Evening journal., 1913-04-26
Years Work of The Blind
Given in Annual Report

An interesting summary OF the
work among the blind is contained
in the report of the Delaware Com
mission for the Blind, which was pre-
sented at the annual meeting on
Thursday. The report Is as follows:
The end of the fourth fiscal year.
March 81. 1913. of this commission
finds the work for the welfare of the
Delaware blind in a substantial and
satisfactory state, quite encouraging
to those deeply and zealously inter-
ested in this good cause. The dis
tinctive feature of this work In Del
aware, compared with the heavily
subsidized and endowed institutions OF
other States, is a small public fund to
provide tuition, tools and mainten-
ance of a workshop for the blind,
where such trades may be followed
which cannot easily be carried on at
their homes. in which the sale of their
products shall pay the cost of the
blind labor, with all material and
other manufacturing expense. thus
providing a trade, tools and a place
10 work besides a job, to put the blind
craftsman on an actual self-support-
ing basis, and allow him the great
| privilege of that manhood which
earns all II receives. The friends of
the blind and their clients may be
congratulated that the work has ar
rived at a point whence we may see
clearly that this high standard may
soon be attained; with careful man
agement. as our craftsmen become
more adept, their products will find
favor with the public on their mer-
it's; the hand OF the blind will know
the luxury of labor, and he will be-
come a support instead of a burden
upon society
The annual operating statement
officially audited shows the total
cash receipts of S6.S76.50, OF which
$4,000 was the State appropriation
and the balance from sales of prod
ucts. Cash on hand, S68381; ac
counts due, $30541; accounts payable
S76.56, and increase in inventory o
stock, tools and fixtures, S46572, com
pairing favorably with the condition Z
year ago, which showed a deficit o.
$500. The surplus this year beinl
sufficient 10 provide the improvement.
and alterations I'm the workshop fol
the blind. ownership OF which Is now
vested In the commission, and con
sidered more fully below. Had pos
session of the newly-acquired prop
erty been obtained several months
ago, as anticipated, the alterations
and new machinery necessary for tn.
proper equipment of the plant woul,
have consumed the above surplus.
"The chair-caning department EN-
ployed six blind Gamers more or lesl
constantly, reseating 673 chairs, Will
gross receipts Of $95759 and disburse
ments of S9S012.
"The loom department employe,
two men somewhat more than hal
time. and produced 10 large, whole
floor rugs, 4S5 small rugs, and 72l
yards Of carpet. The cash receipts o
this department were S7S7.29, will
disbursements Of $1.05S12. An in
crease in stock inventory and som,
accounts due offset this deficiency an,
put this department on a self-main
tanning basis
The broom department employe
three men in the shop, with an out
put OF AIS dozen brooms, with gros
I receipts OF S1.292.06, and disburse
Ements Of $1,623.79 The discrepanc
/ in this department Is nearly made u
7 by stock in the hands OF blind sales
men, which have not been sold o
I accounted for.
! THE basket department which
still in an embryo stage. employe
two men and 1.-TWO women on rain
work.; the output was 100 baskets
and repairs. The receipts for thes
and material sold over the counte
were $S076S; disbursements $574.2.
Considering that much of the expens
Of this department was instruction