The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-20
THE TENEMENT HOUSES OF NEW YORK.
Inspection Of the Homes of
the Poor.
! Grand Field for Contemplation by
The Legislature.



mo subject OF the insecurity or the over Grove ed
ssnesss houses Of this city, account of the recent
salsniities ~ which many lives were lost, and their
general unhealthfaness by experience
during the prevalence cholera summer continues
- engross the general attention OF the humane portion
e the citizens Of New York; and Its importance has
et the recognition Of the Legislature Of the State II
u hoped that wholesome enactments may be made to
remedy the evils complained Of, and avaricous land.
lords may be made feel that percentage their in.
vessments banack buildings is secondary question
70 the security Of the lives OF those who have the mis-
fortune 10 be their tenants
10 save the State the expense Of sending 70 This cIty
unwieldy legislative investigating commttss with
host Of clerks, reporters and sneourss inquire into
she evils complained or HERALD commissioner has vol
unfairly undertaken the task, and viii continue his
researches until all the facts laid before the public
The following his report Of the condition OF several
hundred dwellings he has visited the First FOURTH
Sixth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth wards The statements
startling but true, and the report win afford the
reader pretty accurate idea Of tho prison cells in
me high story buildings commonly known tenement
houses
rm HoHm or THE PooR
The homes Of the poor must be improved We would
avoid pestilence In the season. the increase
~ crime Of every character In the winter months
and the spread Of drunkenness and immortality in
every shape and form that will leave It's finger mark
upon the next degenerated generation. Throwing
aside entirely the question OF philanthropy and
eharity, self preservation alone demands that some
thing should be done for those that now burrow like
beavers in underground cellars that are flooded with
NTH from Sinks and those who live above ground In
apartments without door or window without light
and air, who have the having place OF shelter
bat do not have il
rACTp yoR TIE WEALTHY
II may be matter Of very little importance the
nch that . hundred thousand peoplc-whch IL fact
live four thousand shells Of houses which there
10 escape from death In the event fire that funeral
pile may DO burned up and but the immediate re.
iatives will be the mourners and suferers But the
entire community ID affected when the Same number Of
occupants ara found living in four thousand dwellings,
without sewerage or ventilation. Then find IS many
stationary pest houses from which forth lepers
were spread broadcast in every corner OF
she CITY The pest houses themselves may be station
cry, but the ingoe aud outcomers floating hither and
thther into storehouses porters hotels walters
the seeds Of pcsence into the houses Of the
and into localities salubrious and comfortable in every
respect II other reason than that Of self pre-
ssrvation the condition Of our tenement bulldogs
should command the attention Of the wealthy.
NO PROTECTION AaArur yRE4
In over nvs hundred buildings inspected there was
20 one that had the proper means Of escape in
shs event OF nre: true, there were some that
had what Is called nre sscapss. but only In name.
In house in the Fourteenth ward six
stories high In 'front.' the same height in the rear
building, occupied by about i've hundred persons,
Ne two buildinss connected the roof by mar
row bridge But should the flames rush up the stair
Gay they get TO the roof and II the trout
should take nre and egress be stopped there 10 no
mode Of escape for those in the rear.
REsrurs or INSPECTION.
~ No. 20 Trinity place found building that had
. nve escape, according to law, and yet the building
would BE- we'll without u; nobody took any
hssping 10 oiled and in order, and nobody from the first
the sixth floor. knew how work it, On every floor
osssIde Of the windows In the rear there is narrow iron
balcony and trap door and stairway dcscnd 70 the
Hsor below In the event Of fire. but the balcony and trap
doors covered with barrels, nrewcod and rubbish
Ne tried 70 raise the trap doors and lower the ladders
Su they FAR out OF working order that could
do H. and the building might well be without the
are escapes There eighteen families In this house.
four door, and In the caxpcnter's shop
which, II took nre, would soon communicate 10 the
tenement housa and bedroom In this house, on
The third noor brings in $40 90 per monthin former
sinss the rent Was Is per month.
No 10 Thames street. occupied by sipesen families.
d without sewerage, ventilation Of escape
che event Of fire. The door to the rosf Ia locked On
sss house adjoining, In the rear there ID bridge that
might b thrown across they would only have pressnce
- mind 70 do IL and bedroom in the front
Ger elo month advance Of - per month former
psioea
No H. opposite four stories high sub lot for q coo
Q year. The house has accommodation for fourteen
families The yard only three feet wide. Kitchens in
back dark that yoa cannot TO read
sAs beArooms which fsss by nvs perfectly
an
sssna Could got the roof Il nre occurred, but the
ysef adjoining b santng and the choice would b. "
once there stand and be burned death leap
ssssnity One inmate, whom asked how she expected
- ape replied, "God Almighty keep away nrs We
ssuidn't go out"
Mo- ~, the same street, six stories high has yard
swo feet wide the hydrsus entrance 10 the yard
me water closets reached by descending steep steps,
covered with thick layer Of zee and dirt that
vss ssIt impossible descend No chnd
Aswp thsss steps Twenty-Five families occupy the
house room and two dark bedrooms in the back,
without ventilation coss el2 month Tho occupant Of
shsss spartmeuss said The water closets were not a. for
hoSs = for her apaments she had whitewsshsd them
avs times SINGS Nay 70 prevent sIckDees One tenant
osnsry o. Means q sscsps 10 case q rs i siso bad
ne ball flooded wSh VISITOR, and had become
d. corner q AlSsay ssd washington ssssss Is
ssd ssrupsd By aixissa families four On aoor. The
wasev eloesss thy bus might Be- kept more cleany
water n shs yard Il TIE event u Ore The roof might
- rssshsd but then weud BE- fearful leap for nfe
xAs ecsee adjoining has scep slantng reoG. 10 dry
shs roof and Aide down but sven the momentum might
- such - 70 break Me rotten railing that fences IN the
ee.oony ana IN tnss event would BE- certain death 70
IN IN she street n the confusion ~ astemps leap
- the sansing roof might he made II the venurer
ehned 70 ce1 eight feet he would have fail Of forty
sss and down the roof he would rush a. II descending
vmh IN avalanche II would cost but little 10 have r.
sscape from this building II the adjoining proprtetog
would permit n There a no yard 70 this house ana ~
y charged for Q room end bedroom -
No. ~ Washington street has sixteeu faunusa 1hs
TOO bsssmsnm are occupied the public odriue housss
- srampa ms sanitary condition is nlshy In the en-.
sssme Two cart loads u Nth could he ssthe,ed nm
IRON The outside Of he water closst There 4 no water
The premises; can only be obtained q rroereyes
whoA ths tenants frequent for their GIN The outside Of
enc building on the Street foca and half shIrr MN
nuleanoa firmly fruoon the ground and oontinusl,v