New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-16
HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE.
To the Editor Of The N. Y. Tribune.


SIR: In your paper Of Friday, the Sd, you speak
of the terrible effects life and health of our filthy
Notwithstanding at II, 900 the number of beings
sacrificed annually, and at 100000 the number of
needless cases of sickness. You certainly under
rate the number Of deaths, or rather murders; 1t is
much larger, but does not come from the effect of
foul streets and cutters alone in fact, they but
very partial cause; the real cause is to be found
in the dwellings Of the poor. The hot, dead atmos-
pherc of the garrcts and cellars Of our badly con-
structed buildings and the small rooms Of tenement
houses is in Summer perfectly horrible. The effect
on children, on women who do not take great
IDEAL Of exercise, persons who debtated, and
on those who are troubled with disease weakness
of the internal or mucous membrane is extremely
deleterious. In fact, we may say that our small,
confined, ill-ventated houses, in which the masses
live, are simply. in the heats of Summer instru-
ments of disease and death. We must seek, in our
mode Of constructing dwellings, for the cause Of the
needless sacrifice of life that now takes place, not
in our dirty streets; although tho latter may exer-
else influence to the extent of an eighth Of that
of the former.
Now, is not remedy possible7 Unquestonably:
and it could very easily be applied. 1t is to be
found in constructing Homes for The People. That
is, in dcvsing and carrying into execution true
plan of Domestic Architecture. Macaulay said
that, after the discovery of the alphabet, and the
art of printing, nothing had done 80 much to civil
lie man as the construction and extension Of high
ways 1t would be found, if a plan, based on true
scientific principles, for erecting Homes for the
People, could be discovered and realized, It would
do infinitely more for the education Of the masses
of the people than highways, and probably than the
art of printing itself.
The possession Of q permanent, certain, and COM
Portable Home is tho very basis of Interior good in
every way especially for the laborng classes they
have so few resources outside of their dwellings.
properly constructed residence is not only the first
condition Of health for family, but also the
of moral progress and Improvement. Let US thon
endeayor to secure to tho mass of the population the
possession Uncomfortable homes, and shall, by this
single means solve number Of problems, which now
appear insolyabe. Woshallncre their health and
as consequence, diminish the amount Of useless
disease and mortality we shall increase the moral
ty of tho masses, and a counter-efiect, diminish
tho amount Of vice and crime; render good gov
eminent easy, and finally neutrazo the influence
which poor, vicious, and desperate population OK
ercises in politics 1t alone can prevent denoc-
racy from becoming in our large cities source Of
evil.
Tho measure bywhieh oil these good results could
DO obtained could Easily be carried out by the Citi-
zens Association" which has been formed to SECURE
tho establishment of good government in our city.
II could even DO carried out, or at least the impc-
tuS given by some one rich man, who desired ar
IDENTITY 10 improve the condition OF the poorer
classes. There are such men among us; the noble
Institution which has grown out Of the mind OF
PETER COOPER shows what one man can do. a less
effort would lay the foundation Of a vast improve
ment in the condition Of the poorer classes OF our
great cities
The measure is this: II is the construction, on
scientific architectural prraepc', Of large cdfces,
capable of accommodating each comfortably about
one hundred families; and thon, of selling to tho
occupants the suites Of rooms they occupy, payable
in monthly instalments nstood of renting to them,
so that in time they shall become the ownors of
their homes.
Tho edihce should be so constructed rs to be SELF
yeItilating, TO DO cool in Summer and warm in
Winter 70 be decent and quiet, to avoid causes of
complaint and discussion among the residents, and
TO facilitate in every way tho getting rid OF refuse
matter; that is, it should be thoroughly conven-
lent and comfortable abode, and adapted perfectly
TO tho wants Of human beings.
The cdifce should DO represented by stock, divid-
ed into shares. Tho suites Of rooms should DO up
az. al IN IN
their sizo and location. The amount Of capital
should DO divided by tho number of suites Persons
wishing 10 become occupants, would buy shares
enough TO represent the value Of the rooms they
wished. These shares they would pay for IN
monthly or, if preferred, in quarterly payments
Such time should be given as would suit the means
Of the purchasers that is, the amount OF the
monthly or quarterly payments should be made to
meet the ability to pay of the occupants.
The edifce could DO commenced with 500, OOO
part of it could be erected; and if it were neces
sary to wait, the balance could DO built from the
proceeds of the payments as they came in. Thus
company of dozen men, subscribing $4,000 or
$40, 900 each, or single man, advancing $4,000
could commence this great innovation.
The capital could either be advanced-to BIO ro-
turned or repaid after certain lapse of time, the
interest being tho only sacrifice made to the idea;
or it could DO donated, in which case the money,
paid by tho purchasers Of the stock-that is, tho
occnpants-would be used to build second odiiico;
and with the proceeds Of the second, to build
third, and so on. If a number of philanthropc men
were TO combine and raise million, four or five
edifces could be erected; and, if they gave the
.nonnr ont aud nilt with the proceeds of tho saes