Milford chronicle., 1917-05-11
BLIND IN DELAWARE
HELP THEMSELVES

Inc annual report of the Delaware
commission of the Blind made as -
2 april lst, shows a marked ana baai
tny Improvement in the efforts of tbo
Dilnd TO become self-supporting as far
as IS possible. The following is taI
en- from the Secretary's report:
An expert in the industries of IN.
Dllhd OF Philadelphia familiar WIFI
the work for the blinu Throughout +ba
country, has made this statement -,
regard to the work of our blind wesv
ers' You are making the best rnes
OF any other blind shop in the conn
Try. another gentleman, a sunerin
Ienueht Ior The Working Home for
bllhu Men IN Philadelphia, upon a vic
70 our shop, said, He had nevar
seen rag rugs that looked as nice ss
ouis. we nave also Just as encour-
aging reports on the output of onr
DIOou department, although the de-
partneht Is terribly handicapped nv
lne shortage OF material, as broom
straw mas risen 300 per cent in price
anu we are much concerted for onr
suPply Ior the rest of the year. This
dlnculty IS largely due to the cror-j
Gu conultlon IN our shop and lack of
! storage room, which would NOT ei1a.,. u
us to put in a sufficient sunnI,, ~
broom corn for the year wbe4 u
crop was harvested. II is earnos.i''
hoped that another year will Ana o,,y
facilities improved in this resneo,
The statement for the 1scsI -.
SHOWS income from cash sales "a e1S
zS; total disbursements. s11 S0s o..
After taking into Consideration o.
counts due, payable, and INVENTOR,
the net expense of operation sbOTs
sz,469.48. This cost of oneratjon a.
somewhat reduced by vacancy In The
once OF field agent, which has No.
yet been permanently filed Vice.
PAID TO the blind for labor "a cog eo
During the year the shop operateJ Is
Dllnd men, all Of whom ware cor,
pIetely self-supporting. OF these sav
en- were In residence at the sbon al
day workers living at their bomas
anu Two working and living in thei
noines' receiving work from the shon
beslues these two men were carrvint.
on very successful business NOT IS
connection with the shop. but recaiv-
ing all the aid and encouragenert NJ
can give them. -'D' NC
Ihere are two men, one at Port
Fehh' ana one at Laurel. who are
physically capable and we hone to in
te[est them in Industrial work
me weaving department manufac-
59oeu IUzf small rugs, 81 large rugs
o4O yafds OF carpet, gave emplovment
70 TWO men and shows a slight gain
'Fgr G the cost OF material and labor
odd IHe Gaming department reseated
l-oO chairs, gave employment to sew
~ men ana shows substantial gain
over the cost of operation
me basket shop produced AZ bas-
Aets made, and repaired 133 gave
employment to one man, besides sell
ng baskets made to order by outside
Inc broom shop, manufactured 1908
lozeh Droomes, and gave employment
o Iour to five men. This is the onIv
department that shows a considerabIe
oss over the cost of material and of
abor. '''i anu Vi
Ihree blind men are vending the
'roducts OF the shop on the streets
our piano tuning has been operat-
a by Mr.. Edward w. Maudlin and
hoWs marked increase in business
nu al OF our customers are pleased
With his work.
Ine circulation of embossed books
the blind was 295 volumes am0nS
we've readers. The library is being
lyentoried and re-catalogued, and
Tlnted catalogue will shortly be issu-
which will greatly facilitate and
lcrease the value of the library to
ne blind reader.
10 provide the Blind ShoD with
luch needed shop room, a new fac
lry building, 3Ox6O, three stories
Ign is projected to be built on the
ack end of the lot now owned and
coupled by and adjoining the present
lildings. = ''''''
The friends Of the blind suffered a
reat loss in the death of Mr.. Edward
etts' who was one of our most inter-
ited citizens in the work of the Blind
mop, calling frequently at the shop.
ia deeply concerned in all our actiy-
les. In asking for a public contri-
ltlon we never failed to receive from
m liberal response, and his be-
lest to the commission is a very fat
ring endorsement of this work bv
le OF the foremost of the city's bust
'ss men. The Blind Shop has had 7
W better friends. i
he DELAWARE COMMISSION FOR
BLIND.