Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-02-19

GHILADELPHIA-The saying that
the poor are always with us was
lust as true in the revolutionary
days as it is now. Even then funds
were laid aside that few might suner
from the wintry blasts. The founoa-
ton laid by the originators Of the plan
has been added to by numerous lega-
cies and donations until now the nu-
merous coal funds amount to a hall
million dollars. So far as is KNOWN
the last of these funds was estao-
lished a quarter of a century ago. me
principal will never be touched, ana
the interest will insure the distrlbu-
ton of hundreds of tons of coal annu-
ally for all time to come.
By these funds people of all sec
tions, classes and creeds are benefited.
Some of the trust funds have restr1c-
lions. but those limitations are over
balanced by the liberality of others
Practically all of the poverty stricken
can have ceal to tide them over the
winters severe spells. There is little
necessity for any to freeze, for De
sides the endowment funds there are
numerous coal and fuel funds, ana
most of the ward and neighborhooo
charitable associations have methoos
and means of supplying coal to the
needy of their immediate Vicinfties.
One can only begin to guess the
tremendous amount of good that mas
been accomplished in the countless
homes that have been heated; no one
can surmise how many lives nave
been saved during the period, extend
ing from 25 to 145 years, for which
the funds have been in existence.
Coal was not even known When the
men and women of colonial tunes
started the modest charities when
have grown to half million dollars
today Those early foundations were
known as fuel funds.
Immense Trust Fund.
The fuel funds that have been IN
trusted to the board of city trusts
alone from 1869 to 1888 have a total
value of 1928, O7920. OF this sum, one
fund. left by Thomas d. Grover
amounting to $4,000, diverts $500
annually to other purposes. Never
theless, the interest permits the an
nual distribution OF about $50 tons OF
coal. This coal is given to WIDOWS
only and, by the provisions of the tund
created in 1848 the deaths of their
husbands must have occurred IN the
old district of Southwark. Further
more. no foreigners can benefit from
this particular fund, and the recipi-
ents must be housekeepers or room
keepers.
The total amount OF fuel distributed
nv the board of city trusts In 1917
amounted to 1,42S4s tons, at cost OF
SS.697.21. All of this coal was given
free 10 the needy, with the exception
of 100 tons provided by the Elias
BOudinot fund, for which the recipi-
ents we're required to pay ~ per ton.
The first OF the fuel funds was es-
tablished In 1863 by James Ciapoole,
and has q present total capital OF
Il $50 The next-the George Emien
fund, with valuation of $7,S11.1S-
was created In 1776. Neither OF these
funds specifically state that tney must
be used for fuel, but the income mas
been devoted to that purpose. Togeth-
er they afford the annual Distribution
90 forty-three tons. The City Fuel
fund was established from 1893 to
1909. This is a consolidation of five
funds in existence at that time They
are known as the Free Masons' fund.-
Mr. Ricketts, donation, the mayors
court fun, Elizabeth Kearpatrick's
legacy and John Bleakley's legacy
The City fund permits the distribution
OF coal in the old city of Philadelphia
alone. and about thirtyone tons are
distributed every year
The r. w and w Morris fund,
established in fSO6, is more liberal in
its provisions; it looks out for the
moor In the old city and in the district
OF southwark and the townships OF
northern Liberties.