The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-31

The first plan-the erection of new
buildings BY The bOard-has already
been discussed at some length in pre-
ceding letters. The second is worth
some special mention This is the dis
tribution OF money prizes and free
grants through parish committees.
After II years OF operation, this
scheme has been found 70 yield excel
s lent results. not merely in the actual
improvements wrought in the eondi-
tions Of living. but in the spirit Of
progress and emulation which it fOs-
tiers among the inhabitants. II was
aimed to give opportunities for self
help to the able bodied men and boys
of the cOngested districts, most Of
whom spend from three TO eight months
a year as migratory laborers IN Eng
land. There is no employment Tor
them at their homes in the winter,
and 1t was thought that their energies
might be turned during this idle period
to the improvement OF their homes.
Under the rules, committees for the
distribution of the money grants are
made up in each parish as follows:
Ex-Oficio members are: Clergymen Of
all denominations. the dispensary medt-
cal officer, the county councillor OF the
district, the district councillors for the
electoral division and the resident land
lords. or in their absence, their resident
agents. Elected members are six res
idents OF the parish, duly elected BY the
taxpayers ts
Having organized and obtained a
grant from the board. the parish COM
mittee announces its plans and receives
applications for aid in carrying cut
improvements. II is stipulated that
the committee shall select such prof.
ects as viii. in their opinion. be pre-
ductive OF most good. and shall give
a preference TO applicants who under
take to do relatively the greatest
amount of work with the least assist
ance.
1T is the boards opinion that these
grants or prizes ought TO represent but
a small proportion OF the value OF the
work done If paid for at the current
rate of wages. The board aims at
making these grants barely sufficient
TO AFFORD stimulus to self-help.
The 26.9S3 projects forwarded under
this plan were divided about equally
between improvements 10 dwellings and
erection or Improvement OF Outbuild-
ings.
Under plan No. a tenant purchaser
may obtain loan. and. in some eases.
free grant, provided he carries out
the Improvement work while the estate
is in the hands OF the board
For the holders OF the poorer lands,
free grants OF from SIS to SIS are given
toward the erection OF outbuildings.
and s25 to $50 toward the erection OF
dwelling. In addition. SIPS will be adj
vanced while the work is in progress,
provided the purchasing tenant agrees
10 add the sum to the purchase price,
to be repaid in the annuity payments
Plan No. offers similar advantages
to small landhOlders who will make
Improvements after the board has
turned over the property. There are.
however, no free grants The board
offers the following advances;
For house with slate roof. S125; house
with corrugated iron roof. SIS; house
with matched roof. $50; stable with
iron roof. $40
Loans under $50 must be repaid in
half yearly inStallments. covering prin-
cipal and interest at 33k per cent. with
in 10 years; larger sums may run for
period not exceeding % years.
1t should be noted that the cash adj
yances made by the board represent
only a fraction OF the value OF the
work done They are Intended to cover
only the cost Of manufactured mater
1al- The raw" materials and the Ia
9or must be supplied by the landhOld-
ers themselves. In this way, with
comparatively small advances the
board has stimulated a spirit OF am
biuon and self-help among the people,
and has caused the making OF perma-
nent improvements valued at millions
OF dollars.
On one section Of the Dillon estate,
near ktikelly, I counted no less than
20 houses which have been erected by
small landholders. under plan No. 3.
during the last two years. The per-
manent good accomplished by this
work can not be measured Not only
nave the occupants. men. women and
children. the inestimable advantage Of
living In healthful. comfortable sur
roundingsa but they have had the in
spiration OF lifting themselves to a
higher level. and they have furnished
an example OF good sense. thrift and
energy which viii stir the emulation
OF the people for miles around the new
homes.