The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-01-15
MINE COMMUNITY
WORK IN FIELD
Public Meeting Held At
Jenkinjones
To Inaugurate TIE Movement
Success At Other Mining
Towns

One Of the most Interesting develop
ments now going on in the coal fields
and one which I'm time will unquestion-
ably work to the mutual advantage of
both operators and miners. Was st forth
at meeting in Jenkinjons-. the big
model mining town Of the Pocahontas
Consolidated Collieris- Company. james
Flwed Jones. general msnarrr of th.
company. presided The "ss-a-i"n Wiz
tile starting at systemathr mtnr runnun-
lty work i'm that town under the ,iire,.-
ton of Marguerite W alker Jordan, " hoss
work i'm other sections of the state has
attracted much attention. Col. VIM.
Leckie, of WEIGH, Was present and tel A
something of the work just completed 10y
Miss Jordan in the town Of r. .lther aud
he Wac highly pleased with the progress
made and the results So far -srured m
the camps which he controls, laying
Particular emphasis upon the tact and
ability shown 10y Miss Jordan and her
assistants i'm handling their work and
reaching the people.
Miss Jordan, who has spent many
years in West Virginia, not only has a
hrst-hand knowledge of the social situa-
ton in the various towns throughout the
coal regions, but she knows and under
stands the people. This fact, combined
with her energy and the sincere interest
which she manifesfs in her work, has
doubtless contributed much t. the sue
cess which has followed her efforts u
better the living conditions of the-s.
people.
In brief and interesting talk, she
gave general outline of her methods
The first step in starting the work in
any community is To get acquainted with
the people and conditions. Ia this, the
suggestions of the local company officials
are important and valuable. Every
home Is visited, the families and living
conditions Noted and CASES where par
ticularly serious problems are apparent
are marked for spectral attention. But
the chief aim Of thee lirst calls IL u get
IN touch with the women and secure
their confidence; To awaken their inter
est and t. draw from them tine invitation
u return which IL the nere--ary entree
for the important and persistent work in
the home which IL 10 follow:
This preliminary work usually occu-
pies two or three days i'm an ordinary
sized town. The foundation Of all work |
is, Of course, laid directly i'm the homes
where the workers 20 and take up with |
the woman her indiviiusl problems ami
meet them as best they can. She j.
shown how % care for the babies and /
fort Of sanitation; often a complete meal /
IL prepared right i'm the home o. impress
the practical points Of cooking and kitch-
EN- economy. A special effort II made To- /
instill a desire and appreciation Of clean !,
or, more attractive houses. pictures,
flowers, etc. Through the club work
and public demonstrations, the women
arr shown how 10 buy proper iood eco-
nOmicaliy, how To cook and prepare il 49,
that II will be- wholesome and apt,etiz- l
ing; how To do plain sewing, mending
and the simpler forms OF fancy work.
A wOman's friendly lodge H. organized
~ early in the work A. possible, com I
posed OF women and run by them. Thi-
serves not only a. a means 10y which the |
women can be brought together regular
~ To know each other. exchange idras.
and secure the stimulation and help
which can only come from mutual assD-
citation, but IL serves the more important
purpose Of continuing and holding their /
interest m the work which has lsen
started. The girls are organic a into a
club Of their own fer the saline purIs.se
SERIES 81 public entertsinnents arr
gwen from time u time which men. a.
well a. the women and children. attend. /
On these eccasiOn-, cooking defuon-tra-
tons are gwen. talks on subjects Of in