Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-06
ASDRrw JnUEsOS
Peabodv samare, Islington, london.

The magnificent bounty of an American merchant
has bestowed quarter of a million sterling on the
poor of London and the trustees of this fund.- since
the first instalimen of rl5OO0O placed in their
hands, have thought it best employed in the construc
ton OF improved dwellings as described in Their
lately published report. The first site chosen was in
Commercial street, Spitalfeds near the terminus oil
the Eastern Counties Railway, where space equal
to 1862 square feet was obtained from the Commits
sioners of Public Works for 1890. By further
ponditurG of something under t2l0O0 for buildings
accommodation obtained for rupwardS of 200 per-
sons in tenements of one, two three apartments
each according TO the requirements of the several
cupants. Tie latter sum included also the cost OF
erecting nine shops the lround floor, the rents OF
which, amounting to nearly $3.50 per annuIl. go TO
increase the general fund and thus contribute to the
reproduclye character which 1t IS the desire Of the
trustees to impart to it.
Before the dwellings at Spitafeld were completed
the trustees we're enabled to possess themselves OF
other sites in districts similarly claiming attention
AT Chelsea plot containing 1876 feet obtained
for 44,ol6 los Gd for another at Bermondsey, with
area OFF, $50 square feet, they gave t4S70 7s 3d.
fourth at tslpgton II 1853 feet they
gave 46646, 5s 3d., and for 4300 ffth acquired
at Shadwel, the extent Of which is 500 square
feet. While the houses il Commercial street were
still in progress the trustees commenced Silnston
the erection of four blocks of buildings to comprise
in all l55 tenements, with ample accommodations for
upwards of $50 persons. The whole cost Of these
buildings, exclusive Of the paid for the land. will
amount. when the accounts shall have been closed,
to G3l6yG. Eeare the square at lSlingtOn was fin
shed the trustees entered into contract for the sum
of t5,53 to build on similar scaeon tnelf property
at Shadwel, and the works are now considerably ad-
yanced.
On tbs 18th Of February, 1864. the first pile OF
buildings erected IN Commercial! street, Sptafelds,
was thrown open to receive It's inmates ana the num-
Der Of applicants and continues to be consider
ably III excess OF the accommodations availa bic. The
number who took POSSESSION OF their new homes IN
Spitalfeds upwards Of 2G0 including such classes
as charwomen, monthly nurses, basket-makers,
usdrivers, seamstreSses shoemak kers, taors, waits
ers and warehousemen. In the buildings at Isling-
ton which opened last September, the inmate
are OF shS 3epe class with the addition of persons
employed in otne4 tf4d s5Yatch- tnsherS, turner's,
smiths, staymakers gawyers painters, pCinlgrs @an-
dresses, letter carriers, clblnetmak3rs bOOEblnderS
dressmakers, artificial flower Makers carmen and
Others The entire community there now consists Of
674 HdYdualS, of whom l9 widoas, the rest
ried persons and children,
The new buildings at Isington ara satgt2ptially
constructed OF BRICK and consist Ct four blocks OF
houses, five stories in height which are let out in
tenemenIS of enc two and three rooms. Each block
will afford accommodation i1r sixty families, or 2lO
in the aggregate. The rooms each of them ABOUT
feet wide and Il feet long. and Of suitable height
The attic of each block is paved with tiles from the
Isle of Wight, and is surmounted by handsome Or
namental turret There is also accOmmodation for
washing and drying and at each end OF the buildings
is eistern L feet long. feet wide, and feet deep
thing has been done to render the sanitary arrange
ments complete In every respect.
Tne principle and DrganII III each OF Inssa ez
lation have been insured with the utmost possible
the instant removal of dust and refuse is effected
by means of shafts which descend from every corri
dor to caiGrs IN the basement, whence 1t is carted
away the passages are ali l,epP oieaE e3G lighted
with gas without any to The tenants; water from
csternS in the roof distributed by pipes into every
tenement and there baths free for all who desire
to use them. LaundGos, with iwrlnglng machines
and drying lofts are at the service o every !nnate
who is thus relieved from the Inconvenience Of damp
vapors in his apartments and the consequent damage
TO his furniture and bedding. Every livingroom OF
| kitcheI. is abundantiy provided with cupboards
shelving and other conveniences and each fireplace
! includes boiler and an oven But what gratifes the
tenant psrhap2 more than any other part of the ar
rangementS Is the ample nq airy spaces when serve
as Fairgrounds for their children. where they al
ways under their mothers and safe from th0 rsi
of passing carriages and laden carts.
In evidence of the improved salubrity of the build
ings, the superintendents report that i'll health il
rare, and tnat rbc only deaths as yet since the frs
years ago-have been one man. aged thirty, who dice
| of a chronic complaint, and four children, one o
! whom was under five, and two under two years old
The entire conentment of tenants is freely expressed
no complains hGy2 been made OF any Of the ar
rangements provided for their COMFORT anu they al
| speak approyingly of the unaccustomeo advantage
they enjoy There has been but person arrested
for quarreling and disturbing the peace and one
PEELED for nop-peymendt OF rent. these exceptions
the self-respeet and moral principles ly Hhlch lheJ
| are influenced.
| The weekly rent charged for one room is Is. Cd.
for two rooms, As; for three rooms 5s; As Mr.. Pea
body directed by his letter that the sole qualification
TO be required fOT tenant was to be an aseertaneC
condition of life such brings th5 individual ElthiI
the description Of the poor OF London, comu;ned will
moral character and good conduct as a member o
society," it is the duty of the trustees to ascertain BY
actual nguiry-frst, that the circumstances of thu
person proposing .imseli as tenant are such as t
| entitle him to admissions anu, second that IN tn
opinion of his employers there is nothing in hi
character moral conduct to disquality him from
partaking in the benefits of the fund. These tw,
conditions once established the tenant on taking
possession of his new resiaeno5. ads himself fre
| in action and as exempt from intrusive restraint o
oficoIs interference as if he occupied house in on
of the ad acant streaS. Ills sense of independence
| preserved by that ne pays for what he enjoys; Will
| for this payment he provides himself $slth uwelin
| 10 nhah,y HJlLetr0 ed