The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-02-06
ventilation Of Tenement Houses.

VIEW tOhhf ohus oNtnt loNOs
To ne Editor oJ the Sun .-DEAE sfE,-In my
laei leti.r On this s1tect called attention to tic
ne d Il veataiion. W dc improbali,y Of owners
Of tenement buildings vsntlsung them or putt ng
up better houses unless required by law 70 make
such improvements &c. The unvillingnese Of
ovusrs to make their houses healibful may arise
froru indifference 70 the lives ~ Their feor-cres-
turet lut Il may also arise from inaiequaie
appreciation o. the importance ami Necessity 81
ventiato on, " from not knowing how 10 vcuil1te
their lI'''Inga. On both & the latter subjects
common or nirn Is vor, vague, ard vssuencss and
iufe is scar' ely need the aid Of Indifference 20
result IN inacuOu. i there nov hero a fine oppor-
tunity for rich cap tshsts on of public spirit sd
philanthropy 70 make paying Investment and
81 The s1tnc sine lay society under obligation by
putting MP more improved, roamy, sn1 properly
ventilated tenement builduS,, ant thua directly
perform \ great good, and indirectly, much
.,re.ter MD, hv showing what may b. done, and
leading The way IshAll In this lotter point out
what ! conceive won a be the most perfect
mode II veuhlAtiny tenement buildings now nnbuili;
vii Gave little room for doubt a. possible,
by pointing out first what hs already been done
In my l,st letter briefly sinted fow facts
gsrrlng tnement house which was ventilated
some years ago u ~ perhap, the mos, eXtraor-
binary cAsc on record " ai-eise checked and pro-
vented by ventilation, yet the rlan which worked
such good, oas " the most simple description TIE
journal l-i0ro luded to describes IL - y simple
TN w chfrlcd rom TIE Cclliug Of each room into
a general tule. Tie large tube was then lel into
. ne yhboring chimney factory olimueyB are not
always available, but the same principle might be
followed by carrying separate tubos up from each
room and Joining them together into ono general
tube IN The top room lott, and Ia this tulo uug
gas-ltght tn rarity the sir, aud cause ascend
ing current which would draw q supply from each
| room with which tie small pipes Communicated,
TIE general Iipo would te carried above the root,
aud terminate With All eIhaustina bowl. The use
| Of gas would ouly lie me- css4ry Ia warm weather
in cold weather the current would be as 81 ong
vihon, II a. in summer with IT, A simple way
OF Improving tho ventilation II dwelling hOus ~ -
TO remove brick iron tie chimney duo to
the ceiling where y fue e not ora at the lot
TIN there is little risk ~ smoke coming into the
room hrOugh the yenulaiVr, il will, however,
weaken the draft d, the stove somewhat, hut this
| may lie desirable where q ssove burns too much
coal. i can Z vo no rule for the si"p-
| ton OF this plan excepting that II should
! not be usod where VI, re " IN opcu Gro crate,
| or where the nuO n not stopped u the bottom,
| whore the stove draft IL weak. Ihave used il with
advantage, and covered the opening with pic
! turo, the Top oi which was kept away from the
wall, 50 ~ 10 allow access Of arr ~ the opening |;
but tho effect OF ibis mode n ventilation s mainly
| upon the dwelling room, aud Ia tenement houses
the greatest need for ventilation is IN the sleep ug
rooms. Other means ~ veullato both rooms i
| may describe in future letter An essential point
III tho Ventilation OF tenement house ~, constant
| change Ia che s1moep ere of the stairway. Ii has
been oh"u remarked tfat the upper rooms Of tn se
| houses are more frequently visited by lever, aud
| other dlseises, han the rooms lower down. Tnls
is accounted for by the foul, heated air from the
| lower rooms escaping by windows and ioOrways
into the sIarway and ascending 70 the upper palt-
| IRON whence 1t g drawn into the rOolus by the
! opcniug Of doors, tie draft Of stoves, &c. Tue
Openings int she stairway sometimes provided Tor
| vcnilat II are, ia the Of these upI er rooms,
70 many means VI introducing air already vii Ated.
Ench stairway should be provided with ventlstorr
incapable Of being closed, 50 mat q constant change
bt Gle tho coolest weather.
lie cold woul be far loss real ha-dship than tie
consequences of oul air. | am, SIR,
Very respectfully, your servant
| JoHS HYeLor.