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Letter from the Relief Committee - click here!

The "Eastland Disaster method of equalizing relief grants" produces a scale for measuring the economic status of one family against that of another. The method simply helps to ensure the equality of grants so far as tangible resources are concerned. It essentially ensures that two families of exactly the same economic status receive the same amount of money. The method simply furnishes a basis figure, after which judgement (in the light of most approved social service methods) is applied.
It must be emphasized that the scale below is merely a basis or a measuring stick. The results secured from application of the scale are not final. Final gifts, as decided by the committee of relief experts and representatives of Polish, Bohemian and German relief committees, are in most instances above or below the scale (according to the circumstances of the families).

Eastland Disaster method of equalizing relief grants
GROUP ALLOWANCE

1. Every case in which there are dead. For each adult person that perished, $200.
For each child under eighteen years of age that perished, $150.
NOTE: This ensures that every family that lost a member will receive a distribution.

2. Children only. For each child for each month of dependency until the child reaches the working age of sixteen years, $12 per month.
Deductions are made on account of estates. Example

3. Widows with children. For each widow with surviving children, $500.
For each living child 1 to 7 years of age, $500.
For each living child 8 or 9 years of age, $400.
For each living child 10 or 11 years of age, $300.
For each living child 12 or 13 years of age, $200.
For each living child 14 years of age, $150.
For each living child 15 years of age, $100.
NOTE: For each child 16 or greater years, $100 is deducted. (For all children over the working age of 16, the maximum deduction is $200.)
NOTE: For each widow who owned real estate, $10 per $100 of equity over $1,000 is deducted.
NOTE: For each widow who received insurance or had savings in bank, $20 per $100 of insurance or savings is deducted. Example

4. Deserted, divorced and separated women with children. Because this group is in exactly the same position as the widows with children group, the basis is determined exactly on the same scale as in #3 above.

5. Widows without children. The same scale as the widows with children group (#3 above) is used.

6. Widowers with children. Three-fourths of the widows with children scale (#3 above) is used. Example

7. Married couples with children. One-half of the widows with children scale (#3 above) is used.

8. Married couples without children. One-half of the widows with children scale (#3 above) is used.

9. Widowers without children. Allowed the death allowance (#1 above).

10. Dependents of single men or women. Allowed the death allowance (#1 above), with additions according to the degree of dependency.

11. Complete families. No specific scale is used to determine the allowance. If there are dependents, the death allowance (#1 above) is used.
It was not the plan to make payments to legal heirs who were not dependent on the victims.

12. Injured. Small grants are made only to those who did not receive sick benefits or whose wages were not paid by earnings.

13. Property loss. No allowance except when tools needed for livelihood had been lost and the sufferers could not restore the same.

14. Property losses of rescuers. It is determined that contributions made to the Relief Fund are for the victims of the disaster only, and that some other way of compensating the rescuers should be found.

It must be emphasized that the scale above is merely a basis or a measuring stick. The results secured from application of the scale are not final. Final gifts, as decided by the committee of relief experts and representatives of Polish, Bohemian and German relief committees, are in most instances above or below the scale (according to the circumstances of the families).
Source: Final Report, Eastland Disaster Relief Committee, Chicago Chapter, American Red Cross, 1918.

**Eastland Disaster method of equalizing relief grants**
	GROUP	ALLOWANCE
1.	Every case in which there are dead.	For each adult person that perished, $200. For each child under eighteen years of age that perished, $150. NOTE: This ensures that every family that lost a member will receive a distribution.
2.	Children only.	For each child for each month of dependency until the child reaches the working age of sixteen years, $12 per month. Deductions are made on account of estates. Example
3.	Widows with children.	For each widow with surviving children, $500. For each living child 1 to 7 years of age, $500. For each living child 8 or 9 years of age, $400. For each living child 10 or 11 years of age, $300. For each living child 12 or 13 years of age, $200. For each living child 14 years of age, $150. For each living child 15 years of age, $100. NOTE: For each child 16 or greater years, $100 is deducted. (For all children over the working age of 16, the maximum deduction is $200.) NOTE: For each widow who owned real estate, $10 per $100 of equity over $1,000 is deducted. NOTE: For each widow who received insurance or had savings in bank, $20 per $100 of insurance or savings is deducted. Example
4.	Deserted, divorced and separated women with children.	Because this group is in exactly the same position as the widows with children group, the basis is determined exactly on the same scale as in #3 above.
5.	Widows without children.	The same scale as the widows with children group (#3 above) is used.
6.	Widowers with children.	Three-fourths of the widows with children scale (#3 above) is used. Example
7.	Married couples with children.	One-half of the widows with children scale (#3 above) is used.
8.	Married couples without children.	One-half of the widows with children scale (#3 above) is used.
9.	Widowers without children.	Allowed the death allowance (#1 above).
10.	Dependents of single men or women.	Allowed the death allowance (#1 above), with additions according to the degree of dependency.
11.	Complete families.	No specific scale is used to determine the allowance. If there are dependents, the death allowance (#1 above) is used. It was not the plan to make payments to legal heirs who were not dependent on the victims.
12.	Injured.	Small grants are made only to those who did not receive sick benefits or whose wages were not paid by earnings.
13.	Property loss.	No allowance except when tools needed for livelihood had been lost and the sufferers could not restore the same.
14.	Property losses of rescuers.	It is determined that contributions made to the Relief Fund are for the victims of the disaster only, and that some other way of compensating the rescuers should be found.

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