New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-14
MODEL TENEMENTS.
FREE EXHIBITION OF DESIGNS.

rF"Htl baN move into " the model Icneuent Louise"
and learn 70 b. healthy wealthy and wise" 1t will
not b because u has not planned for them hun
dreds OF time-. At the L-avit, Art Rooms there
now IA many ~ $50 designs FOR improved houses for
rorAnGinen and poo. families. These have been re-
eoYed ~ 'mpetitlon arranged by Ths PLUMBER and
SdP"dry Engineer conformity with ID. Willis James Y.
b. I4urber, Henry J.. Pel.v aud Robert Gordon.
Premiums amounting to $500 offered for the best
four designs or model tenement house which proper
DISTRIBUTION light ana pure ar could be secured, with
an Arrangement OF rooms that would yield rentals
sufficient TO make the Investment Temunerative The
interest man tested IN the subject has surpassed
pectaton. Not only have a very large number OF plans
been sent in, but the where they have been
hhitl1n since February has been crowded with
vstor'-riergymen sanitary engineers architects,
builders and capitalists The exhibition will close
morrow
by the terms OF competition the designs are for tene-
ment house 70 be erected oramped city lot - by
100 feet which Il ncOsed by buildings NJ the sides and
IA me rear The building ~ be OF brick with floors Of
imoer Tue Committee of Award consists Of the we'll
known architect, c. Hatfield. Professor c. f. Chand-
Ter thr Rev Dr. John HilItAe Rev. Dr. Henry c. Potter
ani Robert Hoe The considerations which are 10 have
most WEIGHT with them In determining the award are
these o. security agn nst confederation Including fire.
PROOF starcases open 70 the arr y distribution OF light;
~ ventilation ~ drainage ann other sanitary appoint
mens to- scclusIOu OF each suite O rooms, aud pub
citY OF access TO them; o. convenience OF arrange
mens "a lnexpensiyeness. Toe prob en- was rendered
more complex by the division Of Nes-York real estate
INTO narrow ci,y lots.
The Response to the proposals has been more general
than the most sangune friend Of sanitary reform ccud
nave hoped for Zach des gn drawings OF the Priu
cpa floor, the second story lOngItud nal and
trout elevation; and many or the plan, have special
details or features eabor1tely worked out In cODplr
lg these designs aud pouuug their merits and de-
4 w La a.
10 look at them through the EYES OF the capitalist large
or small who Is wiling u build model Tenement If he
can hr convinced that u viii yield MIN far for
his Investment Clergymen may hold coHfer-ncesaad
II + an exec lent thing to don regard 10 the wreched
ness tenement Ife and lis tendency spread disease
and stimulate crime. but philanthropy alone Will not
give me wording people homes where they VII sin
lees and thrive more. II It can be demonstrated that
such a model home will pay fair percentage Oh the
cost. this great measure or sanitary reform wifi be
dertaken large scale good stroke ~ business.
IL good sign that many .nrewd calculating
have been LOOKING at these plans during tae week. II
looks Ike d" business"
LIPRACrICABLE DESIGNS.
one OF the most mpracrcIb.e designs is No. 30. II
does bear fa4test resemblance to tenement
house. There three and each family IL
pected TO Use drawingroOm and 70 occupy an entire
floor II "a needless o. add that family requiring
many and 80 snowy mont would lot 1--we in
euc m-ut-AOI-r at al mere 10, moreover, al unnece--
sary law IN his model The depth OF the house Is 100
feet and there Is skyight IN the rear. II would nave
been very simple mater have the house back
few feet 50 as have lad windows IN the rear instead
this awkward -kylight The ventating apparatus IN
oxygen" Is obviously expensive. Exec sIOr' Is
den mat Is far too fancfu u deserve serious atten-
ton. Bedtime Il wgetchedlydraw plan; but one
can see al ance that staircases would be rather
confusing 10 tenants Of uncertain habits, II they
were 10 niger IN the groggery long atte curf W
Tuen again. there many corners Working people
20 remain long IN tenement; ANA II hey
have carpets they cannot afford 10 spoil them for Tue
next moving" by cutting them to H. irreguagy
shaped "Nodernzed Is obviously an expensive
house IN which there IS style tuan sunlight The
wells covered with skYghts enough condemn H.
Health Is Happiness would do well enough II tene-
ments were built in tho breezy country. and
not In clese and stury cities. CONNIE Il
,,ut" and AdsIm are expensive designs
which no practical builder would undertake to exc
CUTE Tine second hes only two stories above the
ground hJOr, which Is used store. II would have To
10 run higher In order warrant the Investment II
Il nard moreover, hat j. gained by having two
.taircases IN several plans notCeably In the one
labelled Dieu defend i droit," there are Queen Aune
windows. Possibly the delcacy OF such architecture
would exert refining influence upon the lives OF WORK
tug p-opie, but the game not worth the candle These
windows smut out light and air. and light
ennng. Bona fde' 10 also IN the livery OF
Queen Anne bat - a more sensible design. The model
- intended for best class Of tenement popu alton.
only Two families being accommodated on q foOr Al
or snal but expensive design 5 Non cOuscre sioi, In
which three houses are connected by open b-dges IL
ono Comfort fully one-third of the space Is reserved
FOR courts. This is clear Another " Comfort"
nss four private bathrooms on each door, out the de-
.lsn does not look pracucaDle
sONg OBVIOUS OBJECTS.
Many Of the plans are married by obvious defects
The most icut thing manage - the distribution Of
light and It this respecr that so many competitors
ali bebud the best WORT. The uOGe tenement IL which
the workngman's family will have wholesome exist
euce must be thoroughly ventilated There must De
plenty OF pure air and direct light. Wells and sky
lights will not suffice. Every room must be lighted
directly from Without. This is indeed the most I'M
portant condition upon which tho Committee Of Award
have laid stress Not Of the con petitors have
solved this complex problem most satisfactorily but
ONE Of them have rot been 80 successful Ihe rooms
ID lie model bearing the pols uIe Inc POor ye
nave always with YOU ars iu'udiciehtIy lighted.
HOpe" - design WIKI good features; the S11irca7's
are 10 the aud the closets are az safe distance
.,utside Iu; there are middle roOins with borrowed
usht No ~ good In many respects but there one
d.rL bedroom. "suIsuLe" i the PHEASANT motto OF
another design bu TIE sweetness and iSht arc IN the
tile rather than Ia the house. In one UtlAtJ thrFo
are two this motto) there are arrows slowing the
direction Of the currents OF air but obviously the ven
tlstion Ia imperfect. IN Hard Cash. Peabody
aud many designs room borro"s ught and alr
rrotJ another.
Other designers seem 20 have Stumbled over their
.taircasrs winding staircase 10 nuisance ~ tsEe-
-n,. How .rrJus for chi dren would be The sfaAFs
, 81 uum culqur"! Two families on eaca floor enter
by the ornamental tower front while the third house
mold use side entrance which Is safer, although not
;, snowy Pro bono pu0uco" IS an odd device In
which nal WAYS aud rooms are grouped fanta7HcaIy'
II not ngenlousy Out there TOO many sharp angles
corners turned where there Is no chance oF Wild
low ana AZ orderly would bo az her wis END
IN ARA, .lns her furniture. IN Tentative the ataiE-