The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-04
PAUpERS IN JERSEY CITY.
UNFORTUNiTEs TO WHOM THE AIR
or HE1VEN RS DENIED,
Tue Over-crowded Pest House nc snake Hill
| -Chiidrcn Packed Five In Narrow bed
| Fiitb, Disease, and vice CemminaIed.

Tue Over-crowded Pest House nc snake Hill
Children Packed Five In n Nnrrow bed
Fiitb, Disease, and vice Communicated.
The overcrowded condition OF the Hud-
son county almshouse, at Snake Hin, N. j., rem
ders 1t little better than a pest house. The
almsnouse building was constructed In 1852, to
accom- odate go persons. It contains between
700 aud 800 In the attic, which is low, unventi-
lated, and insuflcontly lighted. 22l men sleep,
upon cote laid so closely together that there Is
barely room to move around them. The win
dows are small and the sashes dIsproportio nate
ly large, 40 that, at the most, only . foot Of
opening can be obtained. THIS attic was not In
tended for use as habitation.
In the rooms on the women's aide OF the
building, women, babies, and children are hud-
died together on the floors and beds In filth and
sdaal9r re wiIdows eyep I'm IN h2 is tss
rooms Ia unendurahle to visitor.
There ga children In the alrnsh ouse, and
these are packed In the beds One small I'M
ventilated dofmitory containing seven beds Is
the sleeping room for % children.
Three children reclne at one end OF each Of
the narrow cots, and two Others are laid be-
tween them, with their heads at the other end,
the nve pairs Of little legs being fttcd scientif
icaly In the limited space. Thus one bed serves
for i've children. The woman who superinteDds
the sleeping ARRANGEMENTS IN this particular
room expressed the opinion that the plan vas
admirable, and would work chsrmingly II IL
wasn't that "the little bycs Ia apt to kick In
their sleep" During the early spring twenty
III Of the measles.
wherever. on either side OF the building, there
are chlldrens rooms, the cots are fitted up with
pillows ut each end TO accommodate a double
or triple set OF occupants. In some Inst noes
two beds are placed side uv side, and outsiders
declare that as many as twelve children have
passed night after night huddled together In
this wav.
Miss Osborn, the matron, said, recently, that
there are now sixty persons suffering from the
measles In the almshouse. Twelve have died
within fortnight. The hospital rooms IN
almshouse building, and the impure air from
them mixes with tue atmosphere OF the other
rooms.
The odor Of the kitcheusi Ia added to the smells
which pervade the halls and dormitories. The
closets are separate structures, but directly be-
are OF primitive design. Inc laundry IA old
fashioned. damp and unhealthy. The women
have to be driven into II 10 do their work.
The means Of insutinR cleanliness am one tho
Inmates are very deficient. Crippled, slovenly
men and women have charge OF the rooms, and
are not Obliged to keep the windows open.
The air or the marshes which surround Snake
Hill enRenders chiiis and fever, and the inmates
OF the buildings have TO be fed with qunine to
ward on tho disease.
The puupers show the lack of discipline In the
dirty conditioo Of their bodies aud clothing.
no signs Of any ament beyond laziness. I here
Is no definite separation OF sexes, and wee
fOurishes.
within a stones throw Of the slmshouse. and
designed to relieve it, are four or Ave new and
spacious pavIions. They remain empty while
az 10 whether the men or the women shall
be removed into them. The Grand Jurors
have declared the almshouse 70 he n q dis.
graceful and overcrowded cOnditfcn-