Evening journal., 1913-10-27
WORK OF THE
BLIND PROGRESSES
Quarterly Report Of Delaware
Commission Shows Much
Accomplished

lN' lfFNih Vt As ~ NNW llNWlt Nhalir
man OF tfo Delaware Commission for the
Blind shows a very creditahlc condition.
The report says:
The quarter ending September 80,
1918. marks a now era of rcclaiming the
hand of the blind 10 industry and use.
iuness. The blnu shop has been opened
in ITS own property enlarged and i'm.
proved to accommodate The increasing de-
mands upon its resources. The property
for the blind shop was purchased by the .
/ Wilmington Trust Company c0rly in the
+ year, but possession was NOT obtained &
until June p. and reconstruction of the
building, was begun at once and COM
lplcted by the end of August, and The
/ industries OF the blind were opened in
their new quarters September l. As ia
lAlWaN- the case in the reconstruction of
lold building, the cost overran the esti
natcs. hut extra work wns found ncccs-
sary in littme up the shops and outside
communication To the culinary depart
ment on the second noor One outbuild
ing was fitted up as n bleach house, and
auothcr is contemplated rs dye house
90 prepare the materials for the work
/ cis The total cost of improvements
has been Sl3o1 65. including new ma
ohinery.
a ,irculnr with cuts Of the front Of
the blind shop and the broom making de-
Ipartmcnt. with blind broum-mnkers nc
work and n description of the operation
LOT the plant has been printed by The
Star Publishing Company, and issued 10
those interested in The work fot the
lhlind. Through the courtesy of the
Fnir Association. an exhibit was made
lat the State Fair with loom and chair
Gaming IN operation. The exhibit was
iayorablv commented upon. and though
the sales were sniall IL is believed the
educational feature and advertisement
vi The products OF the blind were profit
able.
The balance sheet for the three
months makes very creditable
showing OF the improvement in Tho
business and has been officially
audited. All the departments OF the
shop show gain In income over
cost Of labor and material except "a
the broom shop where considera-
bic cut IN the price OF product was
made 20 meet competition and TO
market the increased output and m
advance was made In the cost OF
broom corn due to the failure of tho
Western crop.
The total cash sales for the quar-
ter was S1.105.61. paid to blind work
ers for labor, S767.1S.
The loom turned out 80 yards OF
carpet, 2Si small rugs and large
whole floor rugs. This department
occupied one weaver continuously
and two part Of the time. One Of our
large department stores took most Of
the product of small rugs and kept
z -
on this product. The receipts from
this department were S220S6 and the
disbursements we're size.
e The Gaming department reseatel
n 1863 chairs. from which the receipt
Z were S24S.77. andi the disbursement
)f S25974. but an increase In inventor
"a OF stock shows this department ST.
n, 70 the good. The Gaming departmcr
ie occupied three men in the shop an
le four men az their homes.
m In the basket department. 50 has
s. kcts we're made and 80 repaired. TIL
q. receipts we're SS3.72, disbursement
J. $S4.59. With increase in inytntorl
d and accounts due this department
]. shows "a gain of Sl4.03. This depart.
ment occupied one man but not ful
time. Our baskets arc well received
G and the trade shows sign OF improve
mcnt.
s The broom department produced
J lS7 dozen brooms aud occupied men.
j two Windcrs two sewers. one sortcr
7 and an inspector, The receipts In
this department were S523.SS and dis
G bursements we're s651 "a but includ-
ed some new machinery and increas-
ed stock leaving net deficiency OF
S55.14. Considering the above mon-
/, toned reduction. being out five cents
I IN each grade and the increase in the
70 price of broom corn as we'll as the
fact that some OF the operatives arc
Just starting tho trade and not up tc
: the highest proficiency Il is confident.
\. ly expected that this deficiency ma,
p be wiped out I'm the future. We hay,
J also added an inspector or foreman
y TO the shop. which augments the cx
+. penscs slightly. but improves tn,
t products and with a greater outpu
will pay financially a salesman ha,
been placed on the street. q PARTIAL,
blind man. who Yends the brooms re
s tail from door TO door this II 4
1f found besides making lucrative oc
T., cupation for the blind man, has
h good result la advertising the produc
ID of the shop
p. The total accounts receivable wer
n S349.O3. all Of which are reliable am
Ie are coming in. The accounts payabl
p were Sl.23224. most Of which were OF
account OF building Improvement
and are being settled The cash o
:. hand was s2.33677. which will pa
N eff floating indebtedness and leav
J. the pro rata quota OF the appropria
}. ton Of $4,000 for the next six months
k' when the next Appropriation is du,
g The living departments provide
m accommodation for eleven resider
r, workmen and have room for fourteen
,- -Four men come i'm from their home
e, 10 the shop. -Four men and min
s.. women receive employment al the
homes Seven venders we're occupic
in towns outside the city. and ON
above mentioned street man dires
as from the blind shop.
'e The circulation OF embossed book
I'd was 22a.
r. Tho home teacher or field works
IN made $40 calls on go blind person
N found l3 new case- and % deceased. 81
VI lcsscs were removed from tho state q
not found Started eight persons 2
icadin- with the fingers. and seven !
industrial work and brought four I
no headquarters ~ pursue their occupo
4. tions. -Four bini women were starte
N sewing carpet rags NJ their home for Oh
,d loo,r department.. The field agent visit
"a ~ t,,,,.,,. tb-o..Dhout fhe Sfnfe an