New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
ITALIAN 1ABoREas CROWDED TOGETHER
DISASTROUS RESULTS LIKELY TO roLLow-coM,

PLANTS TO THE POLICE
Many residents OF Melrose Morris anla, fremont
and Fordham who do not own property close TO tho
tracks Of the Harlem Railroad, but who ride to and
from the Grand Central Station every day. have NOT
looked with favor the work OF sinking tho traciD
several feet below their present level They have
found fresh cause for grumblng since several hundred
Italians have gone live along the line Of the big
ditch The italians seem TO be necessary for tho
work, but they herd like so many cattle wherever
they can find sleeping quarters. In the neighoor-
hoods where there have been quiet, hcalthfu homes,
with plenty OF room for chIdrcns Fairgrounds. tho
spectacle of overcrowding ami the attendant filth 10
particularly offensive Rough frame sheds, partly
used as stables for horses and partly occupied a.
eating and sleeping places for the Italians strung
along the line Of the railroad in places where no old
buildings can be hired for such purposes. In Nor
rlsania and in part Of the Merose district . few
owners Of old buildings have been tempted by the
offer of large rentals to let the buildings to the Italian
bosses and have yielded TO the temptation, much to
the gust of people who live neighboring houses.
At COurtlandt- and One-humired and iftiethst.
there dllapidated brick building which is called
the headquarters Of the who manage the gangs Of
laborers. II is under the control OF italian John,'
who keeps supply store, and is said to deal IN
italian labor well as in provender for both man
and beast The uppc- rooms of the building contain
about eighty BEDS and Italians said TO sleep three
in bed when the place IS crowded. At Nos. $40,
512 and 5l4 Courtlandtave. there are threestory
frame which hold about 200 Italians each every
night. Tho packed like sardnes in the
rooms. Twenty-Five beds for Italians contained IN
the small shanty at No. 475 East One-hundred-
and-fftieth-st.
In rickety frame buildings at Eagle ave. and
One hundred and forty nnthst the German and Irish
families have let rooms to scores Of Italians, and tho
mixture Of nationalities under double roof is likely
to result In free fight day. The yards Of tho
houses Uttered with rubbish, and the closets In
the overlooking with filth. At Nos. $40, $40,
SIS. 500 500. 5o4, 500 555 and 500 East onehup-
dred and forty Dnh-st arc frame houses which arc
fairly swaImng with italians at night. Each house
Is let and sub-let piecemeal 10 Italians. The men
who responsible for the rent paid 20 the owners
of the houses said TO pay at the rate Of S25 per
month for two small rooms. They receive from tho
onehan Of bed, and each room is made TO hold half
dozen beds. Al that rate house containing eight
may bring the owner 300 month, which
Is large rental for old frame house In the Annexed
District yet the italian who subets the makes
q profit of Sl40 month Eagerncss 10 mako and
save money is the Of the overc Rowling. Tho
laborer who earns 81 a day is able 10 81 10 Of
that sum every day by eating cheap food and paying
for only onchah OF a bed. The italian boss encour
ages the OvercrOwding so long as he can mako money
By IT, Meanwhile the families In other houses In
the district assaed by vile odorS and painful
sights and tremble at the prospect of an epidemic OF
smallpox other contagious diseases breaking out In
each Of the overcrowded houses In Morrissnia has
been made 70 tho Health Board by Dr. D0nahue, OF the
" summer corps and the police NAV be ordered to
drive out some Of the Italians.