Year: 1876

trade alone when that rs dui-it may be very easy
way disposing OF the case but the only difficulty Is
that there Is nothing for the 10 turn their hands
To. There is scarce Trade that the winter has not
terrots Tor. Idle men belonging 10 every branch OF
industry parade tho streets already But u IS not so
much this actual present time which the worst oil tho
trouble lies 1t is in he coming winter months that
the destitution lies lurking waiting for MS prey.
have hesitation In saying mat but few can realize
now serious Is the conduion OF the men in this CITY
who dependent for their living ON occasional jobs
in their respective trades. Perhaps IL Is not advisable
10 cry oi alarm II would he better II the DIM
Guilty could be generously dealt with But IL Is a
fact that there are thousands OF men In this city al
this moment who would be unable 10 tell ycu. II you
asked them. how they arc gong 10 get bread this
winter"


POOR RELIEF PROSPECTS.


Another intelligent mechanic. who hkc him whose
opinion is given above would not have his pub
shsd, ~ am acquainted with numbers OF work
ngmen who have famiiics TO support VINO can see no
prospect OF support during the coming winter months
Already the cry OF poyeriy Is beginning TO
he heard in tho tenement houses, where the
working classes reside coud tell you OF some pain
fu cases which, even early IN the season. have oc
Cured. But, as yet those 10 whom refer would not,
think have their names or their poverty made known
70 the world. Reliei was afforded thcm But that re.
lci from such n tnat II would be imposs
BILE to have continuance OF IT, suppose other such
cases as those which came under my nonce might ne
advances he number oI the penniless VIII be increas-
ing and the sources Of relci be constantly getting
crippled for money unless some temporary supply Is
Afforded them for this winters emergency. The
truth is that SO far as can DO now seen
there is NO prospect Tor work this win
ter. When you remember the dulness OF the
times ior long time you Will understand
how straitcned must bc the condtion OF the working
classes lt not this winter II former mad
been good. and the little savings OF the men, with the
credit they could get at the stores. would tide them
the worst part Of the season. The savings when
any AZ all to be very small and / afraid
have been but little more Than sufficient 10 enable
them TO keep gong on until the present time There
need be very lile reckoning on the money saved.
Wages have been reduced, rents have not been work
has oseh pSs ne sraf or ns ss
placed the trade societies, as they have been or
long time more or less disorganized. There must,
then, be either work or charity AZ the prospect Is
that thcrc VIII be very dull winter IN all branches
OF trado pubic relief would seem 10 be the
only chance left save thousands OF people from all
the miseres OF dcstitution. know that already
eral mechanics have applied nj tho police courts for
permission to 20 to Tho workhousa on Blackwel's
Island think OF tho iblc struggle that these
must have passed through before taking such
course as that! The workngman. remember, Is very
sensitive even about receiving charity In any shape or
form. What, then, must he be driven TO when he
asks in order be saved from starvation, that he bo
sent TO the protcctory for criminals, to be tho fellow
in the Tombs oil every loaier and vagrant whom tho
police pick up nuisnnccs, to be the ccggur at q
police station Tor place TO lay ms body TOR nights
ingman must DO hard pressed when he goes
through this ordeal But what can he do when It
- the lasty He cannot beg on the Streets he
not want 10 steal nor he mean enough to be-
como a sbummcr" ora loafcr," and he may be too
proud exc out subsistence from such little money
us friends relatives would be badly able to AFFORD
him. SO tho Island becomes to some poor fellows the
only shelter loft, and think that, as prevention is
better than cure, the wealthy men OF TINS city ought
to take some action to meet the certain hard
times which are before large class OF the commu-
han defer relief that is certain TO bo needed
anG certain in this city TO bc granted sooner or
later.


HELP EACH OTHER.


workingman, not regular mechanic said:-


'It seems to me that as tho prospect Is bad the
workingmen the msslves ought take the initiative IN
a movement for their own relief. notice that when
politics. trade organizations. or the settlement OF
rivaires. questions affecting tho trades afford





treated to quite enough Of that sort OF nng Now
It is beyond all doubt that here among US living in
tenement houses throughout the city there is even
now large share OF dcsiution, and It is certain that
going to have hard winter as we could well
stand even in tho best OF times Complaints have
been made Know. that there has been nothing done
either procure work the idle procure bread
for those who willing 10 work ana
get no work on account OF tho pecu-
liar busncss situation OF the country. Those
In distress Will have walt until the press comes
the rescue then the iu share OF the misery
endured cannot be exposed the public eye II seems
that tins winter IS, for many reasons, very
ceptIonal one, aud l am persuaded that the proper
TO adopt to have tho workingmen themselves
take this matter IN hand not Tor the purpose Of giving
each other mutual financial aid, for that would be
possible but for the purpose OF asccrtninng beyond all
doubt tho actual condition OF tho working classes al
this time and the probable condition which they
will be placed during the coming winter months Then.
having got the correct facts, they should appeal at
come to tho help OF ;hosc who possibly
help themselves This would at put
the workingmcn in true position. The press,
have doubt, would give she men every help, and
the result would be that some properly organized sys
OF rellcl would be established There IL doubt
but that the prospect ahead Is very alarming. II
woud be much better 10 meet the diculty from both
sides than have the cries OF dcsitution ringing
through tao CITY without anybody knowing whence
Immediately they came. II there any cxaegeration
what many OF tho mechanics affirm TO be fact
the proper persons to set that right would be the
mechanics themselves, who might reasonably be ex-
peced to prevent any imposition or fraud under such
circumstances. !"