From November 1, 1871, to March 1, 1872, there were given out from this office to mechanics who had lost their tools by fire: 152 606 321 Screw Drivers. 120 The total amount expended for tools as above was $19,734.00. 50 Chopping Axes 12 2 Shovels. 60 [BLANK FORM.] MR. J. M. HITCHсоск, Employment Bureau, Court House Square: Bearer, Mr. Desires employment Signed Place of business CHAPTER XV. A. T. STEWART FUND. HON. R. B. MASON, Mayor, Chicago, Ill.: NEW YORK, October 11, 1871. My dear Sir,- Last evening I sent you a telegram authorizing you to draw on me for fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to be distributed by you, in conjunction with my much esteemed friends Messrs. Field and Leiter, and Mr. Jno. V. Farwell, among the needy sufferers by the late terrible conflagration which has visited your city. I further stated that, if desired, I would expend the amount in purchasing and forwarding such articles of necessity as might be designated, should they, in your united opinion, be preferable to the money. It is my desire that this fund shall be wholly under the joint charge. of yourself and the friends I have named, believing that it will through your united action, be so distributed as to assist those needy sufferers whom you know to be worthy and entitled to help. It is, however, my special wish that it shall be mainly devoted to the aiding of women who are dependent for support upon their own exertions, and also widows and children without means or protectors to provide for them. Allow me through you, to express to the people of Chicago, my sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their great misfortune. Sincerely your friend, ALEX. T. STEWART. The Relief and Aid Society on the 20th of October, 1871, added to the gentlemen named in the communication of Mr. Stewart, Henry W. King and N. S. Bouton, who constituted the A. T. Stewart Fund Committee. This Committee failed to find a person who would undertake the distribution of the Fund till about the 15th of November following, when N. S. Bouton consented to distribute the Fund according to the expressed wish of the generous donor. The various records of the several distributing districts were examined, to ascertain approximately the number of applicants of the classes designated that might be reasonably expected to apply for aid from this Fund. It was thus ascertained that the percentage of widows and single women dependent upon their own exertions for support who had been burned out was about thirtyfour per cent. The applications at first were laid before the Committee. in order that some rule of limitation as to the amount to be given to the individual applicant might be established. Such applicants were required to give name, former and present residence, amount of losses by the fire, and what aid, if any, had been received from other sources. The first action of the Committee fixed one hundred dollars ($100) as the maximum to be given in any one case, which amount was afterwards increased to two hundred dollars ($200). In the month of March, 1872, the Executive Committee of the Relief and Aid Society directed the continuation of disbursements to the same classes and by the same Committee, till the total expenditures amounted to ninetyfive thousand one hundred dollars ($95,100). |