友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

in darkest england and the way out-第79章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




They have been trained themselves; brought into line and are examples of the characters we want to produce。

They understand their pupilshaving been dug out of the same pit。 Set a rogue to catch a rogue; they say; that is; we suppose; are formed rogue。  Anyway; it is so with us。  These rough…and…ready warriors will work shoulder to shoulder with them in the same manual employment。 They will engage in the task for love。  This is a substantial part of their religion; the moving instinct of the new heavenly nature that has come upon them。  They want to spend their lives in doing good。 Here will be an opportunity。

Then see how useful these Soldiers will be for distribution! Every Salvation Officer and Soldier in every one of these 4;000 centres; scattered through these thirty odd countries and colonies; with all their correspondents and friends and comrades living elsewhere; will be ever on the watch…tower looking out for homes and employments where these rescued men and women can be fixed up to advantage; nursed into moral vigour; picked up again on stumbling; and watched over generally until able to travel the rough and slippery paths of life alone。

I am; therefore; not without warrant for my confidence in the possibility of doing great things; if the problem so long deemed hopeless be approached with intelligence and determination on a scale corresponding to the magnitude of the evil with which we have to cope。


SECTION 2。HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

A considerable amount of money will be required to fairly launch this Scheme; and some income may be necessary to sustain it for a season; but; once fairly afloat; we think there is good reason to believe that in all its branches it will be self…supporting; unless its area of operation is largely extended; on which we fully rely。  Of course; the cost of the effort must depend very much upon its magnitude。 If anything is to be done commensurate with the extent of the evil; it will necessarily require a proportionate outlay。  If it is only the drainage of a garden that is undertaken; a few pounds will meet the cost; but if it is a great dismal swamp of many miles in area; harbouring all manner of vermin; and breeding all kinds of deadly malaria; that has to be reclaimed and cultivated; a very different sum will not only be found necessary; but be deemed an economic investment。

Seeing that the country pays out something like Ten Millions per annum in Poor Law and Charitable Relief without securing any real abatement of the evil; I cannot doubt that the public will hasten to supply one…tenth of that sum。  If you reckon that of the submerged tenth we have one million to deal with; this will only be one pound per head for each of those whom it is sought to benefit; or say ONE MILLION STERLING to give the present Scheme a fair chance of getting into practical operation。

According to the amount furnished; must necessarily be the extent of our operations。  We have carefully calculated that with one hundred thousand pounds the scheme can be successfully set in motion; and that it can be kept going on an annual income of #30;000 which is about three and a…quarter per cent。 on the balance of the million sterling; for which I ask as an earnest that the public intend to put its hand to this business with serious resolution; and our judgment is based; not on any mere imaginings; but upon the actual result of the experiments already made。  Still it must be remembered that so vast and desirable an end cannot be even practically contemplated without a proportionate financial outlay。  Supposing; however; by the subscription of this amount the undertaking is fairly set afloat。  The question may be asked; 〃What further funds will be required for its efficient maintenance?〃  This question we proceed to answer。  Let us look at the three Colonies apart; and then at some of the circumstances which apply to the whole。  To begin with; there is

THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF THE CITY COLONY。

Here there will be; of course; a considerable outlay required for the purchasing and fitting up of property; the acquisition of machinery; furniture; tools; and the necessary plant for carrying forward all these varied operations。  These once acquired; no further outlay will be needed except for the necessary reparations。

The Homes for the Destitute will be nearly; if not quite; self…sustaining。 The Superior Homes for both Single and Married people will not only pay for themselves; but return some interest on the amount invested; which would be devoted to the futherance of other parts of the Scheme。

The Refuges for Fallen Girls would require considerable funds to keep them going。  But the public has never been slow to practically express its sympathy with this class of work。

The Criminal Homes and Prison Gate Operations would require continued help; but not a very great deal。  Then; the work in the Slums is somewhat expensive。  The eighty young women at present engaged in it cost on an average 12s。 per week each for personal maintenance; inclusive of clothes and other little matters; and there are expenses for Halls and some little relief which cannot in anyway be avoided; bringing our present annual Slum outlay to over #4;000。  But the poor people amongst whom they work notwithstanding their extreme poverty; are already contributing over #1;000 per annum towards this amount; which income will increase。  Still as by this Scheme we propose to add at once a hundred to the number already engaged; money will be required to keep th is department going。

The Inebriate Home; I calculate; will maintain itself。  All its inmates will have to engage in some kind of remunerative labour; and we calculate; in addition; upon receiving money with a considerable number of those availing themselves of its benefits。  But to practically assist the half…million slaves of the cup we must have money not only to launch out but to keep our operations going。

The Food Depots; once fitted up; pay their own working expenses。

The Emigration; Advice; and Inquiry Bureaux must maintain themselves or nearly so。  The Labour Shops; Anti…Sweating; and other similar operations will without question require money to make ends meet。 But on the whole; a very small sum of money; in proportion to the immense amount of work done; will enable us to accomplish a vast deal of good。

THE FARM COLONY FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW。

Let us now turn to the Farm Colony; and consider it from a monetary standpoint。  Here also a certain amount of money will have to be expended at the outset; some of the chief items of which will be the purchase of land; the erection of buildings; the supply of stock; and the production of first crops。  There is an abundance of land in the market; at the present time; at very low prices。  It is rather important for the initial experiment that an estate should be obtained not too far from London; with land suitable for immediate cultivation。 Such an estate would beyond question be expensive。  After a time; I have no doubt; we shall be able to deal with land of almost any quality (and that in almost any part of the country); in consequence of the superabundance of labour we shall possess。  There is no question i
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!