HAWTHORNE'S AUTOMOBILE FLEET

The work of the temporary relief bureaus during the week of July 26th-31st was greatly facilitated by the fact that the relief workers were able to go about in automobiles. In this way they were enabled not only to make more visits in the course of a day, but to accomplish their work without wasting much-needed energy in long journeys on foot and in street cars. The week following the disaster was one of almost constant rain and mist, a fact that made the automobiles doubly welcome.

That so many machines were available was due largely to the generosity of the Hawthorne employees, many of whom offered their own cars for as long time as the relief committee needed them. The machines began to come in on Sunday afternoon, and by Monday noon there were thirty-five available. During the week, more than sixty employees' cars were in use. In one instance three men had just bought a brand new car together. It was delivered for the warerooms on Monday forenoon. Monday afternoon, one of the owners drove it over to the Works and put it into service, and for the rest of the week the three owners took turns driving it through the muddy roads of the suburbs.

In addition to the employees' cars, some sixteen runabouts were loaned by the Chicago Telephone Company, which also assigned one of its supervisors to each car, to act as chauffeur. Several other cars were loaned by shop customers, suppliers, and friends of employees.

So many funerals were held on Wednesday, Chicago's official day of mourning, that it was impossible to obtain hearses enough to hold the bodies. Accordingly, on that day Marshall Field & Company sent out thirty-nine of their largest auto trucks. These, specially decorated, were employed both as hearses and for conveying the mourners. The Illinois Athletic Club and the Chicago Athletic Club also loaned many of the members' automobiles for carrying mourners to the funerals.

During the week, stenographers and typists were at the Works day and night, working in two twelve-hour shifts (6 A. M. to midnight, and midnight to 6 A. M.). The girls were taken to and from work in taxicabs, six or eight of these being in constant use during the day, while three or four were stationed at the Works all night, ready for emergency use.

The Company furnished gasoline and oil for the cars used, and attended to tire and other repairs. The average mileage from Sunday morning to Saturday afternoon - 680 miles for each car - shows to what good use the cars were put

{Picture} A Few of the Many Private Cars that Were in Constant Use at Hawthorne During the Week of July 26-31.