Evening journal., 1912-10-12
WORK OF THE
STATE BLIND
eIaware Commission Reports
Much Accomplished Need
Greater Market for Product

81 Inc Semi-annual report Of the Del
q ware Commission for the Blind just
iade public. is an interesting re-
ew OF the work accomplished The /
H aport follows. ]
During the past six months. unfor- /
lnately the demand for their prod /
81 cts has been far below the capa-
s. iy of our workmen to supply, and I
a Employment has been far less than /
alf time. But the increasing sales I
i've promise Of more business in the !
lture. A piece work system has been
81 nj into effect and stimulates the
peed Of the workers and gives a
pore equitable wage scale. as the
Inference in the ability of blind
korkers is great
In no department is the slack
! Folk so apparent as the loom room.
II Dne reason for this is our increased
facilities in this department by two
s ew looms and one large twelve foot
# oom. Another reaon is the increas-
d speed of our two weavers. who are
BILE to get out a most credilable
mount of work in a day, either of
& hem with work ahead can earn more
= han a dollar and a quarter a day
it the current piece work price. The
product Of this department Is artistic
md good. The output of the large
oom is a whole floor rug wirca
Il las found a most favorable reception
With the best trade. The output Of
his department since the beginning
a pf the fiscal year has been $50 small
q rugs, 10 large rugs and 440 yards Of
K farpet
The broom department, equipped
q with one set OF the most modern hand
4 broom making machines. occupies
Z three men. one winder, one sewer and
4 a sorter. 1t should have a capacity
& of 100 dozen brooms per month. The
8 output for the past six months has
q been 200 dozen.
Our basket shop wac started IN tho
II summer though for a year we have
q worked 10 this end" A young mau
a who had some apprenticeship in tie
n business was employed during tao
3 summer vacation TO give our men
Il some instruction and under his dircc-
y tcn the shop made considerable pre-
4 gress Several Of our workers arc
4 interested in the trade and one or two
q are makins q portion Of their living
i at the business. We are making a
substantial grade OF willow and reed
& baskets and doing repair work. The
q output Of this department during the
8 past six months has been fifty reed
4 baskets and twenty-five willow bask-
q cts
"The cnair-caning department has
also been rather slack. but we nave
divided the work among six Gamers
each Of WHOM has been able 10 earn
a part OF his living The output OF
this department has been $50 chairs.
One young blind woman has been
Taught ruah seating and IL now taking
courae Of lessons with ali expert Ia
Philadelphia "a perfect her knowledge
OF this trade. This old fashioned chair
seating gives great promise and as
there are no rush-workers in the city
it is hoped she may find Il a lucrative
employment A coiorsd man IS carry
ing our rugs and broonis in Whining
ton and We are nov starting one al
Odessa 10 cover the lower portion OF
the county
eConpefition oS the blind with the
nandicap wa ore able 10 o1er then
against the seeing labor on bust
ness basis We expect and NEST
"Tac Ho1ae-te eaehar OF field agen,
who has b0cn employed 10 make
monthly visits 10 the blind through
the Stats fescning them their hanoi'
crafts and exploiting their products
has becn cempeiled 10 retire owing u
loss OF fhs glimmsT Of sight tina
enabled him 10 prosecute his business
This position is now vacant but vii
be resumed as soon as . likely candi
date can be found. We have no
neglected those requiring attention
and have exerisd every effort 10 he'll
those living in remote parts. II j
however most desirable 10 get tn
blind 10 headquarters for proper in
struction. as a monthly visit Of tn
hest teacher can hardly be expactel
10 give a most adaptable pupil G trad
in s.Mclens time 70 keep up the In
.eresf of the pupil. The homo teache
however IN the field is d great aid 4
the work and can often suggest TO tn
blind means OF amelioratlng thel
condition aad give their friends an
family valuable hints for their I'm
proyement. Especially IL this III
case with very young children. II !
hoped that our work Will not long D
deprived Of this valuable agent
The Culinary Department ha
been in operation for a year on CO
operative seif-supporting basis; an
has been the means Of providing
comfortable home for four or hv
men OF the blind workers who hav
no homes in this city. These resi-
dent workers pay rent 10 the Com
mission out of their wages for thei
rooms and from sS 10 s12 per mont
is collected from this source TO on
set the rent OF the Exchange. In
Living Department is conducted o
a club plan and has been mos
agreeable happy family, no rule
have been necessary and we nav
beenselear of all unbecoming conduc
Besides the resident blind the r,
change forms a rendezvous for otht
blind men OF the city and they en1o
the society Of their friends, listen
tho Telmusci and tho piano or a gam
Of cards as diversion.
"At tho Delaware State Fair
Wilmington tho Commission made a
exhibit. operating n loom, Gaming an
basketry by blind workers and show
ing tho products OF the shop, all
which enjoyed most favorable con
ment. One OF the city merchant
Messrs Mullin and Son, are no
rnowing the products OF the blind
an exhibit which is n fine advertis
ment as II Ia In a fine position {
Market street and brings our goo'
TO prominent attention. The thanl
L a.