The act of June 23, 1874, appropriates $25,000 for the Women's Christian Association of the District of Columbia, to be expended for the sole purpose of erecting a building on the ground owned by the association, in conformity with a plan to be prepared by the architect of the Capitol extension, which building, together with its furnishing, should not exceed the sum of $25,000. The Secretary of the Treasury was required to be satisfied that the contract entered into for the erection and furnishing of the building should not exceed that sum, and all payments were to be made by the Secretary of the Treasury directly upon vouchers to be approved by him. The association was required to file with the recorder of deeds in the District of Columbia a declaration that the building and lands on which it was erected should forever be held in trust for the association, without mortgage or security in the nature of a mortgage, for the sole purposes of the association as defined in its charter, of date December 13, 1870; and the filing of this declaration shall be regarded as notice to all persons who shall purchase the property or take any security thereon. The building was erected and paid for from the Treasury Department in 1875 and 1876.

In 1884 the managers of the association were Mrs. Justice Strong, president; Mrs. S. C. Pomeroy, Mrs. E. M. Gallaudet, Mrs. J. W. Thompson, Mrs. Admiral John Rodgers, Mrs. William Stickney, Mrs. Le Droit Langdon, and Mrs. J. G. Ames, vice-presidents; Mrs. C. A. Weed, secretary; Miss Josephine Chester, treasurer; Mrs. C. B. Jewell, register. Mrs. S. C. Pomeroy was chairman of the reception committee, Mrs. S. B. French of the home committee, Mrs. T. P. Keene of the foster-home committee, Mrs. M. A. Copenhaver, of the visiting committee, and Mrs. B. R. Catlin of the devotional committee. The medical officers were Dr. Mary Parsons and Mrs. Dr. M. D. Spackman, and the consulting physician was Dr. J. Tabor Johnson. The officers of the Women's Exchange were Mrs. A. P. Westcott, chairman; Miss F. Woods, vice-chairman; Miss F. E. Chickering, secretary; Miss E. Alley, corresponding secretary, and Miss M. Ballantyne, treasurer.

The report of the home for the year 1883 states that for several years the managers have been considering the feasibility of establishing a Women's Exchange, having for its foundation the true principle of bringing into higher estimation the ordinary avocations of women by making it possible for her to receive a proper remuneration for her work. Such an exchange was established during the year. One hundred and thirty-five women were cared for, besides 12 infants in the nursery. Forty-two women had found places to work, and a few who were trying to care for themselves were accommodated at the home at a low rate of board. In the Foster Home there were 17 children at the beginning of the year and 32 at the close of the year, the average being 26. A kindergarten was established. The Government appropriation was $5,000, and the total receipts were $8,559.26.

The report of the operations of the association for 1896 show that 385

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN HOME.

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adults and 23 children were admitted from the following States and countries: From California, 3; Colorado, 1; Connecticut, 3; Delaware, 3; District of Columbia, 50; Florida, 1; Georgia, 10; Illinois, 1; Kentucky, 2; Maine, 4; Maryland, 34; Massachusetts, 31; Missouri, 2; New Hampshire, 3; New Jersey, 5; New York, 26; North Carolina, 3; Ohio, 7; Pennsylvania, 35; Rhode Island, 1; Texas, 2; Vermont, 2; Virginia, 101; Wisconsin, 1. From other nationalities: Canada, 1; Denmark, 1; England, 5; France, 1; Germany, 12; India, 1; Ireland, 25; Mexico, 5; Nova Scotia, 1; Sweden, 1; Switzerland, 1; making a total of 406 women and children cared for during the year 1896.

There have been 18,760 lodgings furnished; of these 5,692 were free; 56,828 meals were served, of which 16,874 were free. The largest number in the Home at any one time was in the months of July and September, when it cared for 67. Besides Protestants of all denominations, there have been in the Home during the year 26 or more Roman Catholics. Some important changes looking toward the greater comfort of the inmates were made in the building during the last summer. Six large bedrooms were divided into 12 smaller ones, thereby giving to the occupants greater independence and privacy. An unusually large number of persons were seeking employment, and the home was able to send 84 into various positions, some as children's nurses, others as waitresses, housekeepers, and cooks. The visiting committee distributed $300 of the association fund during the year 1896, besides numerous bequests of money from private sources, all of which was used to pay rent or provide food and fuel for 250 families, each and every case being investigated before assistance was rendered; 350 visits were made; 800 garments given out; Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners were sent to several homes by and through the influence of the different committees. Homes were found for 4 children and employment for 13 persons. The Congressional appropriation was $4,000 and the receipts (including $2,616.08) were $4,365.95.

The board of managers for 1897 was as follows: President, Mrs. John M. Harlan; vice-presidents, Mrs. Melville W. Fuller, Mrs. Henry B. Brown, Mrs. George Shiras, jr., Mrs. S. C. Pomeroy, Mrs. Thomas Wilson, Mrs. Jeannie K. Stickney, Mrs. G. O. Little, Mrs. W. C. Hill, Mrs. John Dalzell, Mrs. E. Whittlesey; secretary, Mrs. Walter L. Clift; treasurer, Mrs. Delia A. Freeman; register, Mrs. N. A. Robbins.

II.

The act of February 23, 1886, incorporating the board of trustees of the Young Women's Christian Home names as incorporators Mary G. Wilkinson, Benjamin H. Warder, Octavius Knight, Thomas P. Morgan, Eliza N. Blair, Emma E. Dorsey, Nathaniel Wilson, Francis H. Smith, A. J. Falls, R. D. Mussey, E. D. Powell, Caroline M. Lawrence, Francis E. Childs, H. A. Hall, Elphonzo Youngs, and Addison M. Smith, and limits the object, purposes, and powers of the corporation to "providing

temporary home for young women coming to and being in the District of Columbia, who shall, from any cause, be in want of and willing to accept temporary home, care, and assistance in the said District. For this purpose the corporation has power to take and enjoy real and personal property, endowments, and contributions for the establishment, maintenance, and success of the institution; and also to acquire, take, hold, use, occupy, manage, and own real estate in the said District, not exceeding in its appraised value the sum of $200,000."

The home has been in operation since 1887, occupying premises No. 311 C street NW., the gift of Miss Kibbie. The lands are worth about $10,000 and the buildings about $20,000, on which there is a trust of $8,550 (involving an annual interest charge of $612), the debt being incurred for improvements necessary to adapt the house to the purposes of a home. For the past four years the home has received an annual appropriation of $1,000 from Congress, and in 1896 the total receipts were $4,793.86, including $2,901.23 paid by inmates. The home has 18 life members who have paid $100, 15 honorary members who have paid $25, a sustaining membership of 79 who pay $5 annually; also, it receives the proceeds of various entertainments, besides gifts of money, provisions, and clothing. The age limit is from 16 to 35 years, and there are accommodations for 35 girls. On January 1, 1897, there were 21 inmates, of whom 18 had been admitted during the year. The work of the institution during 1896 was as follows:

The officers for the current year are: President, Mrs. W. B. Gurley; vice-presidents, Miss S. A. Lipscomb, Miss Anna Shellabarger, Mrs. Richard Pairo, Miss Charlotte Campbell; treasurer, Mrs. W. W. Herron; corresponding secretary, Mrs. H. L. Howland; board of trustees, Miss S. A. Lipscomb, Miss Anna A. Shellabarger, Mrs. W. W. Herron, Mrs. G. C. Hazleton, Mrs. Hariet L. Howland, Miss Haupt, Mrs. Richard Pairo, Miss Carrie Morgan, Miss Charlotte Campbell, Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Miss Susie Johnston, Mrs. I. F. Macfarland, Mrs. L. Y. Baker, Mrs. Eaton, Miss Agnes Kennedy, Mrs. M. E. M. Dunn, Mrs. C. H. Nichols, Mrs. Roberdeau Buchanan, Mrs. S. D. Yoemans, Dr. Ida Heiberger, Mrs. C. L. Marlatt, Mrs. Charles Christiani, Mrs. James T. Young, Mrs. F. M. Matheson, Mrs. Walter Wheatley, Miss Miller, Mrs. Philip J. Ryan, Mrs. William B. Gurley; advisory board, Dr. Byron Sunderland, Mr. W. H. Hoeke, General Eaton, Mr. J. B. Larner, Dr. Randolph McKim.