The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-01-16
CRYSTAL FALLS HAS MANY DEpEN-
DENT WIDOWS TO-DAY
MEN LEFT 10 SEEK WORK
And Have Not Been Heard From Since
City Poor Fund insufficient For
Needs.

A gentleman we'll acquainted with
the conditions in and about CRYSTAL
Falls stated TO reporter the other
day that there is big field for the
charitably inclined people of the city
to work in right here. We have,
said ne IA number of women with
families who have been abandoned by
their husbands The fathers went
away last year under the excuse Of
seeking work In other fields and never
returned nor let their whereabouts he
known since that time
81 am not talking now OF those who
are made papuers by drink or dissii'aT
tion or through idleness. but worthy
subjects who do sll in their power 20
help themselves and support their fam
HES bnt who are unable 70 do 80
.tlt is too bad that these cases don 8
come 10 tno surface more frequently 80
that the people IN general might know
what The condition IA in our midst bot
they don't for the reason that but few
Of the needy make their wants gencr-
ally known
This IL about the same story that
Mayor Webb reported to/tne conncil ri
recent meeting in explaining the
heavy draft upon the city poor fund.
The monthly payment to families
from the poor fund is about eight dol
lars and that don go Car iu the cold
winter lime towards furnishing a
family Of four or hye with food cloth
ing and fuel However, that IS about
al that can he given ont rs the aggre-
gate is large even with that small
allowance.
The practice Of men abandoning
their families IS carried on and conn
tenanced more in these parts than.in
any other part Of the country and il
would be- humanitarian effort il
some action was taken to break 1t mp.
These men 20 scott free aud il is an
induoeinent For others TO follow in
their footsteps.
II is difficult problem TO sovle a.
wnen the men leave. they do so under
the excuse and in many cases the nee.
essity) Of seeking employment. For a
short time after they leave they com
municate with their families; then
the communications become irregular
and finally end. The man moves aboul
the country and never shows mp again.
Some of them don't write back at al
I after they leave.
The women, left as they are. struggl,
on as best they can in poverty. Some
, OF them seek aid, others cover up theii
troubles nutil their neighbors final,
advise the authorities of their cosdi
: tion
B In one instance that came under th
E gentleman's 4 observation woman, lef
= with several children. sought 70 sell
+. little house that WIS owned by tn
family When asked why she sough
to sell the property she replied that !
was the only property size owned sh
I couldn eat IL and while she was pcs
sessed of the propeFty she gas exclHde
from receiving assistance from th
city as the rules Of the citg are nc
20 assist anyone who has any property
And. SO we might mention sever'
i, additional pitiable instances whei
women are left in bad circumstance
and where those who have plenty
eat aud wear, themselves. and feel IA
clired to aid the unfortunate might
much good.
In order. TO inform our reade
:, regarding such needy persons. III
Diamond Drill will keep list in u
Office and anyone wishing to aid
the cause can secure from us the nam
!, Of snch people and the-degree TO whi'
:, they are entitled TO aid aud sympath