New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-09
FRESH AIR WORKERS
FACE MANY PROBLEMS
Sending of $4,000 Children on
Country Outings Involves
Much Hard Work.
'NEEDIEST' MUST BE FOUND
Physicians Examinations and
Special Arrangements with
Railways Also Necessary
343 Go To- day.

The sending of 10000 children away for
'ortnight country outings involves more
han many people realize, Said friend
Il the Fresh Aid Fund not long ago: Il
suppose. with so many children in the
.jty. about all you have to do is to so out
~ the street and whistle and lead those
hat flock around you to the train"
But. Of course. no such Pied Piper
rethod will suffice The task of select
ne the children who are to go is in itself
big one. There are many reasons why
he selection should be made with care.
In the first place, it is essential that
he neediest Of the children be taken
first since all children who need outings
are never provided for. In the second
place. it is necessary to safeguard the
hosts Of the children and the children
themselves by excluding children who
might carry disease. vermin. etc.
In order TO insure this protection it is
necessary 10 examine all children who
are to be sent away at least twice and
also TO investigate the houses in which
they live to ascertain whether there are
any cases Of contagious disease present
in the houses. The physical cleanliness
Of children can be brought about i'm many
Instances only by personal efforts on tn.
part Of the Fresh Air workers.
Then there is the problem of getting the
children 10 the train or boat which is TO
bear them away To make up a Tribune
party Of any size children come from all
sections Of the city. They are too young
70 find their way or make the trip alone
nd must be sent in care Of escorts.
For the journey from the city il is
Usually necessary TO make special ar
with the railroads As the
Fresh Air parties generally number fifty
or more. IL Is necessary to have extra
coaches added 10 the trains-sometimes as
many as four or five of them.
In order to secure the children against
danger on the road special instructions
must lie sent over the whole line Of
travel. These warn trainmen, conduct
o-s and station employees to look particu-
larly to the safety Of the children, pro-
vide for longer stops at stations where
large parties are TO alight and order the
sending Of the Fresh Air cars through
NJ points whore ordinary passengers have
10 change cars.
Then. again, the matter Of securing en-
&, = "a. 80 the
people Of the country is no mean ask.
Almost everybody knows about the work
u the Tribune Fresh Air Fund, but this
work has to be brought to the attention
lf the people in the country as matter
hat intimately concerns them II they are
10 take IT up and nelp IL along.
TO do this means active work by the
ield agents Of the Tribune Fund-work in
)rganizing local Fresh Air committees, in
presenting the work and its aims to So
,ieties. churches and persons. in com
,ating prejudice against the city chill
lren and in forwarding invitations Sc
cured to the fund headquarters.
When all these lines of work are started
and the children are streaming OF TO the
and OF green fields there remains the
work Of securing the funds with which to
paw the expenses Of the seasons cam
paign. These amount each year to about
5000, which must be provided through
the generosity Of the friends of the help
less little children Of the poor-and TINS
is in the main the point Of this article.
Two parties OF children were sent away
yesterday-one to Schenectady. y. " ana
another. composed of negro boys, to We
roma. y. J. To-day the largest party OF
the season to date will b. sent 20 Cort-
land. y. Y. and vicinity. II viii NUMBER
about $50 children. There will also De
party Of l3S girls for Ardsley and party
Of . girls for Claverack. \. y.