Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-08
BUREAU OPENS TO-DAY IN
BASEMENT OF CITY HALL
Begins Big Work, Designed to Re
duce Unemployed Army in
Richmond.
LARGE REGISTRATION DESIRED
Manager Dickie Believes Service OF
New Department Will Depend
Upon Degree to Which 1t Is Used
by Persons Seeking Work.

Richmond takes its place this morn
ing in tho small company of American
cities that have in operation regularly
constituted departments dedicated to
tho task Of providing It's unemployed
with work. The local municipal en-
ployment bureau will formally throw
open Its doors at o'clock this morn
Ing. Hereafter II will be open daily
from o'clock In the morning until 4
o'clock In The afternoon. On Saturdays
the office Will close Mt noon. 1t Is To-
Gated In Room No. IA, In the basement
OF the City Hall.
During the stringent days OF the err
ly winter II was estimated by labor au-
thorities that the unemployed army in
the city OF Richmond. including men
ana women OF both races, numbered s.
600. The figures were questioned by
moro optimistic authorities. but II was
admitted that the number without work
ran into the thousands.
TO KEEP IN CLOSE
TOUCH WITH EMPLOYERS
While the situation has improved
since then, there Is still a considerable
proportion OF the working population
that is without employment. The new
bureau will address Itself to the task
OF reducing the size OF the unemployed
army and of maintaining, In the future.
q closer relationship between the ON
ployer Of labor and the men and women
who desire work.
1t Is the belief OF Manager Wortley
Dickie. of the municipal employment
bureau. that the new departments
success Will vary directly with the de-
gree to which II Is used by employers
and workers. A large and varied reg
istration will practically assure every
employer who applies for assistance
that his needs Will be promptly filed.
and Will thus encourage such employ
ers to apply promptly TO tho bureau
instead OF to other agencies. 1t Will be
essential to the success OF the new de-
partment that az large number OF
employers AS possible resort to IL for
their needs
The bureau will undertake to sup
ply all classes of skilled and unskilled
help. special effort Will be made to
aid In the placing OF domestics. Work
ers Will he supplied for the building.
mechanical and technical trades IA well
M for agricultural. hotel. mercantile.
professional. restaurant, domestic and
transportation activities. Demands for
bookkeepers and stenographers will be
filled At short notice.
WILL SUPPLY DEMAND
FOR UNsKIILED wORKMEN
The bureau will at all times be in a
PoSil'oH W supply promptly ali de-
mands for unskilled day laborers for
either light or heavy work. Day work
ers VIII be more readily secured by
application at the office before 9
O'Clock In the morning
While the office will attempt to bring
the employer and worker together
through the means OF their respective
applications. 1t Will also arrange for
interviews on reasonable advance no.
lice Employers are advised by Man
ager Dickie. in order to insure the
pest results. to call at the office and
talk personally with the applicants for
work.
Telephone inquiries concerning op-
portunitics VIII under no circumstances
be answered. In order to be consid-
cred at all for any position within the
bureaus disposal. the applicant will
have TO register and file with the de-
partmcnt the full personal statement
that Is required by the rules No fees
OF any Kind Will be charged either the
seekers after work or the employer.