The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-05
HOMELESS OVERFLOW
CITY LODGING HOUSE
Main Building Not Able to Care
for All and Branch
Is Filled.
1.635 APPLIED SATURDAY
Yesterday the Line Began to
Form at 4 O'ClOck-All
Blame "Hard Times.'

The Municipal Lodging House. at the
foot Of East Twenty-Hfth street, was
packed and damned with needy souls
again last night Late arrivals were sent
over to the branch at the East Twenty
sixth street dock and before long every
bed there was occupied.
Supt. Yorke said yesterday afternoon
that never before in the long history of
his association with homeless people has
he seen SO many men of such apparent
responsibility looking for beds as dur
ing the last two months.
lie keeps careful check on all who
come to him. the last place they worked
and the cause Of their dismissal. and
says he can account of the extraordi-
nary number out Of work only on the
ground OF slack business.
Each man admitted to the lodging
house must fill out a blank stating the
place at which he last worked. together
vith other information about himself
Mr.. Yorke's aids then send to the last
employer letter saying that the man
In question is looking for n job and ask
ing why he was discharged.
slack Business the Cause.
BY the replies to these letters Mr..
Yorke forms his opinion OF what the mat
ter is Almost all of them. he says. dur
ing the last two months have said in re-
ply to the question about dismissal slack
business" or reducing expenses or
business bad"-anything, in short, that
indicates a lack OF business activity.
In addition to this class there In the
usual type-the sort who look for free
bed no matter what the state Of BUSH
ness prosperity. Then there are many
men who will take work IL they can get
Il hard muscled brawny laborers, who
are going in hundreds for shelter and
warmth every night.
I'll confess" said Mr.. Yorke. 81 don't
know what we'll do II there is "A pro-
trscted spell of bad weather. Long pc
RODS Of cold always bring men and
women in greater numbers, so in such
an event how could We expect to handle
them
Yesterday afternoon the lodging house
attendants made preparations for big
yer crowd than on the previous night,
when all past records were broken by
an attendance OF 1895. OF these SIS
were cared for in the branch.
AZ early as o'clock yesterday men
began to gather outside In the rain and
sleet waiting for the doors to open at
6. At that hour there was a line that
stretched from the door UP the street to
First avenue, half a block away.
One by one they entered and stopped
ut the registrars wicket to give their
NAffles. tHtII MS tories anu tnelr NdludpIes.
For the most part the valuables amounted
10 a pawnticket or some such thing as a
penknfe Of too little worth to be pawned.
strong and stalwart Men.
Most OF the men were strong and stal.
wart, showing no traces OF liquor in their
faces or any indication OF no, being able
10 fight their own way II things we're Q
little more favorable.
There's a railroad laborer." said Mr..
Yoike. pointing out one man. There
a chap who would make a good clerk in
any house." he continued, and SO II went
on.
They treat men well In the Municipal
Lodging House. After being registered
they are sent to the basement. where their
clothes are taken away to be fuinigated.
Soap Is given to them and they are shown
where the shower baths are. After that
they get a clean night shirt, a clean pair
Ut heavy socks and are invited to retire
in an Immediately clean iron bed with
snowy sheets, pillow slip equally as
snowy and a pair of blankets that could
he used In any home.
There was one thing about the men last
night that Mr. 'Yorke pointed out as in
dteating long idleness-the ragged state
OF clothes and shoes. A great many didn',
even have underwear and their toes were
coming through their boots.
You might tell the public" remarked
Mr.. Norke, that down here there Is an
army of poor chaps who could use any
old clothes. It's not as II these fellows
we're good for nothing. They've strucl;
hard luck and more or less hard times
The number is 1928 East Twenty fifth
street