Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-16
Many Novel Plans
to Provide Work
for JobleSS in u. S.

Washington, Jan. 14-Novel means
are being employed by various cities
and towns throughout the United
States to provide work for the job
less, according to reports collected by
Colonel Arthur Woods, head of the
organization charged with carrying
on work started by the recent nation
al conference on unemployment.
Summaries Of these reports show
means used to be as follows:
Chicago has made house to house
canvass under the direction of IS
battalion fire chiefs, to compel house,
holders to remove from their premis-
es all combustible material and ref
use. as fire prevention measure.
This campaign has created many
short time jobs.
Dallas, Texas, took a church CEN
sus of its population and each house.
holder was asked if some special odd
job. painting, carpentry, gardening
or cleaning, could be furnished the
unemployed. and a record was kept
of the replies and addresses, with the
result that large number of days
Of work were secured for the most
needy.
L In Fort Wayne, Ind, advertise
ments were published in the newspa-
pers. and the unemployed were asked
to fill out and send in blanks. These
were turned over to the local en-
ployment 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 coopera
ton Of the local employment bureau,
and ascertaining exactly what kind
of help is needed.
In New York City. CLOS social
agencies have cooperated in relief
work for the unemployed and have
| established central bureau Of regis
| tration to act as a clearing house.
Pittsburg contractors and employ
ers have been urged to keep one or
two men in each family on the pay
roll and to hire to a large extent
| those living in the city who have de-
| pendents.
Each ward in Rockford, ILL.,, has a
committee with the two 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
! distress, the report said.
Schenectady, n. Y. has taken care
| of its own 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 tax bills Of all dere-
| lict property owners.
| Atlanta, has forced a club of 500
citizens each of whom has pledged
the building of a dwelling to be
rented at a reasonable figure. thus
giving employment to many. and also
J helping the housing situation.
Boston, has asked all employers to
to increase the number of their en-
ployees by at least one, and as many
| more as is possible.
! New London. Conn, runs special
! entertainments in the theatres with
local talent. The unemployed were
allowed to sell tickets and retain a
good percentage of the proceeds
Civil service rules are suspended in
Cambridge, Mass. SO that many per-
sons can rotate in the same jobs.
Houston, Tex, maintains a gang of
| laborers ranging in number from 200
| to COO paying them S1.25 a day and
if they have dependents, supplement-
| ing this by charity. Employers are
urged to apply to the city for labor.
which is supplied from this gang.