The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-10
CHEAP CITY LODGINGS.
How They Are Furnished and the Mes
Who Most Frequent Them.

How They Are Furnished and the Mes
Who Most Frequent Them.
Does this business pay 2" asked a re-
porter Of the clerk in one OF the ten-cent
lodging houses down town last night.
81 should say So" was the answer.
Why, the man who runs this house owns
half dozen in various parts of the city
on Chatham, Bayard, Houston and Thomp-
son streets. Just come in for q moment
and look around. 1t Is only midnight now
this business goes on all night--yet I
have been compelled to turn away dozen
or more for lack of room"
The scene was one that almost beggared
description. On one floor were some sixty
or more beds or hunks. On each were
mattress, single sheet and quilt. Two foora
above were similarly furnished. Every
bunk WAS occupied. The reduced gentle
man and the besotted tramp were here. The
snoring of some sleeper and the muttering
curse of some drunkard was heard, and the
foul smell of the place told of suffering and
misery.
Most of the patrons of these cheap
houses are regular customers" said the
clerk, but many of these only pay for
their beds from night to night Many of
them are lucky if they have few cents left
over next morning for q drink or cup OF
coffee. 1t is impossible to keep the house
clean, though we change the sheets weekly
aud have the place fumigated"
You ask me if the business pays !?
Well, the man who owns majority of the
cheap lodging houses-the ten cent and
fifteen cent yariety-is worth, 1 should say,
at least 100000. Seven years ago he was
not worth dollar
An italian who owns several lodging
houses in the city has also grown wealthy.
He charges twenty and twenty-five cents
for single rooms. The rooms are compart
ments, and are occupied by better class OF
dodgers. A few years ago there were few
cheap lodging houses in New York. Now
there are, perhaps, hundred. Thousands
of poor men patronize them, and some men
in good circumstances. Mcfarland, the
man who killed Richardson, used to lodge
In cheap place on the Bowery, and man
who was general in the Union army and
held one of the highest and most lucrative
city and Federal offices some time ago, was
SO reduced as to be compelled to seek shell
ter in a Chatham street lodging house. Ar
ex-colonel, who was formerly man OF
wealth, often comes here and quietly lays
down his ten cents for bed and departs
early next morning. The corner bed there
is now occupied by nm old physician, one
Of repute. He is old and broken down
Nov that winter has come, some of m,
dodgers are glad to be allowed to sleep on o
bench in the house or on a mattress on the
floor. We see much of misery and it pains
me sometimes to be compelled to turn
shivering unfortunates away. Mechanics,
peddlers, beggars and tramps and broken
down men who once owned thousands are
glad to get shelter here.
Yes, think rum is driving most of the
men to seek shelter in such places. know
lots of men who earn from 81 to 90 per
day who ut night have only ten cents 70,
lodging. Their money goes for rum
! God pity them. We get ten cents from
them at night, while the rumseller gets
dollar or more. Such 10 life."