New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-18
COMFORTABLE TENEMENTHOUSES.
A HOME WHERE POOR PERSONS MAY ENJOY LIFE
CLEANLINESS, TEMPERANCE AND GOOD ORDER.

A HOME WHERE POOR PERSONS MAY ENJOY LIFE
CLEANLINESS, TEMPERANCE AND GOOD ORDER
The problem of tenement-house reform is being
worked out with good results by an association OF
capitalists in. this city. Their large tenement
buildings at First-aVe seventy -hrst-st anu seven
ty-second-st. were described in The TRIBUNE some
months ago these buildings were opened for oc-
cupatIon last March, and the success of their plan
snow beyond question All OF the INSIDE apart h,s
nents facing the great courtyard ana all put
a few of the outside rooms opening on tne
streets are filled with quiet, respectable, hard
working men and women with their families Inc
Mace is I'm fact an orderly wel-managed village OF
nearly 900 inhabitants with It's bakers shop, gro
Gerry hardware-stOre, shOe-shOp. toy-store, apothe
carys shop free-ibrary, barbershOp and club-ro0lr
At no time is the contrast between TINS wen
ordered dwelling place OF nearly thousand people
and the ordinary tenement house more marked IMAM
at night. In place OF foul odors, sWarms OF ragged
aud dirty children and disOrderly noises that Ill the
dirty narrow courts and dllapldated nali-
WAYS of the common dwellings OF the cltyS
poor. there is at night spacious airy court yard
surrounded by hundreds of windows glowing Win
light from homes where children are sleeping III
neat beds and parents are busy Win h0use"OrA VI
are visiting their nelghbors. The cluD room Is
favorite resort in the evenings. Ii Is large Well
ventilated room whose clean white walls are COW
cred with neatly framed autographs and steel en-
cravings winch give the place refined appear
ance. There are small tables and plenty OF com
for,able chairs in the room and on centre table
the best magazines and newspapers,
with wei thunbed pages are scattered.
On Saturday evenings especially the tables are
surrounded with bakers, shOemakers, painters ana
artisans OF all kinds quietly playing cards, check
ers d0minOes or chess, while other workingmen are
smoking, reading and gOsslpplng together. In one
corner stands the well-patron1zed :" bar" as the
frequeniers of the clubrOOm call the large water
cooler and from this Is drawn the strongest Deyer-
age allowed in the club When the men leave this
place go to their homes they pass through
the still courtyard and up the clean
starways. catching now and then gllmpses
of pretty hOme-scenes through open doors,
instead of going home through the
nd foundations
in the open dOOrways of hquOr-shOps. No attempt
Is made to forbid the use of beer or other strong
drink in private apartments, but the tenants all
understand that drunkenness and disorder mean
prompt dismissal from the place. In consequence
of rigid enforcement of this rule in few INST nces
temperance Is observed by all In the buildings ana
incorporate persons do not apply for admission.
The library Is large, airy room contain
Ing several hundred volumes, of the
adults, and well selected books of other kinds.
There are piles of good newspapers, magazines
and industrial publications. IN English, German and
French, and many interesting pictures ad0rn the
walls. The advantages of this library are under
stood by the tenants, and nearly all the books are
out constantly.
Nothing about this populous village impresses the
visitor more strongly than the extreme neatness
that pervades every nook and corner; 1t keeps the
concrete floors of the coal cellars clean as typ
cal New-England kitchen-hoor and makes the
halls ami stairways, with their slate
steps and painted brick walls, shine with frequent
scrubOng,. A spirit of emulation IN cleanliness
seems to have seized every one in the buildings not
only III the homes, but also Ill the dozen or more
prosperous stores that occupy tine ground floor OF
the FlTst-ave side OF the buildings. Strict rules
are laid down in regard to the disiniecting of
sewers and drains. The janitors, engineers, and
tho three housekeepers, with their subord-
mates have specific duties TO perform in connee-
ton with this and similar matters; and each
one is held rlgidly responsible for the perform
ance of his duties. As a result Of this. not
the slightest odOr. offensive or inoffensve, can be
detected in the open sewers of the buildings. Be-
tween June l and October l, out of the 400 IN the
,lrinW Il ..,trN
died OF the BRAIN; another, n nursing
child came there with cholera lnfantum, and the
third was born in the place and hyed only seven
days neither its heart nor lungs having performed
their functions properly. The apothecary, whose
shop is III the buildings, complains that while the
place pleasant and the people are good nelghbors
there is not enough sickness TO suit him. His only
hope now he says Is that the coming winter viii
bring a paying crop Of coughs and colds