The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-12
ThE socIAL ENIL.

Omcial Statement OF the Number Of
Public PrOstitutes, Houses of PrOstttu-
tiOn, AssignstIOn, Etc, in New York
and Brooklyn Important Facts and
Statistics.
The statistical report of the Police Commits
sionefs upon the extent OF public prostitution
In this city and Brooklyn, made IN compliance
with the resolution offered by hr. Jacobs in the
Assembly few weeks ago, and which is to ac-
company the medical report of the Sanitary
COMMITTEE upon the same subject, has not as
yet, as has been erroneously stated In certain
morning papers, been sent to Albany, for the
simple reason that it has not yet reached that
state OF completion which the Commissioners
desire it should attain. Some time next week,
IN all probability, 1t VIII be completed and for
warded to the Legislature.
The official figures OF the number of prosti-
tutes, houses of asslgnation, etc, obtained for
this report by the police, and compiled by
superintendent Kennedy, on the oath of January
last, compared with the reports made on Janu-
airy "a, in 1864 and 1866, are as follows;-
1864. 1866. 1867.
saloons with waiter girls.............". y SO 33
Number OF waiter girls IN saloons.... ... 7H 1886
1t will be seen at q glance, by the above tables,
that the word "public" is prefXed 70 the word
''prosttuter and this advisedly; for it is noto-
rious fact, say the Commissioners, that there is
a very large class of women in this city who,
though not known as prostitutes, or as residents
OF houses OF ill'tame, are as deserving as tho
most of public women of the term so aptiy
applied by the French to all females of loose
character-namely, that of denli-mondeS. OF
this class young girls OF every grade of society
from the kid-gloved belle TO the poor factory
girl in the filthiest purlieu of the toWn-and
even married women, who nave their unknown
places of appointment, or who patronize 'select'
houses of assignment, or who, to be more secret
in their acts have stealthy meetines at hotels,
and other places of public resort, form the
greater norton while kent miStrpeepg make
the balance.
Were all such persons-as we'll as the "pretty
waiter girls" and girls who attend in concert
| ssloons, who are not included in the number of
| public prostitutes, but who, it is well known,
| are, as rule, women of lost characterised down
| under the general heading, the grand total would
no doubt be swelled to twice its official number.
| By the exclusiveness observed by these persons,
the public are unable to give certain data as to
! their actual number, but the fact remains the
| same, nevertheless, that almost once again as
much crime of prostitution is committed pri-
vately, so to speak, as there is publicly IN the
| city. From this state of things the Commits
sioners leave the Legislature to draw its own
| conclusions.
There were 2lOO public prostitutes in this city
| in 1861, and but 1850 in 1868. This dimlnution
| in the latter year from the numbers inhabitng
the city in theIformer is attributed to the fact
| that large numbers of women followed the
army or, rather, focked to those cities nearest
| its encampments during the war, many of whom,
| while absent, sickened and died. By parity OF
| reasoning, the increase from 1864 to 1866 was
one of the natural consequences of the return
| of the troops to this city, where not only those
! prostitutes who left this city with the soldiers,
| but hundreds who had joined the frontiers oi
| the army encampments tromiotherscities gravi-
tated TO this'city as the place that held out 10
| them the greatest prospect of "traffic.n
! Takihg into consideration the ninety-fouI
| women lost on the Evening Star some time ago
| and many others VINO were induced to &c
South by procurateurs, the decrease from the
| number reported in 1866, as noticeable in 1867,
| is easily accounted for.
Brooklyn, it is officially stated, contains but
! six public houses of prostitution, three known
houses of assignatlon, and only fourteen resi-
dent public prostitutes. This state of things Is
! not attributed TO any superior virtue of Brook
| lyn over this city, but to the fact that New
| York offers more inducements to the general
| welfare-so to speak-of the fallen women thar
| that place, owing to its proximity to the metro
| polls, can possibly o9er.-N. Y. Herald.