The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-15
Misdirccted Philanthropy.


Another grand plan for improving The
condition OF the poor has gone the way OF
many such schemes. AT the time the Arti
sans dwelling act OF 1875 was preached Ia
the British Parliament IL was regarded by
enthusiastic persons as a happy solution OF
one serious problem. The object OF the
act was gradually 10 rid the crowded
parts OF London OF old tenement
houses, which were the abode OF fifth,
immortality, and disease. For this pur-
pose The Metropolitan Board OF Health
were authorized 10 condemn all such build
ings aud tear them down. Before the
buildings could be removed, however, the
Board were Obliged TO pay the owner fair
IN assessed valuation for bis property.
The structures could then be RACED to the
ground and the site or lease be sold to the
highest bidder who would agree TO put
I'D improved tenement-bouses. The late
Conservative Cabinet deemed this measure
one OF the most ingenious and bene-
sicient ever contriyed 10 improve the cOndi-
ton OF the London poor, and claimed great
honor for deyisIDg it and forcing its adop-
ton. 1t has now been in operation five
years, and what is the results The Board
OF Works have condemned and torn down
the foul roOkeries which covered six large
aress and resOld the grounds to landlords
who promised better things. They have
paid high prices for buildings which
were totally worthless. In this way they
have made it an object for landlords to
allow their ienements TO rot and almost tual-
Die down without the least attempt to save
them from ruin by timely repairs. The
owners have actually taken pains 10 call the
attention OF The Board TO the dilapidated
structures IN order 10 procure the condemna-
ton and the high prices which the Board
were always compelled to pay. On the
six areas already mentioned the loss
10 the London taxpayers has been
1852, coo. IL would probably have been
more had not the Board OF Works
fortunately found purchasers for all
OF them in the Peabody trustees. The
Board long ago discovered that nothing is
easier than TO buy worthless property, and
nothing harder than to sell 1t except at a
great sacrifice. On eight other areas OF
ricketty houses which have been bought
and torn down, the estimated loss will not
be les thar $500, 900, and ii the Board exc.
cute their present ambitious designs in
full still another clean million Of pounds will
be wasted on other purchases. Ii is sand,
however, that the Board will not longer
persist in this folly. They feel that five
years IL sufficient term for testing the
Artisans dwelling act. II is a cause Of sur
prise that the Board should have perseyered
so long Ia transferring money from the
pockets OF the taxpayers to that OF grasplDg
house owners and landlords, who are the
only persons hitherto benefited. We could
explain 1t easily IL the Board were Of the
New York pattern. AS for the poor dis
possessed persons, they are worse of than
ever. They have been deprived OF homes
for which no better substitutes have yet
b, en- found. Fer, while the Peabody truss
tees have covered all or q part OF their SIX
areas with so-called model dwelling houses,
other OF the cleared spaces have not been
built Up. AS result the tenants who have
been turned into the street are driven to
seek bad quarters elsew here. The London
authorities declare that the tenement districts
OF the city are more cyercrowded than
ever. The net consequence Of the act is
undoubtedly positive harm TO the London
poor. Aud this harm has been inflicted at
cost OF million or more Of pounds TO the
taxpayers. As The experiment turns out
il would have been far better to have raised
funds for the relief OF the poor by a special
tax and expended IL upon them directly.