The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-02-20

every day and by their careful thrift
are able to make ends meet. Mr.
Dixon says it is this very type OF
woman the Grandom fund tries to
help. The fund is overrun with appli'
cants every year, and has all it can
do to handle the cases under its care
at present.
Besides the free and half-rate coal
systems, many methods have been de-
vised to assist the poor to get their
winters supply. Savings fund and
other plans which permit them to pay
for it on installments have been in
existence for nearly a century. Prob.
ably the oldest and most important
of these is the Fuel Savings Society Of
the City and Liberties of Philadelphia,
established In 1921. It's object is to
teach the industrious poor the benefit
they may derive from saving small
amounts from their earnings during
the spring, summer and autumn, and
so provide themselves with fuel for
the winter. Deposits not exceeding
one dollar at a time are received, and
coal is delivered to the depositors
during the winter for the amount of
their credit. The income Of the So
ciety is applied to reduction of the
price of coal, and In that way assists
the poor.
Mothers Get Supply of Coal.
This method of encouraging the
poor to prepare for the stormy wealth
er is practiced in many of the Chart
able societies and neighborhood
houses, especially those managed by
friends. The Bedford Street mission.
where Comfy B. Shoemaker is presi.
dent of the managers, not only helps
the people of the neighborhood, most.
ly foreigners, to save, but also dis
tributes the coal 1t Is not an I'M
usual sight to see long line of wom
en- leaving the Neighborhood house,
on Kater street above Sixth, with
buckets and bags of coal.
Many carry the coal, in their old
country style, on their heads. Twenty
three pounds are given to bucket
In cases of restitution the coal Is
given free. During the course of a
season about $4,000 buckets are sold
at the mission and more than 1000
buckets are given free, in addition to
the coal supplied in half-ton lots.
The mission sells coal In ton and
half-ton lots at cost to the depositors
In Its savings fund. Miss Mary Boyd,
who for years has acted as missionary
for the society, visits the homes and
receives the money for the coal during
the warmer seasons. Not more than
a dollar Is received at time. or less
than a nickel. Miss Boyd investigates
every case.
Another worthy coal saving plan is
that of the Whittier Center, which has
for its object the assisting of poor
negro families. 1t was formerly mar
aged by the Starr Center, 725 LON
bard street, but last year was turned
over to the Whittier Center. Many
pro- narn s sps duffng the swel eri3H,
days III Summer can be found going
from door to door In the side streets
of the negro section encouraging the
inhabitants to save for the next win.
ter's coal and be prepared for the
billiards and frosts. Coal clubs have
been formed, and the members meet
at the center, bring their savings and
have entertainments and sociables.
Besides supplying coal at half rates,
the Union Benevolent association Of
ZIG Spruce street loans stoves to
those in need of them. A few years
ago, when stoves were more general
ly used, about 500 stoves were dis
tributed every season, but now there
is demand for only about seventy
stoves.
Many other organizations, including
the Home Missionary society and the
Matzo and Fuel association, a Jewish
society, have means of assisting those
in distress to get coal.
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