The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-31
UNTENABLE ARMORIES.

BAD SANITARY CONDITION OF THE BUILDINGS
IN WHICH THE FIFTH, sIxTY-NINTH AND
OTTER REGIMENTS WERE LATELY QUARTERKD-
FRESH ALB AND WATER DEMANDED.
The late unfortunate experience OF several regiments
of the National Guard who were compelled to put up
with very Distressing lack of accommodations whilo on
duty has drawn public attention wreichcd con-
dition OF some of our militia armorics They certainly
ought to be at least comfortable and we'll ventilated
places, considering the enormous sums of money
spent upon them millions In the aggregate)
The armores Of the New YORK city regiments should
be tho finest the whole country, but with one or
two EXCEPTIONS they coniesscdy inferior to those
Of most large cities Tho money spent on them during
the past years would have been enough an
armory utter the most approved designs for each one
OF the regiments In the First DIVISION and the city
might then own all OF them ITSELF Tho burden oil
complaint is directed against tho ventilation and the
water supply. Tho former was SO bad ut the armory
OF Fifth regiment Twenty third street that the
doctor was compelled to advise the men "
60 out on the sidewalks and street in search
Of fresh air, but In doing 80 some
nifty sixty cases of sunstroko resulted Yct the
consequences might havo been worse had they re-
manned in the tainted atmosphere of the building.
Except the armory OF the Seventh regiment all the
Of the sixty ninth IS especially deiecive-n iact II
be the worst In the city, 1t il
over Essex Market, ON Grand street, when Is no par.
tcular recommendation, Tor the market needs over
hauling and purifying almost much the al mories
THE UNHAPPY six1Y-yINTu.
On the first floor. where tho uvatory and retiring
rooms, along win the officers Apartments and Others
are situated, vile, sckenins odor filled the air ny
the ist three days Of It's occupation by the soldiers
THIS arose from tho imperfect closet accommoda-
lion, which was Inadequate 10 the wants
OF even twenty men. not to speak OF i've
hundred. There were only three wash Uasins where
there should have been at least ,y. The floors stair
and corridors were dirty the market pace
down slair-. which has never been seen clean In
twenty years The officers and mon loud In their
complaints OF the total neglect shown of thor CON-
tort convenience. and the cases OF SICK
ness ana prostitution brought OH by this state OF nj
fairs acsted that The soldiers had good cause or com
plant Perhaps they suffered less, though very httIc
then the men OF the Fifth regiment. who instead OF
beng quartered over market were located over a
s,auic which smclled horribly anu might be thought
sufficient TO drive straight to suicide "a man
compelled 10 SIT In dleness directly over
,s sliding fumes through the long hours Of July day
Tho smell from the market while not 80 abomi ma Die
bad enough, aud not only haunted oGeusiveiy tho
hostrils day and night, but penetrated the clothing
and fastened itself In the very opderms of the
The first rush to the rivers side bath wnen the
order was given the Sixty NINTH zach man with a
piece of soap his hand to scrub tu
out OF his pores. Their example was quickly followed
by The Fifth.
AN INSPECTION DEMANDED
Tho armores OF these Two regiments simply dis
graceful ana II Is possible tho service of lhe Mn
tiona Guard may be needed again Tor long longer
period than the last the sOders that the
Official Inspection OF the accommodations provid cd
for them ~ present is made the better. The men muir
INJURED little for obvious reasons, but those who saw
tnen their armorcs could perceive IN what CTS
they were shamciuiiy neglected SO great was The
taint ~ the atmosphere at the Fifth rcgi-
mcnt nrmory that large quantities OF chic
ride OF lime had TO be used ON tue
floors and walls 10 Keep them In anything like an endur-
anc condition. The quarters of Battery g. Thru rag.
inien ON White street, between Centre aud Elm may
we'll enough Tor artillery which nobody xpccts
10 see dragged into drawing room, but 1t s dark un
wholesome place. nevertheless tu o cobwebs and rats
The Centre Market Armoy 10 out III kept yet II Is not
without adequate ventilat'on as II Is exposed foul
regiment has excellent ventilation though perhaps IL
that regard the Seventh the best situated
having clear space ali around its foul
wallis The model OF tho seventh armor,