Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/661

 edlework or

art work as might be useful or ornamental, that branch of this work has so ex- panded that the exchange has now separate rooms, and separate organization for its own development; and from sales amounting to only $468 for the first year, 1895, the sales ran up to as much as $700 per month for later years.

The limited accommodations of the original establishment was soon over- grown by increasing patronage of those it served so well, and an addition was added on with larger kitchen, laundry, bath and dining room, so that sixty women could be comfortably housed. But this has now been again outgrown; applica- tions for 600 women a year are now pressing the women managers for a new and very much larger building. As indicative of the growth of the union, the treasurer's report shows the income from boarding for the first seven months was $2,405 ; while the receipts from the same source for the year ending April, 1910, was $10,094; and the total income earned for the whole period of its ex- istence is about $100,000.

It was in this Portland Women's Union that the night schools of the city originated. In speaking of this item. Dr. Emma J. Welty, to whom we are in- debted for many of the facts here stated, says : "The night school was held in the old Central school building with 20 women and girls in attendance. In the 1888 report I see an item of $96.20 for night school, for rent, etc. This was a tax upon our income at that early day ; but there were no complaints in conse- quence. A demand arising that men and boys be admitted, carried the school to such a point we could not well handle it ; and by appeal to the public school system, it was taken over by it, and of which it is still a part. I have always been proud of our connection with this school. It seemed to me we had builded bet- ter than we knew; we were an influence for good in our civic life which still continues." The night school while under the control of the Union was taught and managed by Miss Mary Cook, now the wife of Dr. S. A. Brown.

Dr. Welty continues : "It has been the policy of the union to appeal to the public for money as infrequently as possible. In all these years there have been but a few times when an appeal has been made, and then it has been kindly met. The union's money affairs have been managed by the women themselves, and have been uncommonly well managed. They meet all their expenses, have no debts, and have a good property in their name. The policy of our work con- tinues to be preventive ; in nowise reformatory. We try to anticipate rather than restore. For the sake of emphasis I repeat, it is the young woman of today who is the problem of today and of tomorrow, and which will reach over into future generations ; and no church or society, or body politic, can afford to overlook or ignore it."

A new and much larger building is being planned for the future. A hand- some building site has been secured in the southern end of the city, through the generous gift of $14,000 from the president of the union, Mrs. P. J. Mann.

The treasurer's report, Annie MacMaster, treasurer, for the year ending April 30, 1910, shows :

Total resources and cash receipts $16,763.73

Total disbursements in same time 15,410.03

Mrs. P. J. Mann, president; Mrs. T. B. Hamilton, secretary; Mrs. W. A. "We have a boarding house for self-supporting girls, of forty rooms, and give 54,000 meals a year. We need 100 rooms more, having 600 applications a year. We need $250,000 for a new building. With the girls, we are developing lec- tures, literary classes, choral singing, and physical culture. Any girl in the city is cordially invited to join the classes.

A library of 500 volumes and many journals are on file. Entertainments, musicals, private theatricals and house parties for the girls. Classes in sewing