New-York tribune., 1882-03-10
THE IoDGING-HoUsE INSPECTION.

THE IODGlNtI-HOUSE lNSI ICilCN'
THE TRIBUNE reporter whO recently accompanied
Dr. Hobbie through the cheap lodging-house In the
Fourth Ward went wi IN Dr. NJ. ID. Field, the oiher
health inspector appointed 70 inspect these ioIgg
of this character between Broadway and Chatham
ST. Dr. Field was one of the three physicians de-
tailed last spring to rid the konglmghTsTs kaa neTs
than a dozen cases were found within a short
time, but bv careful inspection prompt action and
checked. The health inspector always has po-
liceman of the Sanitary Squad go with MN IN these
midnight tours. This policeman Is acquainted Win
the district viii ch the inspector wishes TO vistand
lis presence is often needed to protect the health
officer. o,
Duane-sts The first call was at No. sos Peari-st
The proprietor objected at first TO having his apart
ments visited assuring the inspector. with many
apologies for his appearance, that ne was llnpllc
itly obeying the letter and the spirit OF the aw,
and that he had full permiss ion from the Board
of Health to keep as many dodgers as were III 'he
Bnt we just wish to go through the house." said
DR.. Field pleasantly , ,.,.y
SAID the keeper of the dcnfOr such 1t proved to be
on the upper floors; Upon the first ana second .St
oHT tho Sard ard of 9o Heas @of That
asleep there. The price for DeG III these rooms Is
l5 cents The inspector insisted upon gong to tue
roof of the house, fearing that the law was being
eyaded. The two upper floors very badly
crowded. Each of these floors was also limited 10
thirty odgers Tut on one were found f nlty-eign'
night for cents. When demonstrated with b for
sd he aT the a@ to CiSp dS ean @
turn all these extra out of DOORS this cold night
AS it is, have already turned away nifty men To-
night There no beds on these two floors, but
the sleeping men lay canvas hammocks, about
twenty inches wide and placed one foot apart ana
one above another, arranged nKe the Derths III q
steamer. The rooms were very hot. Crowded with
twice as many filthy men, many OF them intoXl-
Gated as ought to have broathed the close air, the
room was also heated with large coal stove, which
was placed in the centre. Several of the men were
drying their clothes before the fire. having washed
them best t9s tRy Sond ud be % dbsedP bH o
perform their morning ablutions few
hours later. On the floor, unable to procure ham,
mocks upon which to rest themselves, lay several
men. Oitentimes two tramps will agree to divide
hammock one sleeping upon the floor half OF the
night and then waking his partner and changing
beds The price is the same, bed or board
The inspection was formerly conducted in the
day time the propretor's word being taken as lndl-
building but when the inspector goes when not
expected, and insists upon entering at once there Is
no chance to be deceived. Occasionally, house Is
found where some one of the lodge1s, Is sui
fering from the effects of dipSOmania, when the
interview is usually carried on by the police
man and the suffering persNon' cit Sueh 11o1I an
place The permit allows eight dodgers in the
basement but accommodations were f0nnd foT four-
teen persons. The chief business OF the family the
husband and his wife, was to convince the doctor
that really, SIT, most of them are ld4e" Not un-
derstandiug TO what them referred, tue reporter
was Informed that a bed was considered " idle"
when not occupied, and that person may have an
unlimited number of such - idle beds. When lhe
inspector entered of the apartments to ascertain
if it IN an idle" condition, Its occupant; at
least was found to be busy. Grasping bottle that
emitted a suspicious odor, the man was about to hur
it at the inspector when the policeman suggested TO
the man that he had better save his glassware Tor
future use and order was again resumed, and the
work of inspection was continued. ONT; omen were we're
found IN some of the rooms. The ventilation III TINS
house was not bad, and the bedding was clean AT
No 81 Mulbcrry-st place was found without any
permit from the Board Of Health TO keep l0dgers,
although it was said that application had been
presented for license. .
Dr. Field saiQ that his course, after finding such
violation of the rules of the Board OF Health was 10
which was acted upon by the officers OF the Health
Department, and executed by u.cmber OF the San
itary Squad. He added: 81 wish you could have
seen the lodging houses when the inspection was
first ordered a wear ago YOu have seen some cases
of filth and misery tonight but this was only q
shadow of the conditions of many houses last sprng
They are necessity-these cheap places OF rest
for the men at night who are begging from door 10
door or hanging around cheap saloons during the
day. The men are thus provided for, but the poor
women have fewer advantages" and the doctor led
the party into the dark hall OF house III MulDerry-
ST. where nothing could be seen until match was
lighted and then pitiful spectacle was presented.
On the floor huddled together closely as possible,
sat half dozen women. Two or three were asleep.
snoring as peacefully as If they had been III the
softest bed One OF the unfortunate creatures said
that they often slept there when they could not
earn enough during the day to pay for a nights
lodging Rolled up in heap, with shawl cover
ing her completely, lay an old woman, sixty years
old, sound asleep.
A visit was also made to an Italian beer shop and
TO Chinese opium den, but at both these places
the men in charge denied that any one lodged there
feel encouraged, as they continually see marked
improvements in their pectlVe districts.