The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-22
THE sLUMs.
Alaska, spRfTord, aud Baker Streets visited
by the Board OF Health This Morning-
The Ulcer Spots OF Philadelphia.


Alaska, spsfFord, aud Baker Streets visited
by the BOARD of Health This Morning
The Ulcer Spots Of Philadelphia.
The slums OF Bedford, Spaford, and Baker streets,
sEse mos, sRS, o r u waica each year
death than all the other sections combined, were
visited this morning by the Sanitary Committee Of
At eleven o'clock the gentlemen composing the
committee assembled at the Health onice, and imme-
daey procet to the locality for the work of In
speciioD. Tne committee comprises the following
gent emen DIR. Thomas Stewardson, Charles B.
Barrett Kdward Bennett, Dr. La Roche and Henry
Davis. On arriving at the place of meeting, the
SIKH, they found High Constable John Curley who
was waiting in readiness to conduct them TO the
various spots which demsnd attention.
n. first place visited was at Nc. 6l4 Alaska
gaining access TO this place, as the athletic Irish
W man was not in mood to admit prying eyes.
Constable Cur however, insisted, and well know
log that gentleman, she at last opened the gate,
saying that "She didn't care for all the Boards Oi
not in the most encouraging cOndi ION, and Mr..
Davis directed the CLERK, Mr.. Lynch to note the
condition of the place and order the well TO be
cl aned out within twenty.fOuT hours.
The lTishwoman seemed to think this as a renec-
tlon on her housekeeping abilities, and she fired up
anu uttered scathng sarcasm, for which the irish
are famous She told them in substance that she
had nothing to do with the place. Il don't own the
house If the well is bad, what's that to me? told
the landlord 60 clean t, and he won't do IT, He's
one OF your Union Benevolent men," and with a
sarcastic twinkle in her eyes she cnched this piece
OF irony with the remark 'I guess he's OF your
selvts.h 4 he gentlemen smiled, and told her that
she was not to blame, and so proceeded to the next
This was at No. 627, few doors above, on the
north side. This is notorious den OF thieves. 1he
fir noor front, devoted to the sale OF miscea-
neous ariicl,s, such as groceries, clio hing, and IN
fact, everything. An lrishmen Keeps this place,
ana as he sitting upon the steps. smoking his
pire, the party directed their conversation to him.
He was not in he least 10th to give Information and
replied to every inquiry without the slightest
hesitation.
On entering this delightful place, 1t was found to
be IN the most crowned aud nltny condition. b ed
clothing wearing apparel, broken bottles, straw,
wood, furniture, old tin pans broken crockery were
found stored away in every room The reporter OF
TIE EVENING TELEGRAPH pushed his inquiries little
further and ascertained that the owner OF the house
William Wallace, who keeps store, so it was
asserted on Chesnut street This landlord lets the
house to a woman called Barbara a female
with more intellect than conscience, and who
is reported to be worth at least $4,000:
She has piled up this wealth by means Of
at once Ingenious and simple. She has crammed
the rooms with old mattresses and bundles OF straw
which she rents out TO lodgers at the rate OF ten
cents per night. She has no lack OF app icants
Every hummer and thief who reels home at mid
night can dnd spot where to lay his head in Bar
baras house; that is, If ne has got the money.
But the cellar OF No. G2l demands word OF no.
tice. In this miserable and cramped place. with the
walls wet aud oozy with the vapor of perspiration
six human beings pass their time away
there-a Mrs. Nolen, her mother, and another
woman. The three little children
had been sent out to the nlthy street to play. the
place was piled up with furniture and there was
hardly space on the floor sufficient to afford room in
which to move around. Tne ugly and dlrty-look1ng
beds were ranged around the wall which was plen-
tifully supplied with nails which clothing was
hung. Mrs. Nolen, good-looking, fair faced Irish
woman, informed rs that her husband had left her
he certainly had left trace or his ferocity on his
wifes face, for ugly cut appeared under her right
eye, over which piece Of gummy sticking plaster
had heen placed.
1he mother, too, showed signs of ferocity from
somebody. Her head was bandaged by large
cit IN, which concealed almost all OF her face. Con-
stable Curley spoke kindly to the poor woman
ard noticing the wletchedRess and sqnalor around
gave "God help you" TO The poor wret5hes. God
htl us, indeed" said the wretched woman, and so
the party left them. The yard and sink OF No. 621
was ordered to be cleaned.
IL wculd be impOssible to give in this brief space
an adequate idea OF the fearful amount OF Ill and
disease concentrated in these dirty places The
committee visited almost all the houses, ana one or
them, No. III was in such q disgusting state that
they ordered an application TO be sent in to the
Building Inspectors to have the whole house torn
down. AT place near Fifth street two dead
dogs far gone into the stages OF corruption,
we're found. The stencil arising from these and the
general fifth of the surrounding structure were most
intolerabe. Doughertys court notorl0usly bad
place. was also inspected. Baker street and SpadOrd
street were also visited ana the same scenes were
repeated A number Of dwellings were ordered to
be removed, and nearly every house inspected re-
nutrpn no cleansing the sink.