Report of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society of Disbursement of Contributions for the Sufferers by the Chicago Fire.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 Excerpt: ...and warmer garments was constant and imperative. The markets of this country could not supply the demand for blankets alone. Where the supply of ready-made clothing was insufficient, piece goods were given out in measured quantities to applicants to make up for themselves. In this work great assistance was rendered by associations of ladies, as the 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 garments, 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. PURCHASING COMMITTEE. The necessity of purchasing food and clothing was imperative even at the outset, notwithstanding the large contributions of both that were made from abroad. Large as these were, they were not sufficient even when most bountiful, to supply the demands made upon the Committee, and only enabled them to bridge over the interval until supply and demand could be made to balance each other by an organized system. A Purchasing Committee, J. McGregor Adams, Chairman, was therefore appointed, with experienced and responsible merchants to aid him, who, anticipating the wants at the several distributing points, held themselves in readiness at all times, as far as possible, to meet the requisitions of the General Superintendent. Their operations extended to all parts of this country and of England; to replace even partially so much household stuff, the accumulation of years, and to feed so large a mu...