Year: 1874




Industry the How ward Mission. Home for Little
Wanderers the Children's Aid Society, and similar
institutions are in fOurisbIng condition, but call
loudly for help, order to meet the unprecedented
demands.


GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR THE WINTER.
sTAGNATIoN IN MANY TRADEs-A VERY LARGE NUM-


BER OF WORKING PEOPLE OUT OF EMPLOYMENT


THE SAVINGS OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES Ex-


HAUsTEp LAST sEAsON-PREPARATIoNs FOR THE


WINTERS WORK


The common opinion among those most familiar
with the destitution OF last Winter and who are in
positions which enable them to comprehend the con-
dtion of the laborng classes the present season. is
that unless great and unforeseen change occurs
the coming Winter is certain to be one OF much greater
hardship and destitution among the Door than last
Winter In support of this view they point to the
fact that two-thrds if not equally as many persons
are out of employment now as were found in en-
forced idleness during the latter part of the last
Winter. The estimates of the actual number
out of work in the city various
some placing it as high as 10000 but the more
moderate cutting these figures down to $4,000 or
10000. The lower estimates are sufficient to give
warning of the approaching destitution. Besides
thousands who are absolutely without work. thou
sand now engaged upon jobs are working upon short
time or will soon be left without anything to do.
In the building trade, in the different branches of
which nearly 1900 skilled artisans directly
interested to say nothing of the thousands of day
laborers who are directly and indirectly de-
pendent upon it. the prospects are anything
but hattering The business has constantly
decreased since last Fall, and few new
buildings are contemplated. The largest build
ers in the city are expecting decided improve
ment this Winter and while the different unions
represented have small funds on deposit these are
never used for benevolent purposes, and the work
men themselves are for the most part without
means The general dullness in trade In other
branches upon which laborers are dependent for
work places the workmen in each in much the same
position, and to suppose that there will appear with
the frosty weather of the next few months
10 considerable destitution is to reckon
without reference to facts and figures. An
other circumstance that is likely to aggravate
the privation of the poor this Winter is, that the
small deposits which many of the more economical
had saved before last Winter entirely used up.
More than this, it the testimony of all relief
societies last Winter that the better class OF benef
Charles had pawned furniture, clothing, and valu.
abes before applying for assistance to them. During
the intervening months OF the Summer these people
have been able merely to hold their own, little has
been saved and unless they can have work during
the Winter they have no other alternative than to
accept of charity which the societies bestow.


The Commissioners of Charities and Correction
have about 100000 to distribute for general relief
The of all applicants are investigated by paid
visitors. who gv to them small amounts of money,
coal &c. according TO their immediate necessities.
They have no data as yet to judge of the prospects
for the coming season. The care Of the poor that
devolves upon the Commissioners of Charities was
discontinued in July and their visitors were dis
charged, and their work in this direction has only
recently been resumed The provision which the
State makes for the general relief of poverty is not
adequate, of course, to this great emergency and
benevolent associations must do the great work Of
the Winters charity


The real worth of the relief associations must be
determined by the manner in which they meet the
tests to which they are subjected. Many that have
been useful in their way in ordinary times, bridging
over the difficult passes for those who are shortened
for meaus during the Winter months, were not
equal to the sudden and painful emergency of last
year, but were obliged to leave the extra demands
to other agencies, set In motion especially for the
occasion, or growing out of Insignificant societies
that were known only as local or church organiza-
tions All the existing societies taken by sur
prise last year. and while the more prominent were
well organized to reach every section Of the city,
and discover every kind of distress, they not
prepared to satisfy the greatly increased require
ments of the season. They could not pay rent to
any great extent; they could not secure employ
ment for the scores of thousands out of work they
could not give money or provisions enough to keep
large families deprived of their usual earnings,
from the extremetes of want. But while the old
societies were able to sustain themselves and carry
their usual relief to much larger number of per
sons younger organizations came TO the front, ac-
Quired singular degree of public regard. and by CO.
operation with moro experienced institutions, sup
piled the lack which otherwise would have caused
great suffering and disease.