New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-04

lNFERtNCES AND SUGGfbllONS.
To IN, Edat0r OF The Tribune.
SIR: In The TRIBUNE of Dec. 3, 1870, ap-
peared graphic description OF the dodgers quarters at
th siotnn-o,,ses of this city The writer drew sad
r,cure of tbc accommodation which the sauonhouses
afforded 10 the homeless people who came there Tor
shelter aud described in striking language Che worthless
class OF men and women who mfest these plaees WIN
"a view OF verifying the statements made IN this article
have visited many OF these precinct houses at late
hour of the night and think it expedent to submit to
the public some OF the facts which Ey investigation has
given me- With few exceptions, the 81 statonhoses OF
the city receive shelteess people Tor the night Tue
accommodation for this class Is mainly the same IN al
the precinois-a board place upon the hoor Is
all that the odgcr receives The room is heated either
by an iron stove or In OF the houses the heat
rlaes from the cells the story beneath. The LOGGER
coues after 6 o'clock In the evening" and at In the
morning NE must leave. rule that is not universally
observed provides that the person shall not present
himself consecutive nights OF one month IN the same
precinct The Iarge number Of precincts OF the city
allows the applicant u visit in succession during the
same month the various staton-hOuses
In The Ninth Precinct, at No. % Chares-st, on the
evening OF IN 81, II men in room ski feet; in
room of the size the opposite side OF The pas
age-waY eight women. Some OF these people nave
been IN the habit Of coming here ior II or 10 years al
Intervals and their faces well known to The door
man In most cases the dodgers are addicted to drink
In the Sixtcouth Precinct mousse at No. 80 west
rwentiest there Is only provision for female l0G rs
Oecasloually sheiterless man Is allowed the privileges
Of a cell Most of these wOmeu are regular VistOF ana
the doormsn pointed out one who had been Tor hine
years visitor
Al the Twepty-nnth Precinct House. at No. 1877 West
Tbiriethst 40 men were scattered about the hoor OF
large room Half at least OF these were uampS; among
the others were many possibly deserving men. In the
room for women there only II, aud the most oil
these were tual drunSards
NJ
berry-s arr dodgers rooms two for men and two
for women The rooms are l9x0 feet. Ia one of these
were Is en-, some of the occupants nearly naked The
air was very hot and foul At 045 there were II
men aud 20 Wumen Here was a woman Win loihS
child whom on a previous evening, lad seen ct the
Ninth Precinct Hon e. On the evening before there bad
been 43 men and 20 women and for succession of oven
ngs of this Winter this seemed be about the average
number. IN the summer the average number Of Vslt"is
was much less In AUGUST last. for example, the visit
ois book show average Of ~ men and women per
night.
At the Fifteenth Precinct House, at No 22l Mercer-s
the room TO- men, less than 25x22l2 feet contained "A
dodgers qhe air was most impure. The dodgers art
mainly tralups and the doorDan lad seen most OF them
often before.
On the evening Of Feb the Thermometer marked In
the street Fair. At tn Seventeenth Precinct House
at First-avc. and Fifth-st. found % men and 10
women Threequarters OF the dodgers here the sergeant
believed be worthless people and drunkdrds As an
Illustration Of The character OF the guests here the Oce
stated that time ago supply OF provisions wac
sent to the -atonbOuse. TIE sergeant directed that
breakfast should he given TO the odseIs in IN" morning
The IN eakfast was left UNLISTED, and the men and women
went to some neighbOrng dTansbOP before beginning
their regular in quest OF food, by besgIbs hOIn
house to house.
At the Eighteenth Precinct House at No. 327 East
Tweny-secOudt were 90 for the most part Young anu
healthy men, IN the womens room were 10 .lodsers
The officer stated that the m1ordr ot people VINO COM
here for lodging were under the nincne OF nq1r rmu
that they hal been coming at norys during the IN
ter The OF the lowest class Ihe sergeant
stated tat when on da at tng so te, FIe et and
pfsfed each nam work at Recruiting at ~ per Gay.
The Fourth Precinct House, at No . otkst, has two
rooms, ANiO 'ect, tor msn ann Se rs MINI ~ ~ ~.
two-thirds tucse yisi sire ,rtns. ihel""6eth s
showed Tor ID c. 80, 81 m,n aud WOmeui Ir1. l. ~
men and women In July ON too other haid, ne Eiii
bers were rs low S men and Women ana once tHer'
All the sixth precinct at No Frsubln-st. in a
l5x25 feet, A. men, and often to nuhbel ran o.
ms inmates besgars description Living side by side
80 closely that visitor could gain n" aCcs t." the
than 80 years white aud black, ana men Of all nat:ona
ties The windows were closed, and no APPARENT means
OF ventilation. 1hc air Was mOlel2bic. An O.'h Siuh
was IN tire further corner OF the room au1 IN Leaf was
furnished by drum from the large stove which ueais
line CO Is ~ Ia story below. All but pc cut OF Thee,
men WERE tie opinion Oi the officer IN charge tri"iis
dmensons bat "a corner Of II is Appropriated ior the
purposes OF ante-roon. IN which occasional post
Tue First Precinct House, al No. 80 Newst has two
rooms fOr lOlsci Tor each sex Tie Oiser rtiF
scented the dodgers o. belong % tue wUISi class o.
the eOamuity. One case Ia part Cl0r was mentioned
OF for years had wandered liOh one STA
tion-nous, 10 another Tor "A ni@n's lOdg ng yoHBs
child born dunn this period OI aucy, Accompanies
the mother wLonever she cOu.es 10 TINS precinct
house.
Tire Twentv-seventh Precinct House il at M 90 Lib
erty-st Here tie faces the dodgers are nearly a.
falu ar o. the dOOrman.
such are tle incomplete OF a series Of visits at
OF l. precinct Luttses al Tine CITY. one Wnd ID
reference 10 thr comparative mreq eucy OF tie visits o.
the station houses Ia Summer Ihis
may be pat ly explained by tBo ict thot tese people
are % be iod neh after night ia july aud August 10
The lunbei-ysrds along the N,rtI River. PObaDy 500
men sleep these piles Ci lumber aud often from ih'
Eighth aud Nnt Precinct, squad OF police u srLt out
10 disw.rse tine tIfmps coll Ell IN these places II
must not be supposed that all u thcsf
iodrers are of the slue worthless class. The
statement has constantly been made by tie
officers In charge the stipDHouseS, La often some
Door thrown one OF employ mtnt, Wiz
out uears applies for aid. II possible vacant eel Is
pnt at thir usls sal il that not 10 bs had, Jey
Iuust take the Cancc with too traiDps, who 0in Y Ia
might bo expected, where large number OF the most
worthless al IS OF city Is lrrd'd lOgei &, every
sanitary Law violated, the 10 eegs quarters ec"0c
nest and sDuTce at infe lion 20 every new
visitor VINO 10 them May Vic quest Oh uOt he
asked, Is policy winch cOIupels oar ponce aU
thOrities help MAINTAIN arm! al Migrants, Who will
WORK, bt 20 from house 90 IOtlss soliciting Und re
ceiVng charity Oi which tncy are not worthy Does not
proper consideration for tho health OF the ity suggest
that these loci for disease suOud De removed anu ta
an institution which All ana physically Is oalcu-
lated 10 do " much harm should he aDoiishedf
RICHARD H. DELBY, NJ. ID.
Gec-Tork March l. 1876.