The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-15
PEABODYS BENEFACTION.
THE DWELLINGS THAT HE built
FOR LONDON'S POOR.
The Characteristics and MANAGEMENT Of
These Model Tenement Houses-Ten Conn
pleted and Occupied by 10000 Persons.


Prom me London Daily Nelos Jan. es.
It is little more than six years since Geo.
Peabody died, and already ten Of the commodi-
Gus and substantial dwelling houses no be-
risen i'm the metropSlis ali save one, being com.
pleted and occupied. The 0rst, built In Spital-
fields. and completed during the HE lime OF Mr..
Peabody, has since been followed by the cree
tion Of others in Backfriars road, Stamford
street, shadwell, Islington, Chelsea, bermond-
sew, Westminster, Southwark, and Pimlico. This
last IL stu In course Of building. and promises
to be the largest OF all, for IL stands on five acres
OF ground. and affords a ate for thirty-six
the WAY to completion. In the aggregate the
population Of Peabody's buildings Is probably
not less than ten thousand persons, being with
In tweDty-four OF the population OF 1lverton.
which returns two members to Parliament.
What the population will be In the course OF
twenty years might be calculated by an easy
sum that would probably be startling IN its re-
Pesbod v with the object Of providing improved
dwellings for the poor OF London was hali
million sterling, This Is capital sum laid out
but safe interest, which interest, as u accumu:
lales, becomes available for the building OF
dwellings and these will themselves, In the
magical manner peculiar to compound interest,
add further sums to the capital. and so on I'D in
dnituIn. The wise and benencent action of Mr..
Peabody has, In fact, planted 10 London good
" seed which will Increase and multiply TIL. In
the course OF time It's branches shall spread
for all who can prove their right TO dwell be-
meath 1t.
The latest addition to the rapidly increasing
number OF these Congeries OF homes has Just
been opened In Southwark street. II Is sub
stantial building Of twelve blocks, and, taking
the average Of four in each family, will supply
house room for about one thousand persons.
In each block thore are TWENTY-FIVE tenements
n few consisting OF one room, some OF two, and
many Of three, but each absolutely self con-
tanned and all "a private as II they were flats In
Victoria street. or In the Rue du Faubourg st.
Honore. The three-room tenements consist
80 take an average example--of kitchen Is feet
by II. a bedroom 10 feet by Is, and second bed
room IL feet 10y l6 The floors are boarded over
the walls are cementcd. and all are at present
room, that In the kitchen being furnished
with a capital oven and boiler. There are seve-
| raj cup0oards, one in the kitchen having
over IL meat-safe, with doors OF perforated
zinc. In the PASSAGE outside Is a coal bin Of neat
| and ingenious construction. capable OF hold
| ing half a ton. On each 1at there is a laundry,
with copper boiler, wtinging machine, and
| mangle. This Is devoted To the use OF four
| families who have toe privilege OF occupying II
| hv turns one day week Each fiat has dust
shoot. the tenant having no further trouble han
tD open /. aud drop down the contents OF their
shovel. Nor does this conclude the list OF
| special accommodations In these wonuetful
mansions. In an UNDERGROUND room of each
the tenants have access without charge, and as
| often rs tney piease. there being no other ncce1-
sary preliminary than that Of ctlilng ~ the SUI
perintendeut's uflicc tor the key. Gas IS prp-
| vidcd IN the wish houses aud through the
roomv stArcases. also ~ the expense II the
| trustees. The rent OF three roomed tenement
! u BE- 90. week; lot two rooms s. ID. and 4Jr
one room. 3s.
LiBENrY OF TnE TENANTS.
II Ia satisfactory to know that these advan-
| tnges, hich become all the greater when cons
trastod with the sort Il dwellings to which tue
poor - London are accustomed arc not tenn
| pcred by any arbitrary Interference with the
| liberty Of the tenant. There arc a few simple
rules enforced IN the bulldings, but they are de-
signed simply IN the Interests II order and
cleanliness. and FOR the general good Of tho ~.
tle community. For example Il Is ordained
that the passages. steps, and closets SHALL b,
swept every morning before 10 o'clock. and
washed every SATURDAY.; Tnis the tenants take
Il in turn TO do. Washing Il to be done only 10
the laundry. and caro- Is taken that the pac,
shall not become public wash house by the en-
clothes are to be washed" Possible Intention.
Of turning an honest penny arc further nippeC
in the bud by rule No. 10, rhere are onl'
thirteep). which DEGREES that no tenant
Will be permitted 20 underet or take IN dodgers
or to keen a shop 81 any kind" othe
clothes 70 dry; the disposal OF matter In tn
wrong place" bytfe simple expedlent Of throw
ing II out OF the window; OF the playing o
children on the stairs, in the passages or in IN
laundries; Of the keeping OF dogs; Of the paper
ing OF the walls, or the driving OF nails into th
mats after 10 o'clock In the morning. The habi
Of punetualty in money payments l. fostere'
shall be paid weekly in advance at the superin
tenden,'s once on Mondays, from A. NJ. I'll
p. NJ" and 10 clenched by the second, whic
terselv announces that " no arrears OF rent vii
pressed 10y rule II. which proclains that " tn
tice to quit who offer any eratuities eithor I
himself or the porters." and discipline Is cstat
iished by rule II, which promises disorderly ton
ants pronpt notice TO quit.
MINOR RULES.
This Is a full summary, almost a verbatim II
print OF the rules enforced ia each OF the dwell
tags, ana II will he seen that none Of them az
81 nature to be offensive TO honest, tidy pee
pie and that they In no way SAVIOR OF the her
tally undesirable discipline Of a charitaOl
institution. The spirit Of non-interirrenco
fully carried out In the matter Of iugress an
cgrsss The gas in the corridors Is turned OF a
IL o'clock and the outer doors are clos az Tor n
night but each tenant Is provided with tw
Keystone for his tenement and one for the outs
doOr-and may thus come aud 70 us he please
IL Is not surprising to know. having thus muc
OF preliminary inform alton. that Peabody
buildings never have any empty rooms. At tn
present moment the one In southwark sire.
has upon It's books upward OF three hundred AZ
piicants over and above the available accomm,
dalton. The tenants are strictly Of the labOrin
classes, IL being an Imprinted rule OF the plac
that no mau earning more than twenty Ave, {
AT most thirty shllings week, Is eligible r.
admission. Nothing else Ia required OF an IL
coming tenant further than a voucher OF his r,
suectahility. generally sought at the hands
his employer and other things being equal, III
superintendent makes practice OF giving III
preference to families where the bread WHINE
Is engaged at "A distance not too remote TO pr,
vent his returning home to take his dinner wit
| IA Ia