On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. We will also recount the events occurring in the war on that day. So, check back each day for new editions.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1916
There will be partly cloudy skies over the city today with gentle winds. However, the temperature will remain cold with the high reaching 36° and tonight’s low 19°.
In business news, workers at the William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company have received a 10% increase in wages. The raise covers 5000 employees and was made possible by new contracts that will keep the yard fully occupied for the next 2 years. Also in business affairs, The American Federation of Labor led by Mr. Samuel Gompers has come out in opposition to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and the present strike they are organizing here in this city. Mr. Gompers said that the Amalgamated Clothing Workers have no relationship with organized labor and the A F of L is opposed to their efforts to misrepresent organized labor to the workers of this city.
Another round of smallpox vaccinations has been ordered by the Bureau of Health today in South Philadelphia. This time the quarantine is located in the area bounded by 17th to 18th Streets and Annin to Latona Streets. Eighty five policemen are stationed in the area and have cordoned off the neighborhood with ropes. This action was necessitated by the discovery of the disease in Mr. Charles Bowers, a Negro of 1731 Federal Street. Mr. Bowers is now at Philadelphia Hospital for Contagious Diseases undergoing treatment. Over 1000 people have thus far been vaccinated.
Yesterday afternoon at the Exhibit on Feeble-Mindedness at the Widener Building, Juniper & Chestnut Streets, Dr. Francis Maxfield, assistant director of the psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania discussed the futility of attempting to improve the condition of the feeble-minded with education and vocational training. Dr. Maxfield believes that attempting to train these unfortunates, as is done with the blind and the deaf, to make them contributing members of society is useless. Instead he urged that they be segregated from society in special institutions for life.
Those looking for a used horse will have the opportunity to buy one today. The horses will be on sale at the city stables at 11th & Wharton Streets. The animals have outlived their usefulness to the Police and Fire Departments and in recognition of their service the departments want to send them off to good homes. Fifty horses will be on sale for prices ranging from $10.00 to $100.00.
Smokers and tobacco users of all kinds are being asked to respond to an effort to provide tobacco to Belgian soldiers. The Belgian Soldiers Tobacco Fund will provide each week to the 200,000 Belgian soldiers 50 cigarettes, a large packet of smoking tobacco, matches and a return postcard with the name and address of the donor so the soldier can send his thanks. The Belgian government is unable to provide its fighting men their much loved tobacco.
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