168 THE ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR 
directories containing the addresses of some 50,000 refugee fami- 
lies were compiled and distributed to local committees. 
The subcommittee on refugee children performed a vast amount 
of work. During the flight of the refugees many children became lost 
and many others became orphans. All such children were directed to 
Moscow by the guides or by special agents appointed for the pur- 
pose. The subcommittee collaborated with the various national 
committees and with twelve organizations working for the refugee 
children. Five clearing stations were established in Moscow, and here 
the children were registered and given first aid. The subcommittee 
was kept informed of the vacancies available in the existing homes 
and asylums, and scores of new institutions of this kind were opened 
on its initiative and with its financial support. The children were 
gradually transferred from Moscow to the provinces and distributed 
amongst the local homes and asylums. By July, 1916, the subcom- 
mittee was already maintaining regular contact with 807 asylums 
scattered all over the country. Orphanages maintained either en- 
tirely or partly by the subcommittee numbered sixty-four, with 
room for 2,794 inmates, and three-quarters of these vacancies were 
filled. Altogether, about 3,500 children passed through Moscow. 
About the middle of July, 1916, the subcommittee proceeded to 
open special asylums for the blind, deaf and dumb, and otherwise 
afflicted children of refugees. | 
The labor exchange began to function in the middle of Septem- 
ber, 1915. It aimed at concentrating the employment organizations 
ander its own direction and at opening a network of uniform labor 
exchanges. In the autumn of 1915 a number of labor exchanges 
ander the auspices of the Unions of Zemstvos and of Towns, the 
Tatiana Committee, and other organizations displayed considerable 
activity. The majority of the exchanges naturally devoted them- 
selves to finding employment for the refugees. The central labor 
exchange divided Russia into ten areas and sent a special instructor 
into each for the purpose of assisting in the uniform organization 
of the exchanges, of establishing connections with exchanges al- 
ready in existence, and of cobrdinating their work. More than sixty 
new labor exchanges were opened by the end of the year. The cen- 
tral exchange succeeded in establishing permanent contact with 153 
exchanges all over the country. With the collaboration of local