River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-03-14
Homes for the Poor.

Harpers Magazine.
Miss Octavia Hills organized work
among the poor" proves to be the one
lever by which order may be brought out
of chaos. 1t is impossible to give full
picture of her labors, but the main features
of her work will be understood, we thir k,
if we should suppose lady of our ac-
quantence to buy one of the worst dens at
Five Points or in North street, and be-
come the landlady of such tenements, TAX
ing her chance of the thieves and cut
Threats who haunt these localities. No
go-between is employed, the lady calls
weekly for her own rents. She gives no
charity, but by her attempts to give the
people work and to further their welfare
inspires confidence in her sympathy.
This is Miss Hills plan, and the details
of her success are worthy the profound
study of every man or woman who de-
sires to help the needy and unfortunate.
Philadelphia is the paradise of working
man. That city seems to bear the palm
palm not only comfortable tenements, but
for cooperative companies, which work
to great advantage to the laboring classes.
Not one of the smallest of the good ends
achieved by the Centennial Exhibition
was more extended knowledge of the
humanity and wisdom of Phila delpha in
this particular. The phrase ''poor work
ing-man " is hardly known in that favor
ed city. Mr.. Josiah Quincy, who has
| labored most earnestly for a better con-
dition of the working people, says he was
| long ignorant of the. cause of this desi-
rable state of the laboring men of Phila-
delphia, until he discovered that there
existed within its limits five hundred
loan and building associations.
| Apart from new tenement-houses Tor
/ the poor, there was started in Boston, as
direct result OF DR.. Bowditch's efforts,
in April, 1872, the Boston Co operative
Building Company, in order to ascertain,
! by some well considered experiments, by
what methods, profitable enough to be
readily followed, comfortable and healthy
dwellings for working people could be
! furnished in and near Boston. Three
such experiments, namely, the hiring, the
buying, and the building of tenement
houses, have been entered upon. Perhaps
the most interesting act the corporation
/ has performed is the hiring of place
called the Crystal Palace. This build
| ing was selected "as the abode OF filth,
robbery, drunkenness and prostitution,
Under the rule ofthe company the follow
ing excellent results have been obtained ::
The building outside, instead of being a
disgrace to the street by its filthy look
has neat appearance.
1t has changed its name, and now instead
of the name of contempt Crystal Palace,
it is styled the Lincoln Building Before
coropartion entered, riot, murder and ar
rests for drunkenness ana family broils
were of constant occurrence. All is now
changed. The trade of the police is vir-
| tually gone. The chief of the district re-
ports that during two months he heard of
no complaints there. The grog-shcp that
had existed from the time of the erection
of the building was swiftly swept away.
A Holly-tIee Coffee house has taken its
place. The basement tenments taken
were shut up Immediately after the COM
pany took possession. Very large shafts
have been cut through all the doors, wi h
ventilators above them, and rooms that
have never had light and air have now a
sufficipucv OF both"