New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-07
cOycFPyIyG MODEL TENEMENTS.

Diagrams Of three of the designs which have
carried off prizes in the recent competition Tor
model tenements are brought before the eyes
of our readers this morning. These designs
are based upon n single plan, and have many
minor merits in common. The precautions
against fire are adequate each family lives
apart from other households on the same
floor: the sanitary appointments are excel
lent the interiors are conveniently arranged
and the estimated cost is so low that such
buildings if erected would yield handsome re-
turns on the investment. The radical detect
of these plans is inadequate ventilation. lhere
is dark room in every suite in three OF the
four prize plans and in the remaining de-
sign only those suites which are in the rear
of tho house are properly lighted and
ventilated. Air shafts and wells such
as are provided in these plans are
scarcely more serviceabe than chimney
flues. and the middle room in each
suite borrows both light and air from the
kitchen, parlor or another bedroom. Doors
may be widened and recesses for air shafts
deepened, but such makeShifts as these VIII
not answer the requirements OF health.
There must be plenty of pure light and
pure air in every room, or the model
tenement will be little better than sham.
Every room must be lighted and ventilated
by windows opening directly upon street or
court. Wherever there are dark bedrooms
children will be poisoned with foul ar ana
will grow up sickly and vicious. II our
working people are to live in wholesome
homes their bedrooms as well as their
kitchens must have direct air and direct
liyht. That is fundamental law of health,
whether there be few or many in the house
hold and the families OF the working classes
are invariably large, save as death thins them
out prematurely.
These designers have taken the prizes, but
they have not solved the problem of tene-
ment-house reform. The Committee of
Award admit this failure and the plans show
il on their face. The friends of sanitary re-
form had been hoping that this competition
would lead to practical results; that as soon
as the "model tenement" appeared on paper
and received the sanction of competent
Judges, hard headed capitalists as well a
large hearted philanthrOplsts would take steps
to give the working-caSses homes where they
might grow healthy, wealthy and wise. Why
shouln contractors 20 on building badly, when
il could be demonstrated that it was cheaper
i'm the beginning as we'll as in the end to
build well 1t was safe to infer that inves-
tors stood ready to accept any plan which
WIS economical as well as scientific. But
now that the prizes are awarded, it is plain
that no progress has been made III
practical reform. These plans do not
answer the requirements OF sanitary law.
They are no better than designs which
have already been carried into effect in many
quarters Of our city. II the committee has
made n judcious decision, 1T has simply es-
abliShed the fact that a model tenement
house cannot be built upon an ordinary city lot,
- by 100 feet, and that some other system
of division should be adopted AZ basis.
BY all means let us have another cOmpcti-
ton during the present year conducted under
fewer restrictions. Ii the "mOdcl tenement
cannot stand on a single city lot surrounded
bv brick walls, it must be built somewhere
else. On a corner if not in the middle OF
block on two city lots, or even four, If not
on one but certainly somewhere.