New-York tribune., 1886-04-25
BOSTON MODEL DWELLINGS.
LATEST SCHEMES IN TENEMENT HOUSE
REFORMS.

BOsTON, April 23.-AthOugh the suburbs OF
! Boston Increasing each year at almost western
rate growth with small wooden cottages ana doupc
houses for people Of moderate means the city VIII PROV
ably never freed tho need Of tenement houses
for homes for workingmen During the last few months
notable efforts have been made towari an improve
mcnt in tenements and In the last week especially some
schemes have been brought forward which show that
public Interest zoaous as ever In devisng plans Tor
model tcnomcnts The most remarkable or rather alda-
cious scheme is tho Building Association bill fayorably
renorted to Legislature by the Committee on Labor
As formulated by Mr. John VI. Berry the bill proposes
in brief that the State shall create loan or three MILL
ion dollars and that money should be distributed
among building corporations throughout the Sta.o Tor
the purpose of erecting houses for workiDgmon. Tho
houses shall cost five hundred dollars with tho
land style prescribed In the bill as two stand
and styles OF hoIses containing SIX rooms each
and no more Che purchaser OF house and lot shall
pay ten per OF It's at the time Of receiving the
privilege buying IT, and the balance in instalments,
the same tho OF other houses and lota" IL
working coud be induced to purchase houses which
with the land would be worth only $500, the scheme
its cumbersomcness and absurd details wouid
be entirely impractc Its cooperative features in
the possibility of the tenant becoming owner, since
the insalments equal TO rent, admirable and
have been proved useful in Philadelphia and other
places; but few eXcelencles cannot recommend the
plan Of providing State AID to build homes for working
teal, the tcnement schomes put jnto successful
operation by the Boston Cooperatve Building Company
and by private landlords like Mrs. Aco " Lincoln.
Within the past few months a molel tcnement-house
been opened by the Cooperative Building Company,
and though It's quiet maaagementhas not attracted pub
lie attention, 1t is in every way interesting anl
worthy experiment as many OF the widely
known improved tenemcnts. Tue company has
done what any owner OF tcnemcnt houses
ought to do II has given health
full careful supervision and respectable
neiShbors 10 the abOrng people who became its ten
ants; it has insisted clean halls ard sairways and
prompt payment OF rent. AMI has glven couveuences
for storing coal AMI drying clothes privacy and good
sanitary nents. In private ohce in its build
ngs It's agent receives complaints for repairs
and exercises personal supervision tho tenants
which is the best way OF encouragement The company
started abort sixteen years ago upon a capital
stock OF 100000. and possesses two blocks on
East Clnton-st. Ave small houses Carkst. house
on Thachcr-s'.. and detached aud sem-detached
houses In Dorchester some OF its most Interested mem
bers are Miss Abby w. May Mrs sarah w. Whitman,
Mrs. Alice " Lincoln. Charles w. Anory, Charles
L. Person. Rober; COlman George W. Pope and Martin
Brlmmer lis most notable experiment is on Th.cher-
st., whore large hoIsc IN every way model structure
for tenement house, WAS purchased last December.
placed thorough repair AMI opened to tenants About
II 900 have been devoted TO the plumbing repairs by
traps being placed under al The sinks and other work
and thc result IN tho gain In health has shown tho
benefits OF good hygienic arrangements. Before the
plumbing effected scarlet fever. typhoid fever and
tphthcia had visited the house, but since then during
the last four months. there has not been case OF
sickness. some rules are strictly enforced References
required arrears permitted the door Is locked
nitted to- be sod Oh the prcnse The re t Is direct
gain not only to the morals OF tho tenants but of the
neighDOrnOOf.
WIKI the companys agent the representative OF The
rnont house Thachcr.st and found ccanly sight
aud smell. Hooded with sunlight aud hlled with cheer
fl, energetic tenants most Of thcm being Irish women
whose worried la
labOrers Tie construction OF the building seen 10
be admirable for The purpose Buiit in the form OF
hollow square OF which tie coastyard FORMED one sde
the central house and two wings gives opportunity Tor
two three and onr rpo tenants and Tor several one
room tenants. There are e,elty-eight rooms In the
building but the ua;nbr " s'aIrc1ses and halls seems
fhs greatest privacy ant the building is quiet and
orderly. All Tho rooms provided with watrc. back !
i!oNI'cl ID INe c.H'r or lue duFahltSes over |
other tenants, the tcnsnt5 expected To pay small
w"ek FOR su q ~ f'r rooms not c1nsiarrd cNorJi
trn, @ M ~ cTis S "G 1s fanthiGc nc, enter ca
tnc capital and tho company f. encouraged To hui
building. This spring now house Of lity.one rooms
wl probably be erected Tho ,eess OF mo Strment
- owing IN great neauro 10 the energy OF Mrs Aoo
y. L,acon. who assists IN experimenting the property
,, ri,.i Nv ti ~ - ., VI m, 80 - ~" ,
mTents w4ich s9' hired, whsn they we're 20
ac.i'lily pest houses OF DISORDER AMI Hin.
Seeing tie opportunities Of two largo honsrs
and the oher for 900 year. and caipleicy reno,
boxes upstairs aud windows cut in tie walls to glvc
ouses Inside ns vel! IS outside Bat strict demands OF
good character IN tho occupants maie effective
change III hc premises instead DI seeing dNapdated
walls, dark and dirty halls aud instead Of fearing 10
enter dreaded place OF corruption and crime the Wis
tor s pleased ~ erhcfal cl".lh'-s AMI the VINO esom
ness II the pace Rents are cheap al ~ % for
a siuSle room 9TH FOR nc bei Mis- Lin
c'ln mas !ouh" her Sc-r' pr9ht"Do me landlord pays
I". outside improvements Mrs. Lincoln taxes the
Miss Ocayja v uil Mr.. IncoIn devs ~ in ,'' ,crn
"a fpr .FfFtr
the hearty response which her inquiries Tor tho welfare
The enterprise In aid of dwcllng-houso reform
was Incorporated last year as the Improved Dwelling
George o. shattuck President Rcaari II. Dana wee.
president; thur D. Ills iiea,ureI and clerk Mcssrs.
George II. Hale. George o. shatucK, Ida NJ Mason
a4G 1Go o6G 1r; Enuot" =. AXason, director~ About
last efforts securing favorale ste
i ot - 900 fi OF S n sS n IN omo Pnrcnase
Of encouragement an1 sympathy from the substan
serious serious III, delay from tue class which it is
building Gran llen1cig strikes contra tors ar nm.
willing 10 undertake large contract, and ,naUv c,ita
honseS are deciding no 10 advance capital present
Jhc Improved Dwelling Association naf, dolay in
nu!.ing the wisest course ana instead Of putting up
the new block Of tenemeni-hou,rs caTey ma turls
us plans. as ne latest de'cIopment OF the dwelling
house rciorm the new association benefits by close
study II The methods OF other older societies. and rs
Ir Ems the cirrk says can perfect It's plans by a,oGng
the inpcrfections OF others ihe association formed
closely dlcf Tue BD-tO toop"fatiNc Building
IN" capital stock ~ N2JUOOO instead $500 Ot
tAc officers are cHOsen differently. each rector instead
oi each officer being siOckhOdcr = clerk taktuy
place or seofettIy and The board OF directors
not exceeding twelve Instead tl:iy.
with one two other minor changes
the organizations OF the two companies are similar
bat tho plan OF houses Will follow the success .fui
scheme OF Nlr. Alfred 4. Whtc Of Brookiyp IIo cree
upn Of small houses fOr single families would und0abI-
ed be the ideal method but possessing the ingenuity
OF Nj. Gerry Ia tie Stac plu who proposes that The
cost of llnt and house Tor the labOrug naa shall NOT
exceed 800 The association, suppOsug PROBABLY that
the working man would not live In such "A chem L.u.e
ma decided to hud block alter the style OF the IirnDk
ln Model Icncment~. 1t mas been dcuon list
Hnd pleasant rooms wltn good vcH:illtOn ample water
privileges ana Oiher desirable sanitary COndon- q IN
Ice brought Within the means OF the w0r,nglnan st
more ohcodf"ti II IS brcI SHOWN IT, 1t c improved
irLcinrnI IOiscs be tQc 4 paying lavestucut far
the capitalist ~