The New York herald., 1879-03-28
HOMES FOR THE POOR.

MEETING OF CAPITALISTS To ORGANIZE A
MODEL TENEMENT HOUSE coMPANY-A
LIBERAL POLICY STRETCHED our
The subject of better homes for the poor. not
only as means of the Improvement of that class.
but legitimate channel for investment and fields
for commercial enterprise. is growing rapidly in
popular favor. Yesterday afternoon party OF capi-
taliss met at the Office Of Mr. James Taicott Nos. lOS
and ITO Franklin street. for the purpose of discussing
the subject and forming an organization. Among
the gentlemen present Mr. James Scott. the i'm
porter. No. % White street, Mr.. Henry T.. Russell.
founder OF the house of Russell. Irwin & Co.. and
Mr.. Francis A. Palmer, President of the Broadway
Bank Each member of the committee has pledged
himself to subscribe $4,000 toward building fund,
to be represented by stock to the same amount.
Five plans of model tenement houses were SUBJ
mitted by architects, and. although there
siderable discussion, no definite action taken.
Mr.. James Talcott. during the course Of the
proceedings, gave expression to his views as fol-
lows, and they were adopted as the of the
meeting There are half million of people living
in tenement houses on this island. Among these
there q large number of respectable men, women
and children who long to.get out ofthem; who dis.
like their surroundings, and have certain ambition
to rise socially, but who absolutely canno. get
away--who have no place to so to- These people are
Just the people ought to keep in the city, they
must live their business. think it possible to
have them housed in handsome buildings at about
the same cost they pay in thor wretched
abodes, and to do it is necessary to take
radical step-namely, to take them away from their
surroundings. We know that on the Peabody estate
in London the effect of putting up one OF their
buildings was to improve the health and morals of
the district, while tho death rate in London is "a
in the 1000 the death rate in the Peabody mansions
is 16 in the 900. 1t is perfectly true that while the
Peabody houses have been great success they failed
to attract in numbers any but the thrifty and orderly
But there is not suit of rooms vacated but there
are ten applicants. The city of Glasgow spent
$SOOOO0O in sweeping several acres of slrs off tho
face Of the earth, and now splendid streets and
squares rising up the site, and the strangest
part that in few years the increased rental will
pay the entire cost Generations OF good men and
women in Glasgow had died struggling to reform the
wretched place. but never succeeded till by . su-
pree effort il flashed into their heads to sweep it off
the face of the earth.
ave think handsome suit of four rooms should
be rented for 500 year. The buildings should be
within few blocks OF the Central Park. II all the
mothers and children could reach the Park for only
an hour daily it would add much to the health of
the public Our ideas possibly little ahead of
the times, but we think We have strong army at
who want way out pointed out to them. OF
course there CRITICS who will point out weak
spots and We say to them, Give us your
counsel. We will hear what you say
and perhaps, adopt your suggestions We
have no lots for sale, prejudiccs as to
location. and although we have our ideas about the
sort or buildings required, we are willing to modify
them If any one shows u more excellent way. We
wish to make the tenants part owners and propose,
after paying Ave six per cent on the actual cost
to divide third of the profits among the tenants.
We also think great injury is caused by the tenant
and landlord seeing each other We propose
tnat the tenants elect of the directors from
be the mouthpiece of the tenants. II would pro-
mote a feeling OF independence to know that they
had direct interest in the building. The commit
will meet again at early day to decide definitely
on plan for model tenements