Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-16

1 lent power of organization having ac-
complished much, and it was with
much regret that the committee re-
| ceived her resignation.
The report gives a comprehensive re-
view of the years work in the City
mission department and the committee
! feels that she has given them a broad
( er view of the work than they ever
had before.
The report IN part is as follows:
Nineteen hundred and eight having
| been a year of extraordinary depres-
sion, much relief work. with its az
companying requirements OF investl-
cation and a large amount of detail
labor. demanded from the social work.
ers time which they would have chos-
en- to give to organizing and construc-
tive work.
The aspect of the work, which OBJ
viously assumes the form Of public
| responsibility, is the spectacle of so
many hitherto self-supporting families
seeking public and private aid. Here
we must recognize the fact that en-
ployment is the one and only solution
of the difficulty. 1t preserves the in
tegrity and self-respect of the family,
1t spares them the humiliation of be-
ing investigated" it renders pauper-
ization impossible. it gives in the home
that atmosphere of self-reliance and
independence in which the children
should grow up.
Did Work at Park.
Our most fortunate arrangement was
that made last spring with the COM
missioners of Mohegan park. By this
we have been able to apply the work
test to every able-bodied man and to
/ save from disaster some families
which under no circumstances would
have been willing to receive aims.
During the spring months our men
cut and piled about eighty cords of
wood which came to the United Work
ers in return for labor done and has
since been sold. The commissioners
kindly gave land for gardens that
might have been remunerative, as
they are in other places, If the long
drought and their unprotected location
had not been too serious obstacles to
success. AS II was, much labor was
given in return for aid which the
United Workers could not have re-
fused
During the summer and fall months
men were supplied in shifts for the
work of developing the park, in return
for which the United Workers have
received considerable donations from
the park commissioners. This coop
Grafton. we can safely say, has been
satisfactory on both sides, and is IL
Illustrative of what might be done to-
plan of relief if all the social agencies
of the city would come to a common
understanding.
The park work was given to heads
OF families; for unmarried men little
could be found except occasional
places on farms or hours work at the
coal yards in return for meal tickets.
Many who are not tramps have earned
their dinners in this way during the
n
tramps now visiting US to those who
came in the fall of 1907 is about one
to ten. 1t is well within bounds to
say that of the meal tickets used two
thirds were earned.
In the matter of labor women and
children have been in the main dealt
with on the same lines as with men.
For nearly all clothing supplied either
a nominal sum has been charged or
an equivalent in labor requested. The
women's sewing class has had a many
sided usefulness.
The boys and girls have rendered.
their returns for favors given by 90
ing errands and by mending grain
bags. The money received from the
bags and from the sale of garments
has gone into new material and
shoes.
Other work. given has been night
nursing, household assistance, cob
bling, lodging. baby tending, dress
and suit making at home, etc. One
household supplies us with a laundry
class where women not proficient may
take lessons any Friday afternoon.
In short, with each family a bust
ness account is kept which is bal
anced and shown at the end of the
month. Our people have no fear of
being pressed for what they cannot
do. and we feel that they are getting
1T, 81,
relief would give. The method does
not simplify the work of the depart
ment, but it systematizes it and di-
reefs it to profitable ends.
Nurse from State Hospital.
Through the kindness Of DR.. Pollock
Of the state hospital, the United
Workers have had since last February
the daily assistance of visiting nurse.
This work has been of inestimable
beneft to US in enabling us to know
our people better and to help them
more effectivelyff 1t is hoped that the
time is not far distant when most pa
tents may be asked for the nominal
sum which should be charged,
Words Of appreciation are due the
dentists of Norwich for the amount Of
work they have done for our people
without remuneration. At all times our
requests for help have been granted,
DQl Jul AIlB Tie special hours
we're devoted to our patients, whereby
we secured in all about one hundred
and fifteen appointments and had the
teeth of nearly seventy patients,
chiefly children. put in perfect order.
1T some cases better general health
has been the evident result.
If this beginning of dental inspec-
ton and care should gro VITO the pro-
portions Of a dental clinic, as has been
proposed, the originators would be
much gratifed If the business princi-
pie could also rule here, a nominal
sum being charged for all work Even
during the summer a few collections
were made for material used and al
most all brushes were paid for.
In our statistics we do not include
patients sent to the dispensary but
it's removal to Washington street has
been of much advantage to our work
Our people have received there great
care and kindness.
In our search for causes of social
disability the matter Of following the
health of our people has seemed very
important to US and the physicians
Of Norwich have, very generally, CO.
operated with us in the most kindly
spirit. In some cases of obscure dis
ease the patients have had as scien-
tific care as could be given under any
circumstances.
Friendly Visiting Department.
A word must be said about our
friendly visiting department. The ac-
tive list Is not nearly as long as the
Importance Of the work demands. If
assistance to families not able to bear
their own burden alone is to be given
effectively and in any other than
hand to mouth fashion, the family
problem must be studied in the home.
The policy in each case should he