The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-25
MONEY To
EXPAND
WORK
Would Enable Institution to
Add New Industries and In
crease Usefulness.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

BY GEORGE FRANKLIN.
Reaching into the world OF
eternal night to extend its helping
hand to hundreds Of men and
women for whom the light can
never again shine, the Columbus
Polytechnic Institute for the
Blind, 1903 H street northwest.
has become during the past
twenty-three years one of the
Capitals most efficient agencies
In carrying relief to those who
need it most.
To Make 1t Self-Sustaining.
Incorporated twenty-three years
ago the organization has continued
an uninterrupted service which has
gradually been extended until to-
day, realizing the time has come
when it must develop new indus
tries, it is planning an expansion
which will IN turn go a long way
toward making it self-sustaiuing.
To accomplish this, however, II
must supplement its present reve-
nues with a sum estimated at
$4,000. With this amount of
money available, it will be in posi-.
ton to carry out the plans it deems
necessary and reap the reward not
only of becoming more nearly self
supporting, but in the greater
women practically shut out from
the world and its multitude Of vo.
cational and industrial activities.
At present the institute is com
PEELED to confine its industrial ac-
tivities to chair Gaming. More than
a dozen men and women are thus
employed in it's workshop. They
are kept fairly well employed the
year round. But the work is slow
and the returns have never yet
met the payroll.
Easily Mastered.
One of the proposed new indus
tries will be weaving. The work
will be done with handlooms. On
such looms 1t is possible to run
out towelings of the kitchen va
riety, glass towels, and coarse cot
ton and line fabrics. For those
products a market exists which at
all times will absorb the output
at a profit. 1t is work which can
be mastered easily by the blind,
even the burning a term descr1D-
ing the picking out Of obtrusive
moved from the loom.
Then it is planned TO install a
plant which can be used for the
manufacture of adjustable window
screens, fly-swatters, and possibly
mouse traps, as well as mops.
These are articles for which there
is a continual demand, and which
are sold in enormous quantities by
the chain stores as well as by de.
partment stores and speciality
houses.
With the equipping OF the new
Industries it will be possible for
the institute to provide instruction
and work under proper supervision
for many who are blind and in
need of employment who cannot
be given permanent jobs at the in.
gtitute with its single industrial
activity.
Versatility Shown.
In connection with the institute,
m interesting sidelight was discov-
cred yesterday illuminating the yer.
satility Of the blind. Stretching
across the front of the building oc.
cupied by the institute is a sign
which informs the public that music
lessons and piano tuning can be
AEE0uS0Q IOT WILuIH. his was
found to be true, for among the
blind men connected with the insti-
tute are several piano tuners who
are accepted as experts, while H. r.
w. Miles, president Of the institute,
has a large class to which he is
giving piano lessons. These activi-
ties, however, are not included as
q function Of the institute, although
n nernoifS the 1ISa of IFS address as
q convenience.
Up to the present the revenues
received by the institute have come
from practically three sources.
Each spring and summer a concert
is given for it's benefit. The next
concert takes place June 26, at the
New Willard Hotel. Contributions
from friends of the institute, who
know Of the splendid work it is
doing, and the proceeds from chair