USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 78
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A principal object with the visitors is, to ascertain the employment to which the poor have been trained, or which in their actual condition they can pursue, with most advantage to themselves. This information is es- sential in order to carry into full effect, what the Board decm the fundamental principle of the Association, viz. to make the resources of the poor available to the supply of their necessities. We are aware that some are dispos- ed to think these resources of too little moment, to de- serve serious consideration or effort-we think differ- ently. Skill in any of the useful arts, and strength to use it; in short, the natural capabilities of poor persons, even when in a degree impaired, and the immature fa- culties of children, may be turned to useful account, and the employment itself will add to the actual enjoyment of the individual. Besides, it will always yield that satisfaction, which results from the conscious- ness that the fruits of industry are possessed by right of ownership. There are cases of great, though not en- tire helplessness, where persons infirm from age, or de- bilitated by long disease, may yet be able without inju- rious or painful effort to engage in many kinds of use-
ful industry. Another class of paupers owes its origin, not to want of ability or to aversion to effort, but to want of employment. To these, the most acceptable relief which can be given, is to put them in the way of self support. Add to this, those who through improvidence, want of management, voluntary idleness or intemper- ance, have thrown themselves a burthen on the public- to these, the most suitable, if not the most acceptable relief, is to point out the mode, or give them the meaus of exertion, and if this does not suffice, they are fitter subjects of the police, than of public or private charity. In aid of the two last classes of persons, the want of a reference office has been sensibly felt. Your visitors have in very many instances ascertained the capabilities of their poor, but have been obliged to sink them a lit- tle lower by alms-giving, being utterly unable to point out to them any mode of employment, owing to the ab- sence of some efficient medium of communication with the public: such a medium,as the contemplated reference office, where names can be entered, the kind of work done, the degree of skill, &c. The infirm poor require a different kind of provision, and this subject the Board would commend to your serions consideration. Most of your visitors, about 412 in number, have been zealously and faithfully engaged in this work. This number of visitorsis, exclusive of a board 15 managers, and perhaps of about one-half of the members of eigh- teen district committees, composed of six individuals each, who have under their care the twenty-two dis- tricts of the City, Liberties, Southwark, and Moyamen- sing. The following reports, though they are not as full and complete as the visitors desire, and hope to pre- sent at a future day-will speak louder than any com- ment of the Board.
CITY PROPER .- The visitors of the District No. 1, (from Vine to Chesnut and Delaware to Sixth, ) held their first meeting on the 30th day of December, 1831. The district is divided into 9 sections, and has 34 visi- tors:
163 Families are under the visitors' care.
42 Widows.
14 Individuals have been provided with work.
3 Persons deposit weekly in the "Fuel Saving So- ciety."
238 Children are under care of the committee, to pro- cure places for, or put to school.
78 Children have been placed in schools by the visi- tors.
146 Of the above named families have been relieved, principally with wood and old clothing.
41 Of the above number have been supplied from the provision room.
Aid has been received from the "Female Association for the sick and infirm poor:" -- Also, from the " Female Association for the relief and employment of the poor:"- Also, from the "Catholic Society:" -- Also, from the " Guardians of the poor." A small stock of clothing has been provided by this committee to be loaned to the sick.
Causes of impoverishment-sickness, dissipated habits, want of employment. Ninety-five quarters of wood have been distributed-Thirty-five dollars have been received from the Union Benevolent Association-Fifty cents remain on band.
No. 2, (From Chesnut to Spruce, and Delaware to Sixth, ) visitors held their first meeting on the 26th day of December. The district is divided into 5 sections, and has 12 visitors.
-
1832.]
REPORT TO THE UNION BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
275
92 Families are under care.
26 Widows are of this number.
57 Of these families are Irish.
6
English.
7
Americans.
2
Coloured.
Reports from only three sections state, 22 sober and industrious-13 infirm.
15 Persons have been furnished with employment.
129 Children under care.
81 Placed at school.
16 Placed in families, at trades, and sent to sea.
35 Families relieved-Provision room kept open but a short time, as there were but few applicants.
Principal cause of impoverishment-intemperance.
42 Quarters of wood distributed, and twenty-five dollars.
124 Families in the district disposed to aid the asso- ciation.
No. 3, (From Spruce to South, and Delaware to Sixth,) visitors held their first meeting in December. The district is divided into 14 sections, and has 37 visi- tors.
82 Families under care and relieved.
16 Individuals furnished with employment.
19 Adults placed at school.
Two dollars and sixty cents deposited in the Fuel Sa- ving Society.
15 Children placed at school.
2 Bound out.
Five dollars twenty-five eents paid by the poor for wood. A work room has been opened, and a number supplied with sewing. The committee are now pre- pared to give recommendations to seamstresses. They bave endeavored to interest some of the inhabitants of their district in the work room-and 15 have promised to furnish the poor of their own district with such work as they put out. "Some of the visitors have found it useful, when they have discovered the clothes of the poor pawned, to redeem them at once themselves, but to be as particular in demanding the payment of the debt,-as the pawnbroker would have been,"-of course, without interest. This course is strongly op- posed by the pawnbroker. In a few instances the poor have expressed themselves thankful to the visitors for redeeming their pledges.
No. 4, (From Vine to Chesnut, and Sixth to Twelfth street,) visitors held their first meeting on the 28th day of December. The district is divided into 28 sections, and has 39 visitors.
77 Families relieved.
Aid has been given from Miss Whitall's school fund.
Dorcas Society.
Guardians of the poor.
39 Quarters of wood have been distributed.
Twenty-five dollars received from the U. B. A. Employment is much wanted.
No. 5, (From Chesnut to Spruce, and Sixth to Twelfth,) visitors held their first meeting on the 26th day of De- cember. The district is divided into 12 sections, and has 44 visitors.
587 Families under the care of the visitors.
12 Persons provided with employment.
9 Adults placed at school.
30 Individuals deposit weekly in the Fuel Saving Society.
4 Adults placed at service by visitors.
112 Children placed at school by visitors. 2 do. placed in families by visitors.
Between four and five dollars have been received from the poor for wood.
196 Persons have been supplied from the provision room, most of whom have been aided in other ways. The provision room has supplied the 5th and 12th dis- tricts-which are both under the care of one district committee.
31} Cords of wood have been distributed in these two distriets. Fifty dollars were received for the use of the two-twenty-five for each. Twenty-three dollars, twenty-nine cents have been expended. A vigorous ef- fort was made to interest all the house-keepers in this district, in the association. The result has been grati- fying, the wealthier inhabitants have, with very few ex- ceptions, expressed an interest in it, and are willing to assist as far as in their power.
No. 6, (From Spruce to South, and Sixth to Twelfthi, ) visitors held their first meeting on the 27th day of De- cemher. The district is divided into 6 scetions, and has 15 visitors.
424 Families under the notice of visitors.
61 Depost weekly in the Fuel Saving Society.
32 Children placed at School by the visitors.
6 Children placed at service.
,85 Families relieved.
From 15 to 40 supplied three times a week from the provision room, which was kept open 10 weeks, at an expense of $10.
56 Quarters of wood have been distributed among 71 families. Thirty dollars received and expended. Thirty families in the district gave old clothing-Em- ployment much wanted.
No. 7, (From Vine to Chesnut, and Twelfth to Schuylkill Sixth,) visitors held their first meeting in Ja- nuary. The district is divided into 7 sections, and has 16 visitors.
Many children have been placed at school.
Some do. in families.
1 Person has deposited in the Fuel Saving Society.
1 Dollar 75 cents has been paid by the poor for wood.
$30 received from the U. B. A .- $6 95 still remain on hand.
44 Quarters of wood received.
Aid received from the Dorcas Society.
do. from the Society for the relief and em- ployment of the poor.
Clothing received from the district.
No. 8, (From Chesnut to Spruce and Twelfth to Schuylkill Sixth, ) visitors held their first meeting Janu- ary 5th. The 8th district is divided into 5 sections, and has 9 visitors. No. 8, and 11, (from Chesnut to Spruce and
276
REPORT ON THE UNION BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
[MAY
Schuylkill Sixth to Schuylkill, ) are under the care of the same district committee.
110 Families visited and relieved in these districts.
152 Children under the care of visitors.
1 Deposit in Fuel Saving Fund Society.
Cause of impoverishment-Intemperance.
House-work very much wanted.
Received from the U. B. A. forty-five dollars; also, five from the Methodist Providence Society. The visi- tors have been almost constantly employed in visiting and relieving the sick.
No. 9, (From Spruce to South, and Twelfth to Schuylkill Sixth,) visitors held their first meeting in February. The district is divided into 7 sections- five of these are supplied with visitors, ten in number.
25 Families relieved-no further report.
No. 10, (From Vine to Chesnut and Schuylkill Sixth to Schuylkill,) visitors held their first meeting in Feb- ruary-the district is divided into 5 sections, and has 11 visitors.
1 Family relieved to the amount of 25 cents. The poor in this district are generally industrious, and bear a good character, with the exception of a few families living in Welch row. The visitors found several females confin- ed to their houses by sickness and infirmities, who were desirous of obtaining employment. Having no imme- diate use for the sum of ten dollars placed at their dis- posal by the board of managers, they invested part of it in materials for the employment of these poor. . Those in health, and capable of doing rougher work have not the benefit of this arrangement.
No. 11, Under the care of No. 8.
No. 12, (From Spruce to South, and from Schuyl- kill Sixth to Schuylkill, ) under the care of the district committee No. 5,-is divided into two sections, and has five visitors.
90 Families visited; the number relieved are blend- ed with those of the 5th district.
The visitors of this district found a large number of children living in idleness and ignorance. They endea- voured to place them in public schools. Their remote situation was an objection; the schools were also so crowd- ed, that they could not be admitted. Feeling for the destitu- tion of these children, and assured that any influenceover their parents was to be gained through them, they ap- plied to the Secretary of the board of controllers of public schools, for some provision for this district. Ow- ing to recent arrangements, in other parts of the city, the visitors were informed that nothing could be done this year. Here a question arose, -shall we wait an- other year, and allow these children to make twelve months progress in ignorance and vice, or shall we open a school, and under Providence, trust to the liberality of the friends of education, for its support? The question was soon decided: and now on the banks of the Schuyl- kill, between 80 and 100 children are collected together for the purpose of instruction. The little meeting house belonging to the Baptist church under the care of the Rev. Mr. Brantley, has been gratuitously granted for the use of the school,-a stove and fuel has been given. The school is entirely under the management of three
visitors, to whom it owes its existence-although all the visitors of the 5th and 12th districts, feel a local in- terest in it, and aid in-collecting for its support. Any collections made are altogether independent of the U. B. A. The average attendance is between 50 and 60; the visitors report, that in all cases, absence, has been occasioned by sickness. The visitors of this district have been so much engaged in gathering children into school, and superintending its concerns, that they are not prepared to report on any other subject this month. Prevailing vice-intemperance.
NORTHERN LIBERTIES.
No. 1, (From Vine to Coates street, and Delaware to Third, ) visitors held their first meeting in December -the district is divided into 25 sections-is supplied with 41 visitors.
Number of families not reported.
2 Children put to service.
1 Individual employed. The attention of the male visitors, is reported as being very much needed in this district-no further report.
No. 2, (From Coates street to Cohocksin Creek, and from Delaware to Third, ) visitors held their first meet- ing in February. The district is divided into 15 sec- tions-has 25 visitors.
No. 4, (From Coates to Cohocksin creek, from Third to Sixth, ) is under the care of the same committee; has 12 sections, and 18 visitors.
166 Poor persons visited.
82 Adults.
84 Children.
13 At school.
4 Placed at school by visitors.
3 Placed at service by visitors.
The want of employment is so obvious in this district that materials have been purchased to provide those with work who are least able to make exertions for their own maintenance-visitors are much encouraged.
No. 3, (From Vine to Coates, and from Third to Sixth, ) visitors held their first meeting in December .- The district is divided into 7 sections and is supplied with 13 visitors.
40 Families have been relieved, most of whom were sick.
3 Children were rescued from an intemperate mo- ther,
3 Adults prevailed on to go to service.
In some of the poor of this district, there is a disposi- tion to co-operate with the visitors in the means most ef- fectual to raise them from the paths of degradation and poverty, others have attempted to impose themselves un- der different names, representing themselves asin a state of starvation while under the care of visitors of differ- sections of the same district.
Thirteen dollars and fifty cents of the U. B. A. mo- ney still on hand.
No. 4, Under care of committee No. 2.
SOUTHWARK.
No. 1, (From South to Catharine, and from Dela- ware to Third, ) visitors held their first meeting in Jan-
277
REPORT TO THE UNION BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
1832.]
uary. The district is divided into 7 sections, and has 13 visitors.
18 Sick persons visited and relieved-whole number visited, not reported.
1 Individual provided with employment.
8 Children placed at school by visitors.
Several have commenced deposits for Fuel Saving Fund. Old clothing, with $9 57 has been received in the district, for the use of the district ;- twenty-seven persons have promised to aid the association.
No. 2, (From Catharine to Federal, and Dela. ware to Third, ) visitors held their first meeting on the 20th of January. The district is divided into 12 sec- tions and has 22 visitors.
44 Families visited, (as far as reported. )
14 relieved, (as far as reported.)
1 deposit in the Fuel Saving Fund Society.
Employment much wanted.
Children kept from school for want of decent cloth- ing. A number in the district willing to aid the associa- tion.
No. 3, (From South to Catharine, and Third to Pas- syunk road,) visitors of the 3d district, held their first meeting on the 26th of January. The district is divid- ed into 9 sections, and has 16 visitors.
76 Families visited.
27 relieved.
97 Children under care, of these but 17 are at school, prevented by want of necessary clothing.
4 Placed at service.
3 Weekly deposits for Fuel Saving Society.
Aid received from Methodist Dorcas Society, also from Fircside.
No. 4, (From Catharine to Federal, and from Third to Passyunk road, ) visitors held their first meeting in January. The district is divided into 9 sections, and has, at present, but six visitors.
5 Families have been relieved, (reports from but two sections. )
The money received from the board of managers is still on hand,
MOYAMENSING. Under the care of one district com-
. mittce, ) visitors held their first meeting in February. Moyamensing is divided into 15 sections, and has but 26 visitors.
708 Families visited.
182 Of this number are colored.
94S Children reported.
93 Children placed at school by the visitors.
12 placed in respectable families.
6 Deposits in the Fuel Saving Fund Society. 125 Families relieved.
47 Quarters of wood given.
Fifty-five dollars received; forty-three dollars eighty- seven and a half cents expended. Many children need a little clothing to enable them to attend school-seve- ral impostors have been discovered-four in one section. Those who have been in the habit of supplying their wants, have been made acquainted with their characters. Your visitors meet with a great deal of vice and impro- yidence in this district, but notwithstanding, they cx-
press themselves " encouraged to procced in an enter- terprize which bids so fair to better the condition of so- ciety ."
By this statement it will be seen that 2669 families have been visited-1,068 families relieved-61 adults employed-28 adults placed at school-50 children placed in respectable families, at trades, or sent to sea- 501 entered at schools, and106 individuals have deposit- ed in the Fuel Saving Society. This is a very imperfect statement of labour performed. The reports, (as it has doubtless been observed) are by no means complete- and yet perhaps they are as much so as they could be in so carly a stage of the society. In some instances, whole districts have not reported on many important items,and in every district, whole sections have made no reports. The Board are aware that the number of fa- milies relieved, may lead'some to suppose we have de- parted from the leading principles of the association: Not so-we have endeavoured to keep them steadily in view, but this society commenced its operations in the midst of a very severe winter. Your visitors have to deal with a people who are accustomed to demand alms as their right. This can be clearly proved-let one fact suffice. A visitor said to a parent who had asked for aid, but who kept an idle family about him, that so long as be refused to have his children put at places of employment, she could do nothing for him. He replied, that she was obliged to aid him; that it was her duty to do it. By withholding, she, however, con- vinced him, that her ideas of duty did not coincide ex- actly with his. The Board consider the efforts of the visitors during the approaching summer as all import- ant to the society. There is a dependence upon public charity, among many of our poor, which has well-nigh destroyed all noble and virtuous feeling, and almost closed every avenue through which incentives to industry might be presented. But there is, humanely speaking, an amount of power, in the plan of local effort, which you association has adopted; which, if persevered in, will prove that, hy the simple elements of advice, attention, civility and good will, conveyed through the tenements of the poor by persons a little more elevated in situation than themselves; the long dormant spirit of independence may be revived, and the sturdy beggar, by the blessing of the Most High on these means, become the industrious citizen. At least, the rising generation may be rescued from degradation, Your visitors have generally been well received, and in some instances their advice has already resulted in a visible improvement; with but few exceptions, they have also met with the cordial co-ope- ration of the residents of their districts, whom they have endeavoured to interest in the plan. The subject of provision rooms las claimed attention in several of the districts. Fragments from the tables of those who were willing to have them so disposed of, have been collect- ed and taken to the ronms, where the poor who are re- commended by their visitors, have had the privilege of calling for them. Upwards of 300 families, it is believ- ed, have been supplied in this way. A fact has been communicated to the Board, which is deemed worthy of consideration, and is therefore submitted without fur- ther comment. A number of poor coloured people living in the same neighborhood, in a particular part of our city, are almost constantly in a state of inebriation. Their occupation is, begging cold victuals, which they sell to the poor in their vicinity at the rate of two cents per dish. No sooner is the stock of cold provisions ex- hausted, than the pence are converted into whiskey, and these poor degraded beings continue in a state of in- toxication, until it becomes necessary again to sally forth in quest of the means of their destruction. This busi- ness is not confined to one particular part of our city. Such facts as these may account for the existence of sixteen tippling shops in one square.
The subject of employment has claimed the attention of the Board. Many of the poor pass their winter
278
REPORT TO THE UNION BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
[MAY
months in almost entire idleness, and the plea that they cannot get work will be plausibly urged, not only by those who wish to obtain it, but by the lowest class of poor who make it their screen for idleness and dependence. Until employment can be offered, and facilities furnished for disposiug of the work of the poor, our system of op- erations, will not, we think, be complete. The sum of $200 was placed at the disposal of the Board of Mana- gers for the use of the city proper, on the 4th of Feb- ruary last. One hundred and twenty dollars was di- yided between the 12 districts of the city proper. Ac- cording to a subsequent resolution of the Executive Board, the remaining eighty was apportioned to the Northern Liberties, Southwark, and Moyamensing.
In conclusion, we would in all our works acknow- ledge the hand of that Almighty Being who has thus far succeeded our efforts beyond our most sanguine ex- pectations.
By order of the Board, ELIZA P. S. JONES,
Secretary of Ladies' Branch of Union Benevolent Association.
April 10th, 1832.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF SUPERIN- TENDENCE.
The committee appointed by the Executive Board of the Union Benevolent Association, to superintend the distribution of the funds raised for the relief of the poor, in accordance with the resolution of a meeting of the citi- zens of Philadelphia, held at the county court room on the 7th day of January 1832, having completed the du- ties assigned them, beg leave to lay before the board, the following report of their proceedings.
It is unnecessary to remind the board, that the great object for which this society was established is the dimi- nution of pauperism and its attendant evils, rather than the dispensation of alms. It was believed by those to whom the association owes its origin, that, by a person- al intercourse with the poor, by obtaining their confi- dence and extending to them cheering counsels, and a knowledge of the fitting means to extricate themselves from the state of degradation, of want, and of suffering, to which the vices of others, their own folly and impru- dence, or, perhaps, unavoidable misfortunes may have reduced them, it would be possible, in a great measure, to destroy pauperism, and .to relieve the public from the heavy burthen incident to its support. That in these views they have not been deceived, the success which has attended the efforts of the society during the short period it has been in existence, and notwithstanding the many difficulties with which it has had to contend, is a sufficient evidence.
The organization of the society was completed, how- ever, too late in the season to permit all the plans con- templated by it for ameliorating the condition of the poor, being carried into full effect. Its committees commenced their duties of visitation in the very depth of an unusually severe winter, and during the preva- lence of an epidemical disease, by which whole families among the laboring classes were not unfrequently de- prived of their ordinary means of support. They were soon convinced, that it would be necessary for them either to obtain the means for relieving the distresses and suffering to which the poor were subjected from cold, sickness and hunger, or to abandon until a more favour- able opportunity, the grand objects which they had in yiew. Under these circumstances, the members of the society conceived it to be their duty to call the atten- tion of their fellow citizens to the state of the poor, in order that the proper measures might be taken for their immediate relief. A meeting was accordingly convened, at the county court room on the 7th day of January last, at which the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
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