Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-03
UNEMPLOYMENT
CONFERENCE
Novel Means Taken to Provide FOR
Joblcss

All the cities in Che United States
Of morathari 10000 population nave
now been reached by the president ),
Conference on Unemployment, and
some very interesting reports nave
heen received as to the novel means
taken bv various communitis to pro-
vide work for the jobless. These are
collected in the clearing house OF IN
formation maintained by Colonel Ar
thur Woods, Chairman OF the Coin-
mittee on Civic and Emergency Mea-
snres' and are sent out in bulletin
form every ten days to all mayors as
suggestions towards the SOLUTION U
their own problems.
Chicago has made house to mouse
canvass under the direction OF the 20
battalion fire chiefs, to compel house
holders to remove form their premises
All combustible materials and refuse,
as a fire prevention measure. ms
campaign has created many snort
time Jobs. The Women's City Club
has divided the city into 30 districts,
each In charge of a woman chairman,
who devotes specified hours each day
to getting jobs through tits member
ship.
Dallas, Texas, took d church census
of it's 10000 population and each
householder was asked if some special
odd job, painting, carpentry, garden,
ing. or cleaning, could be furnished.
the. unemployed. and a record was kept
of the replies and addresses, with
fhe result that a: LARGE number OF
days of work were secured for the
most needy.
In Fort Wayne, Ind advertisements
were published in the newspapers, and
the unemployed were asked to fill out
and send in blanks. These were turned
over to the local employment agency,
and local industries secured the help
they needed. :,
Kearny, N. j., has an agent out
every afternoon. covering the town
with several helpers, in automobiles.
They visit buildings under construc-
ton, look over streets being paved,
and call at all industrial plants and
railroad shops, offering the cooper
alton Of the local employment bureau,
and ascertaining exactly what kind Of
help is needed. ...
In New York City, 1913 social agen-
cies have co-operated in relief work
for the unemployed and have cstab-
lished central bureau of. registra-
ton to act as a clearing house. Pitts
burgh contractors and employers have
been urged to keep L orr mon in
each family on the payroll, and to
hire to a large extent those, living
in the city wllobave dependents.
Each ward in Rockford, H., has 4
committee with the 2 aldermen as
chairmen. These committees in turn
have organized ;precinct committees
with a member In charge of each city
block. Personal contact like this has
resulted in very successful cam
paign to provide jobs and relieve dis
tress. -
Schenectady, N, Y, has taken care
of its owE problem by bond issues
for public Improvements, and the city
officials are enforcing rigidly such
ordinances as snow removal, which is
done under city supervision and
charged on tan bills of all derelict
property owners
Atlanta, Ga, has formed a club of
500 citizens each of whom has pledged
the building of; dwelling to be rented
at reasonable figure, thus giving
employment to- many, and also help
ing the housing situation y !
Boston, Masss,.has asked all employ
ers to increase the number of their
employees by at least one, and as
many more as is possible New Lon
don, Conn.,, runs special entertain
ments in the theatres with local talent.
The unemployed arc allowed to sell
tickets arid retain a good perccntag
of the proceeds. Civil Service rules
are suspended in Cambridge, Mass,
SO that many persons can rotate in
the same Jobs.
a Houstoiy Texas, maintains a gang
of laboregs ranging in number from
200 to 600, paying them SIPS a day
and if they have dependents, supple
menting this by charity. Employers
are urged to apply to the city for
labor, which is supplied from this
gang.