The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-18
TENEMENT HOUSES.


Their Coustruction-snnitary Defects-Eviis
Of Impure venfilation-interestinG susses-
tioas.
In city like this, where the tenement house prin-
ciple OF living has become one OF its most unique
features, no information however trivial which helps
TO show where improvements affecting life itself
might be introduced in this method OF living can be
lightly disregarded. DIR. VIM. F. Thoms, Surgeon to
the Eastern Dspensary. has devoted some Of his
ume ana attention to the study Of the tenement
mouse question, and has produced his views, bearing
the marks Of careful observation In pamphlet form.
According to the statistics Of the sanitary squad Of
metropolitan police there were 1880 tenement
houses IN New York in 1853, and at the present time
would be safe say there are at least five thous
and additional.
1t Is no exaggeratlon for DR.. Thoms to state that
most OF the houses are overcrOwded, their ground
area and cubic feet Of air space much too small, and
many instances having not the slightest crculsion
of air In them, thus increasing the number and seve
rity Of zymOtic Tor foul airy disease. The most
marked feature OF the tenement houses Is the small
ing In each family.
Then the ventilation Of these rooms is confined 70
halls dOOrways and passages, and some OF the
houses are often surrounded by others Of greater
height, which shut out the healthgivng atmosphere.
The common mode OF arranging them Is az fCllows:-
ed front house 25x50 and rear house 25x25, with
court 25x25 and frequently less in which are locat-
commonly five and frequently six stories In height
above the basement the principal, rooms OF which
building front and rear with small bedrooms be-
tween, one to each main room. This arrangement
gives accommodation to four families on each moor,
making in ask story building twenty-f0u families;
each family averages five members and frequently
more, as it is common for the occupants OF these
In this arrangement each person has q little over
10 square feet in ground area and sso cubic feet OF
allowance
dormitores but SO feet to each person.
Each person should have at least so superficial or
square feet This would allow 80 persons to each
lot rs by 100 feet. This arrangement would be the
most practicable means Of preventing overcrOwd-
ing. The present average ground area Is 10 square
He proceeds to show the quantity Of air essential
to the healthy respiration OF each adult perion and
comes to the conclusion that the standard amount
OF air space which practical hygenists say Is neces
sary is 200 cubic feet to each ndividua; but this
Is too large an amount to be made practical In our
tenement houses, and he has therefore placed the
amount at 100 cubic feet OF air space to each per.
This amount with proper ventilation, will
be sufficient to enable the human system to perform
Its functions properly me average amount at pre-
sent In houses Is about $50 c9pS Iee oae
space for the apartments should be 500 cubic ieet
The present average In the apartments In tenement
space for dOrmtOries sleeping roOmsl should be 800
cubic feet. The present average in sleeping rooms
Is about 80 cubic feet. He Ii satisfied that the
effect Of the fotd air containing organic matter,
OF water and carbOnc acid, produced by respi-
ration is very marked upon many people; heavlness.
headache nertness and in some cases nausea Is pro.
duced. From experiments on animals in an atmoS-
phere from which carbonic acid and watery vapor
left, Cavarret and Hammond have found
that the organic matter is highly poisonous:
He lays down the principle that the air which enters
an apartment must Itself be pure ana that itS move
ment should be imperceptibe. otherwise II WIN cause
the sensation OF draught and will chill. 1t should DO
well difused through the room. The air must be re-
moved 80 Immediately that there shall be no risk Of
person breathing again his own expired ar or tnas
There is a difference Of opinion in regardto the
system Of ventilation. Both have their advantages
and disadvantages, and their comparative merits
can only be decided by practical observation made
by numerous observers In the ventilation OF the
rooms In tenement houses, In his opinion, the
downward system Is the most practcai-Frst. On
account OF the diffusion OF air being more uniform and
there being less danger OF . draught second The
saving OF heat, which Ia an important item to the
inhabitants OF these houses. Third. Less danger OF
their being interfered with the cold air entering ~
the grating at the roof OF the room being brought In
contact with the warm air before it descends, be:
| comes warm aud not imparting the sensation OF
chiliness. The attention Of the inmates Is not d.
rected to the OF fresh air and there less dan
ger OF the openings being INSTRUCTED The foul air
| openings being near the floor are connected with
the chimney or a shaft adjoining the nueS The heat
n me e nna e IN these houses are
used constantly both summer and winter. Inc air
passing through the outlet being warm does not call
the attention Of the nmntes TO 10, therefore II Is not
interfered with.
In the halls and stairways the upward system Of
ventilation il the best the entering by the street
door, passes through the hall and starways to the
roof, and escapes through the ventllators or SKY
light; thus keeping a constant circulation OF air
through the centre Of the house.
The apartments occupied by each family sh0uld
have an inlet for fresh air consisting OF tube one
foot square, (Which will allow 1900 cubic feet Of air
to pass through IL every hour, extending from the
front of the house to the sleeping rooms also an out
let for the foul air, foot square, In the chimney
near the noor the top OF the chimney to be sup
piled with cowl (ventilator), turning away from
the wind, In order to have the full effect OF the aspi
ratory power Of the wind and prevent down dtaughts
The roof over the stairway and halls should be Iur-
nished with skylight the whole length and breadth
OF the upper hail. and the top OF the skylght should
be provided with two large cowls tventators Que ut
each end.