The New York herald., 1872-09-15
Ruined Ranches in the Depths
Of Baxter Street.
THE NEGLECT OF PROPRIEroRs.
Rain, Hail and Snow Pcltiug Through the
Broken Walls Into the Sleeping
Rooms Of the Poor
Remedial Measures by the Board
of Health.

of Health.
Constant vigilance by the officers Of the Health
Department, although 1t has in few years greatly
improved the sanitary condition Of some Of the
worst quarters Of the city, has not yet succeeded
in accomplishing the perfect results, the absence Of
which will ever be scandalous to modern civiliza-
tion. 1t seems improbable to half the pOpulace Of
a large city that the other half are
living in squaor fth wretchedness infection and
disease; and paint the horrors OF those scenes IN
the substrata OF life as they may, journalists have
failed to remove the prejudice from the MIND OF the
bigoted citizen that much Of their details were the
exaggerated work of the Imagination. Such lack
of susceptibility is excusable, but not so the
DARK-SoULED HYPOCRISY,
with which another class of wel-todO people look
upon the repeated exposes of the monstroslties
OF neglect which exist IN the tenement
system of New York, and of which they
AFFECT to disbelieve the truth. These men
are, almost without exception wealthy owners of
real estate whose property lies in the very locali-
ties most condemned, and one would not suppose
that gentlemen with pretensi0ns of the highest
social and religious order were the propretors OF
many of the worst conducted bagnios in Water
street and Of the vilest lodging cellars, whose
sicKening fumes are breathed out through the mar
row openings along the filthy sidewalks with, no
other escape. Yet such Is the case. The old build
ings which line the most dllapdated and filthy
streets Of the lower wards produce
THE INCOMES OF RICH MEN.
while the horrors Of their condition are the cause
OF disease, wretchedness and despair to the poor
creatures whose means afford them no other shell
ter, or whose vile debasement has made them un-
willing inmates Of these lowest and filthiest dens
OF vice. For it cannot be believed that many of
them prefer filthy and rotten beds to cleanly and
orderly ones, although both be couches of sin.
The Health Department has been recently en-
gagged in thorough inspection OF the tenement
houses and low dens OF irepute in the city, andIts
abOrs have disclosed afresh, even after all that has
been already done to alleviate the evil, scenes and
facts of so startngly disgu sting character to
be well calculated to shock the public. Yet
the descriptions of these places are received
with incredulous shrugs and pooh-poohed by the
persons who sym pathize alone with the owners Of
the premises, 1t must soon be conceded as an ad-
ditiOnal maxim OF fact, that while one half the
world knows nothing OF how the other half lives, it
The Health Onicers have recently made several
elections of families from
DIsEAsE-BREEDING LOCALITIES,
and in visiting these fearful degree of neglect and
careessness as to the welfare OF the tenants the
part OF the proprietors was discovered. large
majority OF the houses reported were Old and
hall ruined-walls and ceilings crumbling, floors
broken and worn through, stairs rickety and un-
safe, roofs leaky as selves and cellars
subject to frequent overnows from the ad-
Joining delapidated and useless sewers. Two Of the
dirtiest abodes in the city are Nos 81 and SO OAK
street-a low twostory frame building with attics
and brick rear extension, and owned by j. God
frey, No. II Catherine street. 1t is occupied by two
In terrible state OF
RUIN AND FILTH
despite the frequent efforts OF the Health Depart
ment to have its condition bettered. The exterior
Of the structure Is very far from being inviting al
tn0ugn ,i ~ s qu1e Inc entrance Is dap
the narrow dark hallway, the visitor stumbles over
various distractions, such as small hillocks of
garbage, and may be accounted lucky II he 40 not
by misadventure slip into the holes worn into
the floor by generations OF treading by human feet
What was the history OF all those human feet;
where they had carried their owners before they
eventually brought them TO the grave; how often
their gait was sorrowful or gay, or moody or weak
or strong might be Interesting and smack of ro-
nance II only such inanimate things as these
sonbre and ancient walls might be induced to
house occupied 10y some unpretentOus but respect
able family OF the society OF that humber day
looked not 80 crestfallen and gloomy in Its aspect
nor gave one such qualmy feelings of disgust. The
cellar of this building is black as night, and
THE ATMOSPHERIC DAMP AND CLAMMY.
The bottom Is an area of mud caused by the leak
age Of the sewers and from 1t arises the most
trghtti1ly sickening odors, having s, sort Of
almost sure effects OF long being compelled to
breath them. In the rear OF the house is a small
yard, which was only recently paved with brick. 1t
filth, and the drain to the hydrant
o smes Daa t%as
shanty in the back yard too filthy for description,
was shut by the owner and the door nailed up;
for the tenants and slops and garbage are now
THROWN INTO THE GUTTER
late at night to avoid the observation OF the watch
man and also at times into the closets and cor
ners of the house, which are in a most eXecrable
condition The stairs are tottering and dangerous
are broken, loose and in danger OF falling and
causing injury to the inmates and they are black
ened by the SCOT which is washed from the
iues by the rain and with the leaking Of
water from the roof On the second
n0or the closets are filed with rubbish and impart
horrible stencil. The inhabitants OF this human
abode have little encouragement in any attempts
they may have ever made to live in cleanliness and
decency and their squalor and wretchedness shOnld
be palpable reproach to their landlord, whose
name Is j. Godfrey. The orders OF the health au-
him, and after the late inspection the place was
directed to be vacated and thoroughly repaired and
cleansed.
BAXTER STREET
No quarter OF the city contains more old and
dangerous structures than Baxter street. This
thOroughIare Is lined on either side by squalid
tenement houses OF various sizes and kinds.
large number OF them are built OF wood, while many
are tall and immense piles OF brick and mortar,
loosely constructed and reaching five or six stories
heavenward on the first floor of almost every
building is an 'old clos shopn kept by q respected
relative OF the Wandering Jew.
THE SHOPS ARE FILTHY
In the extreme, and the vapors which steam from
tIlt putb VI CdbJOu Imcuts PSi nicuNS anu
oil the air so that the stranger is fain TO hold his
nostrs when passing along the walk The awning
poles In front OF the doors are hung with ragged
clothes, and from the windows overhead the newly
purchased stock is suspended to be aired or
dried In the rear OF thes shops, IN small,
narrow rooms, reside the "merclIants," in the
peaceful bosoms of their families, and here they
retire from the hampering cares of business when
the shades OF evening wear into the wee sma'
hours of the night The shops are daily lighted
from eight to twelve O'Clock, and during this time
most OF the inhabitants OF this miniature city-a
city 10 itself-in the heat OF summer sit upon the