New-York tribune., 1874-05-18
ITALIANS IN NEW-Y YORK.

DESCRIPTION OF THEIR QUARTER IN BAXTER AND
MUIRERRY-sIs-A SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC APPRE-
HENDED.
Within the quarter bounded by New Worth,
Baxter Mulberry, and Park sts one block from Chat
ham-square is the dense segregation OF Italian linmi
grants from whom tho officers OF the board OF heath
most apprehend smallpox or cholera epidemic during
the coming Summer The scene OF hth, squalor pow
erty and crowdng within this small compass mas no
equal in any similar in the city The streets are
crowded with boxes, ash-barres. and wagons the
sidewalks, with women and children OF all natonaes
half dressed and dirty and the houses are hled with
dodgers. Five years ago italian was almost an
o1dity in the Sixth Ward. They we're permitted to pur
sue their national occupations Of organgrindng ana
ragpicking unmolested. something OF pa
tronzing contempt ruling the more niuential races
that had already stocked the ward. But the Italians
in this city have increased wonderfully. Where they
numbered 2739 on the immigration lists III lS7l,
they numbered 1863 In 1872 Increase OF i5o III one
wear where they were oddities in the Sixth Ward, they
now rank high in number where their language was
strange, more familiar thah Elglsh "neIe
pick rags they sweeping streets, iaylng paw
ments. and laboring on the 1ouevarus' uS ~ iae,
very heavy proportion OF the WORK Oh tue Guy
ments ,,oo, ,v,,hi, the area
named The houses are hailed. fourstory tene
m.nts old and fr with easements aud back yards In
most Of these Italians lodge az many as egnt ah zen
In fn room in the rear oil no 81 Talhs'. 10
we're counted ali of whom slept In the room, ying COW
erless on the floor neraced head and heel 70 economies
space wood fire blazed ftfuly IN an open fireplace
filing the room with smoke Great, rugged fellows IN
their shirt-sleeves sat about the room on thelr
launches. smoking. There were no chairs or
tables and no hight but that from the nre
Dirt was visible the floor SO thick that the tread oi
men i'm heavy boots was not audible, and slime oozcd
from the walls against which the men IN their shirt
sleeves leaned The other rooms In the same house.
four floors OF them were all IKE tns NOT woru OF
English was spoken. When asked II any one among
them could speak English, nearly every Joined Ia
me answer 'No, No: Italiano." description OF one
room of this will for all There are three
blocks Of these houses IN Baxter Park and Mulberry
sts alone more respectable COLONY occupies tene-
ment Crosbyst. above Spring and others are 10 be
found Wooster and Greeue-sts. III Il sjd tnht cic
ment-house propretOrs usually very eager 10 let
their these nthy wrctches because Of tc hsh
prices they he made 10 pay. Enterprslng lthah1
usually ply mucA VI "a week IOi one "lctchou
room, and sublct IL 10 ten or tWeNr ot
their countryrnen at about 81 mead There
are among them, lhc
men generally being impressed with tue Idea OF making
money enough Ia year Or two by industry ana econ
omy return 10 Italy aud 1--we the rest o thelt ses III
ease Very few OF them, for that reason, become hatu
rallied Notwithstanding % OF them we're Haccihatci
recently the bulk of them are stii techatc
IL. .gI.as. 81 Sen WvIta- - UAI-fIu --u II -i- -La