The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-08

each block is six instead of FIVE stories in
height. The buildings at Spitalfelds also pre-
sent somewhat different arrangement. Each
block is surmounted by a handsome orna-
mental turret. The upper story or attic is
appropriated to the laundry, wash houses
and bath-a bathroom, and q cistern capable
of containing nearly 1000 gallons of water,
being placed at each end of this spacious and
well-ventilated drying-loft. The prin-
ciple and organization in each of
these extensive structures are essentially the
same: the only differences consist in such
improvements in matters of detail as expe-
rience enabled the trustees to introduce into
the more recontly-erected buildings To
each block there is but one entrance, which
is placed in the centre of its length, and on
the side looking into the interior of the
square. The living rooms on each story are
approached from a corridor, which runs along
the middle from one end of the building to
the other, and is lighted at each end, az we'll
as thoroughly ventilated, by the wide, CEN
rally-situated staircase, which is unenclosed
on the outer side except by an iron railing.
The lavatories, sinks, and other such offices,
are placed at each end of the corridor, apart
from the main building Drainage and ven-
tilation have been insured with the utmost
possible care; the instant removal of dust
and refuse is effected by means of shafts
which descend from every corridor to cellars
in the basement, which cellars are accessible,
for the purpose of carting away their con-
tents, only from the outside of the square.
The passages are all kept clean and lighted
with gas, without any cost to the tenants;
water from cisterns in the roof is distributed
by pipes into every tenement; and the baths
are free for all who desire to use them. Laun-
dries, with wringing-machines and drying
lofts, are at the service of every inmate, who
is thus relieved from the inconvenience of
damp vapors in the apartments and the con-
sequent damage of furniture and bedding.
The rooms are each of them about nine feet
wide and twelve feet long, and of suitable
height. Every living-room or kitchen is abun-
dantly provided with cupboards, shelving,
and other cenveniences, and each fireplace in
cludes boiler and an oven. But, continues
the secretary in his report, what gratifes the
| tenants, perhaps more than any other of the
arrangements, are the ample and airy spaces
which serve as Fairgrounds for their chill
| dren, where they are always under their
mothers eyes, and safe from the risk of pass
ing carriages and laden carts.
The cost of the general management of the
fund is kept as low as possible. From the
| commencement, in 1862, to the close of the
| year 1868, it had amounted in all to only G517
| los. When they had advanced so far as to
have number of dwellings ready for occu-
patton, ETC., the trustees found it necessary
to employ a secretary to supervise the general
affairs of the scheme, and conduct the pre-
liminary inquiries as to the eligibility of those
applying for accommodation. A superin-
tendent also resides upon each group of
buildings for the purpose of collecting the
rents, etc. Still, the working expenses, in
cluding salaries, printing, stationery, etc., are
far from great, amounting in 1866 to e317
| u.s.; in 1867 to G26S los. Id; and in 1868 to
| G271 los. Cd. So that the general manage
ment of this vast scheme, from its commence
| ment in 1862 to the close of last year, has not
cost more than e1375 IS. 1Od.
The accounts show that, at the close of the
year 1865, eS5,27 los. I'd. had been expended
on land, buildings, etc.-considerably more
than one-half the original fund. At the end
OF the following year the total expenditure
had amounted to els, 11S 13s I'd: on 31st
December, 1867, this had reached e125, 1856
rs. 10d.; and when the accounts were made
up at the close of last year, the total expen-
diture from the beginning was shown to be
G152, 631 8s 4d-G2631 IS. I'D. more than the
original fund.- while 92O, $50 Os. lid. still re-
manned at the disposal of the trustees. So
that, up to 3lst December, 1868, the original
fund had increased by e23,3 81. 3D.;
G15, ,756 rs. Cd. of this sum being due to in
terest earned, and G7557 Is. Cd. accruing from
rents; thus fulfilling, to some measure, the
generous donors wish that the fund should
be reproductive and perpetual.
In the early part of the year 1864, when the
buildings at Spitalfelds were opened, up
wards. of 200 persons were provided with
house accommodation. BY the end of 1865
the buildings at Islington were occupied by
population of 674 making altogether nearly
900 persons furnished with comfortable DWELL
ings in about three and halfsyears after Mr..
Peabody had announced his gift. At the
close of 1866 the total number provided for
was 1888, which was increased to 1871 by the
completion of the buildings at Westminster
last December.
With reference to the question specially
disputed in England-the class of persons by
whom the advantages are enjoyed-something
has already been said. AS is we'll known, the
buildings were claimed as almshouses for the
destitute, and the trustees were accused of
letting them, in opposition to the intentions of
the donor, to people who were neither help
less nor necessitous. One is curious to learn
how such accusers came to know, better than
his trustees the intentions of Mr., Peabody;
and what ground they have for supposing that
Mr.. Peabody meant to pauperize the popula-
ton of London, by supplying them with
gratuitous lodgings The earlier statements
OF the trustees sufficiently show that the
benefits OF the donation are not reaped by a
more well-tO-do class than was intended But.
II any doubt on this point still fingers in the
minds OF some, it will surely be dispeled by
the recently published Report for lastyear.
The total population, says the Report,
'of all the buildings now completed by the
trustees, is 1871. These compose the families
of workingmen, the nature of whose employ
ments is as follows:
Bakers. .............. Letter-cariers. 10
Beadle Of Market. Machinist ,....,......,. i