2 Ibid., p. 151. 8 Ibid., p. 162.
Ladies' Relief and Aid Society ; the Ladies' Industrial Aid Society of St. John's Church ; the Ladies' Christian Union ; the Ladies' Society of Park Avenue Church ; and the Ladies' Society of the Home of the Friendless. All of these societies employed a large number of sewing women, thrown out of employment by the fire, in making up gar ments, bed comforters, bed-ticks, and other articles, from piece goods supplied by the Relief Committee, to be returned, thus manufactured, to the several depots for distribution." 1 Associated with the purchasing committee were ex perienced and responsible merchants whose " operations extended to all parts of this country and of England." For this committee a large clerical force and a thorough organization were required. The government, through General Sheridan, furnished 7000 blankets and 5000 com plete sets of underclothes.
As early as October 24 instructions were issued to superintendents, assistants, and visitors in the service of the society to the effect. that "not a single dollar be expended for persons able to provide for themselves, no matter how strongly their claim may be urged by them selves or others. Every carpenter or mason can now earn from three to four dollars per day, every laborer two dollars, every half-grown boy one dollar, every woman capable of doing household work from two to three dollars per week and her board, either in the city or country. Clerks, and persons unaccustomed to outdoor labor, if they cannot find such employment as they have been accustomed to, must take such as is offered or leave the city. Any man, single woman, or boy, able to work, and unemployed at this time, is so from choice and not from necessity. You will, therefore, at once commence the work of reexamination of the cases of all persons who have been visited and recorded upon your books, and will give no aid to any families who are capable of earning their own support, if fully employed (except it be to supply some needed articles of clothing, bedding, or fur niture which their earnings will not enable them to procure, I Report of Chicago Relief and Aid Society, 1874, p. 162.
and at the same time meet their ordinary expenses of food and fuel).
" No aid should be rendered to persons possessed of property, either personal or real, from which they might, by reasonable exertions, procure the means to supply their wants, nor to those who have friends able to relieve them.
" Our aid must be held sacred for the aged, infirm, widows, and orphans, and to supply to families those actual necessaries of life, which, with the best exertions on their part, they are unable to procure by their labor. You will intrust this work of reexamination to your most judicious and intelligent visitors, who will act conscientiously and fearlessly in the discharge of their duties." 1 On the same day definite instructions were added on the following points : " In the distribution of supplies, give uncooked instead of cooked food to all families provided with stoves — flour instead of bread, etc.
" The Shelter Committee furnish all families for whom they provide houses and barracks, with stove, bedstead, and mattress, and no issue of those articles to such families will be necessary on your part.
" Superintendents of Districts and Subdistricts will so keep an account of their disbursements as to give a correct report to me at the end of each week, the number of families aided during the week, and the amount, in gross, of supplies distributed.
" Superintendents will also ascertain and report, as early as possible, the amount of furniture, number of stoves, amount of common crockery, etc., which will be needed in their respective districts.
" Superintendents will also organize their working force as early as possible, retaining upon their force those who have proved themselves the most efficient and capable in the discharge of their duties, reducing the number of paid employees to the smallest number consistent with the efficient performance of the work of their districts.