
apparatus. The resident manager and his wife aid
those who get out of work to obtain employment
The only requisite for admission is decency and
the existence of vacancy is Smoking and
lounging rooms provided for the men and q
women's cabin for the women.