Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-12-08
WELT ARE STUDY
RESULTS TOLD
To THE PUBLIC
"Know Your Community Better"
Mass Meeting Here
PROMINENT SPEAKERS HERE
Final Reports Will be Given
at Later Date, In Perth
Amboy's Case

The snow and rain storm on Satur-
day night no doubt was accountable
for the small attendance at the
know Your Community Better"
mass meeting in the High School
Auditorium, at which the reports of
the study Just completed by the local
chapter of the Red Cross with the
assistance of experts from the Ma
tional organization were given 1t is
estimated that there We're about 200
or 250 present and much enthusiasm
was shown.
The affair started by the audience
singing America" after which sew
eral songs of the community spirit
type were sung, lead by Lawrence w.
Ballou, song leader of Camp Rar!tan.
Following this Tracy ID. Waring
president of the local chapter of the
Red Cross, introduced as the principal
speaker Of the evening Clarence King
Director Civilian Relief, Atlantic Di-
vision, American Red Cross.
Mr.. King explained at some length
the work of the Home Service section
of the Red Cross during the war; how
it had cared for the families of boys
who had been taken into the service,
and the way in which families living
in this country had been able to COM
municate through the Home Service
section to relatives in the Waring coun-
tries. Mr., Kings plea was whether or
not we are to go back and live like
we did before the war or try to do our
share to aid the communities and in
this way have bigger and greater
American life.
He told how the know Your Com
Better" study just finished
here has interested not only this coun-
ty, but the counties throughout the
country, and that the battle of unrest
which Is now being fought, needs the
community spirit more than ever be-
fore. The real fight in this country
is just on" said the speaker, "and the
reformation period will test each conf
He said that many communi-
ties want the Red Cross to stand by
and help them, and it all depends on
the success Of the study just complet-
ed here. In closing he said that much
talk is being heard at the present time
about building memorials to the men
who fought in the great war. 'If you
asked them what they would like
best" said the speaker, they would
tell you that nothing would please
them as much as a better place for
to be born in.
Mr.. Waring then told of the invit-
ing Of the Red Cross to carry on the
study here and told how the COM
mittees had been appointed carry on
the work here. He then introduced
DIR. j. F. Steiner, director of the COM
study. DR.. Steiner spoke on
Impressions of Perth Amboy' in
part as follows:
"You can not help wondering what
Is to be said of your city. For a week
you have had seven or eight strangers
here looking over your city. You have
q tn ne h q DyTn rp-
leased your secrets, and now we are
to report the thing we have found. Be
fore the committees give their reports
l want to give you our general I'M
pressions of the CITY,"
DIR. Steiner said that the workers
were much impressed with the cour-
tesies shown them. The mayor and
Board of Aldermen and the Board of
Health gave cordial approval Of
the invitation extended to them to
carry on the study here. The. people
of the city showed their cooperation,
the committee gave much time and
the city and county officials gave in
formation. Great help was given by
the Chamber of Commerce, Boy
Scouts and Red Cross Motor Corps
DIR. Steiner said that as a man should
go and have himself examined by a
doctor from time to time in order to
keep well, so the inventory of a city
should be taken from time to time to
see just how the city is getting along.
They were impressed with the will
ingness Of the citizens here to know
and face the facts as they exist in
this city. DR.. Steiner said that the
city is q typical manufacturing city,
favorably situated and growing rap
idly. It's faults are typical with other
cities of this kind and it Is not sur
prising that there is overcrowding
and they could understand why sani-
tary regulations are not always OBJ
served where there are large foreign
He spoke of the well equipped
thorities are making such O. strong
fight against disease. In closing he
said, The Red Cross undertook this
survey not to pick out flaws in the
city but to find out where its services
were most needed and how it can
through it's local chapter be most
helpful to you"
The first report was from the Fam
ly Welfare Committee and follows in
part: They found that thirty-four
children are being cared for by the
Overseer of the Poor. Under the wild
,ws pension act 40 homes in this city
ire being kept together today. Dur
ng the war the Home Service Of the
Red Cross gave assistance to 1920
boys and their families. This work
5 still being continued. Several stor-
es were told of families with children
who needed help such as the Health
Ind Welfare departm ant of the Red |
cross gives. In closing the report it
vas pointed out that the Red Cross
vas willing to aid the city authorities I
md boards by giving additional SER (
ice wherever needed.
The Health Committee reported as
ollows: Marked awakening of the city +
o its health needs, how the appropria-
ion had been increased from $4,000 to !
10000 and the clinics had been es-
ablished. A supervisor of mideyives {
| larger nursing staff The conditions
n the hospital where up to date equip /