The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-06
N.,x York Tenant Houses.

New York Tenant Houses.
LOOK THROUGH THE ELEVENTH AND THIRTEEsIh
wARps--vIsIT TO FORT NONSENSE AND POINT lsA,
BFI--LoTTDI.Y POLICY b YEls--RAa PiCkEha'
PARADISE AND RAG PIcKEks' ROW
tn. Legislative Committee appointed to investigate INTO
ME condition Of the tenant houses OF New York, made
mother tour Of inspection Monday fhe Committee con
sisted Of Keei tchairman) Duganne, Brevooft,
curtis and shea ali whom present at IL A. A., at
The City Inspectors office. II arranged 70 look
through the Eleventh and Thirteenth wards. An ade
quate number Of carriages being provided, the Commit
Tee, accompanied by Alderman ariggs and Councilman
whnock, from the Commun Council Committees on
Public Health and the Health wardsas OF the Eleventh
anc Thirteenth wards proceeded first TO the Thirteenth
ward.
double tenant house Nos. and Hester street.
Division street was first locality visited The build
mig was five stories height and externally presented
an appearance above the average OF tenant houses
glance inside al the narrow halls and stairs, with view
q the nearly total absence OF opportunity OF ventilation,
showed 10 point construction one Of the worst
class Of houses in the city. The rooms all
Allied arly suocation. The apartments were
snail and bedroom comprising suit for fami-
n, FOR which charged from 50 70 50 90 month.
There infinite number Of dirty ragged children,
who looked as though they had breahcd pure
Or the contact Of pure Croton In the rear
building Of construction an enanted,
wah rents lower but rooms much smaller and darker,
AID replete with exhibitions OF poverty and dirt
and nauseatng smells.
A tenant house, nearly opposite tho last locality,
next visited IN the lower part resided twenty families
all occupy mcager apartments and paying exorbitnt
rents. The upper story used a boarding house
and was kept by German woman. She said she had
twenty boarders To endure the prevalent odors OF
Me establishment must require strong ofactories aud
Nos So wiet street another double tenant house,
was next looked through The building is six stores and
occupied by wenty,six families, with aggregate Of
hundred twenty three persons. The place pos
good features, remarkable from their being
rarely seen houses Croton water and gas are
rooms capacious-ceilings high and plenty Of win
occupants can do their washing and other work without
going out doors The rent paid here varied from 81 to 50
per month
Visited contained only one entrance from the middle of
alleywsy SIDE To get in required an ascent
Of dark and circu!tous and fickety OF In
The building and in miserable and filthy apartments
hvcd twenty four families, with but the barest possib
W Of escape in case Of ire Fort Nonsense" so called
was next looked through II comprised plain four
story modern building in the Of No AZ Ridge street
occupied by coored people The apartments all in
neat ordcrthc male occupants declared themselves for
COL Fremont staworth negro, OF daTl est ebony hue
who securing old mnsket declared himself bound
ier Kansas, and asked that member OF the com
ni,tee would furnish him with a rifle. The leading
feature connected with the premises a policy shop
Kept at the side Of the alley way leading TO the build
ing Inquiry divuged the fact that nearly all the
occupants OF the building liberal patrons of
The policy shop. None Of them able TO tell
u extraordinary luck IN making ~ ts,' but they
we're all looking very hopefully for good turn 10
sOme. One woman more frank than the majority
six shlings where sh, had drawn one-but she said it
was:lke whskey 10 the lrshman-she could not let IL
Of The pat ons Of the shop She had those who
bad pawned every article they had TO venture Is in buy
ng lottery policies and result had been turned into
ehe streets because they could pay their rent.
The next locality examined-No. 66 Wilet street-pre
serted 20 special features worthy of remark.
The "Rarracks'-as the place Is designated--compri-
sng two buildings in Manhattan Place the side.
between Goerck street and the East River, visited
next order, portion OF these premises had been
q q
= their first visitation TO tho city, early the spring
The buildings are three stories. Since the com
nlttee were last there OF the build
hgs have ch:nged landlords, and marked
Improvement Y visible in the cleansing Of the
yards and halls and other sanitary improvements The
other building L. bad as Il ever was, and Is occupied
by rag pckers mainly Dogs and rags and hthy looking
Germans comprise the total feature OF the premises. The
waiL Of the rooms bore bloody evidence Of constant
nightly battle with bed bugs the part Of the occupants
Of the premises The roo" Of the building was covered
with ayer Of rags Elk inches deep, laid there 70 dry.
Til building, twas stated was owned by Mr.. Hewliy,
q No is Exchange place, and that he had refused 10
repair the place and endeavor 10 make i more cnanta
be The rent however, is collected regularly, and with
no mercy 10 non-paying occupants.
The committee proceeded from this place 10 No. 31e
Rvinfton street. where they found three story house
occupied by twenty -four families, payng undue amount
q rent for the privilege OF occupying very limited apart
ments.
Rag Pckers' Paradise embracing Nos. So
and 90 Sheriff street, proceeded TO next. The
nature Of the premises IL be visited pcrccptbe when
The committee had reached within block Of the place
Tie surrounding air brcathed OF dogs and decaycd rags
and purifying ncsh Al the entrance the nrst tning
stumbled upon n number OF bags Of bones with flesh
clngng them just brought ththcr from the slaughter
houre, preliminary to being boiled The rooms IN the
buildings limited IN space but every inch of space Is
appropriated with beds, dog kennels and rags. In the
yard and the slooI,- and IN the entries visible
BAGS calves heads with portions
~ the flesh remaining and emitting most offensive oior
The dogs set occasional howls adding 20 the delight Of
The Witt II the unanimous voice Of the committees
that this place should rot be allowed 10 be enantcd aud
by the class of tenants Il was, day longer a,
being dangerous TO the public health. ON Que
side Of the alley way leading 70 the Paradise
wss rag depot, IN which was slowed large number
OF bags oiled with rags for paper makers. Dir.
Downing ordered the proprietor 70 vacate directly The
hast place looked through Cottage row, in Third
street between ~ and n. II similar 10 the
previous locality and occupied by rag pckcrs It's
owner, u J. West, " stated. lived In Canada and
visited the place himself but let the collection Of
the rent and management OF the place TO an agent
finishing the survey OF this latter place. the committee
rude 90 the CITY Inspectors Office, where, after
euason and IN consideration of the dsagrceabeness IN
hot weather % labor OF the Kind delegated r. them,
voted 10 ourn further visitation tl the LIT OF Au
gust next, to which time the committee Adjourned