Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1933-02-10
a Big Job

poraion yer made available to the Welfare Department of Rowan
County. Before these funds were received, this county had been
struggling along with a modest budget entirely Inadequate to meet
the relief needs of a county of fifty thousond population. The almost
sudden deposit of Reconstruction Funds in a stable amount for dis
tribution caused a feeling of relief and appreciation, but at the same
time, it brought about a tremendous system of detailed and compi-
Gated and responsibility on the Welfare Department that could hardly
be envied.
1t would sometimes seem easy for an agency such IS the Welfare
Department to dispense funds and provisions to needy persons where
the most good would be done, but it is by no means al easy task; Oh
the other hand, it is tremendous piece Of responsibility. The very
nature of the work entaiing, as it does, contact with various and
innumerable cases scattered throughout the entire county, would
whiten the hair and bend the shoulders of a person of unusual stature
and physical endurance.
To Mrs. Linton, this paper tenders its commentator in IN un-
stinted measure and, at the same time, its sympathy. In this sort
Of work is required much patience, of tactfulness, of hrmness and
the ability to stand up under most trying circumstances. Even to
one unacquainted with the administration of this fund, it would ap-
pear that there would be many casso of dissatisfaction and sometimes
carping criticism.
Upon the whole, however, it seems that there has been a real
worthwhile service rendered to the community. Tangible results can
be seen in the employment of handreds of men allotted to various
projects; for instance, the new road to Faith, the several streets in the
city that have been widened and improved, the painting and renova-
ing of the courthouse and community building, the building of a
number of dormitories to the county schools and the restoration of the
old Lutheran cemetery.
In addition to these, many other odd jobs have been given, and
every day for the past several months there have been hundreds Of
people calling at the office of the Welfare apartment for aid and
relief in the form Of wood, coal, medicine and other necessities of
life. With a staff of five r six it i we'll nigh impossible to investi-
gate infinitely each and every case with a trained worker, and it is
remarkable that the work is carried on as we'll as it is.
In the administration of this relief work, the superintendent of
public welfare does not actually receive or pay out any money what
ever. The funds are placed to the credit of the treasurer of the
county in a local bank and as the cases come, the Welfare Department
such investigation as it is able to make, passes upon the same
and issues an order which is honored by the various stores in Rowan
county and payment is received by them from the auditor Of the
county in the form of a check.
The administration of this relief measure in the hands If the
Welfare Department is indeed a big job, one calling for sympathetic
1t must be repeated that this paper stands in respectful
admiration of Mrs.. Linton and extends its most sincere we'll wishes