The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-19

y W 1Onh dGhAAD, w u
TENEMENT HOusEs.-The results Of the in
quiries Of the Legislative committee appointed
to examine into the construction Of the tene-
ment houses of New York have disclosed some
startling facts in connection with the condi-
ton of the poor of this city. So true Is the
saying that one half the world has NO idea
how the other half lives, that we have been
unconsciossly permitting system to grow up
amongst us which is fraught with far worse
evils to the health and morals of the laboring
classes of our population, than any other
state of things that we know Of. The wants
and necessities of the poor have, at all times,
afforded profitable field for the speculstor.
The narrow limits to which our city is restrict
3D. by the peculiarites of its geographical site,
having impaired to building lots, in the bust
ness portion of it, an extrsvsgant value, ad-
vantage has been taken of it to screw out of
the working classes rents which are wholly
disproportioned to their earnings. The evil
would find its natural remedy in the means OF
expansion presented by the contiguity of the
New Jersey and Long Island shores, but nc
fortunately the ferry monopolies created oy
or prohigate city administration, have ell
fectually cut off these sources of relief.
The consequence is that mechanics aud
their families are driven into the huge
pens called tenement houses, which are
now rising rapidly in almost every quar-
| ter of Our city, and than which nothing
can be more loathsome or unwholesome, if we
are to judge by the descriptions given of them.
AS it is now clearly established that the poorer
classes are the most profitable tenants that
landlords can have, the fact has been turned
to the best advantage by building spectators.
The sole object in the construction of these
new tenement houses seems to be to crowd
as many human beings as possible into small
space, totally regardless of the sanitary pre-.
cautions necessary to guard against the effects
of q vitiated atmosphere. Can anything he
more shocking or revolving than the descrip.
lions given of the tenements in Cherry and
GOerck streets, with their hundreds of
wretched families wallowing in the accunU-
lated filth and breathing the poisoned air OF
these miserably organized dwellings, Besides,
what must be the moral contamination that
must result from the congregation of sucn d
number of persons, OF different habits and
conditions Of life, under the same roof? The
committee had disgusting evidence Of the
fact forced upon them by the curious contre
temps which occurred during their visit to
Cherry etreet But it is unnecessary for us to
dwell further on such details The published
results Of these Investigations are far more
impressive than any language that we can
use.
As the report Of the committee will no doubt
lead to the enactment Of some law for the en-
torcement Of sanitary conditions in the con-
struction of tenement houses, there is one
point that we would press upon the attention
of the Legislature. In the last report of the
Fire Marshal, he laid particular stress upon
the Importance OF compelling the proprietors
of these dwellings to make some proper provi-
sion for the escape of the inmates in case OF
fire. At present should such an accident take
place at night in any of the overcrowded
buildings which have been inspected by the
committee, hundreds of lives might be lost
from the absence of such precaution. Mr..
Bakers suggestion is, we think, the best that
can be devised for the purpose. He recon-
mends that the proprietors of these houses
should be compelled to erect an iron staircase
on the outside with landing at each story
to be used only in case Of fire. There should
also be prohibition against the construction
Of woodsheds in the cellars In the event OF
their taking fire the smoke would rush up the
inner staircase and probably suffocate the in
mates while endeavoring to escape. These,
with other clauses limiting the number of in
habitants and ensuring proper ventilation and
cleanliness, would render these tenement
houses an advantage instead Of as at present
source of disease and Generalization to the
laboring classes of our city.
ANOTHER AMERICAN CANnrn rr Nru, Irpcrv