Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-22
WHERE DEATH LURKS
Italian Lodging Houses That Pol
lutte the Air of the City.
ALAW FOR THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To Empower 1t to Eradicate These Pssti-
lence-B Breeders.
SOME MORE OF THESE PLACES LOCATED

One hundred and twenty Italian laborers
arrived in Pittsburg yesterday. About 30
had come direct from Italy, and the others
were railroad laborers whose jobs had been
completed, and came to town to look for
work. They billeted themselves on the diff
ferent italian lodging houses. There was
no difficulty in obtaining quarters. Men
who sleep anywhere from four to IL in bed
don't grumble at having another sleeper
crowded in.
Detective McTighe, who probably knows
as much or more about this city than any
other one man, says that over 900 Italians
arrived ne re in the past week. ut is only
about II or 13 years ago." said Detective
McTighe last night, when there were but
15 Italians in this city, and they were very
respectable people, belonging to an entirely
different class to those who are now coming
here in droves. It was not until natural
gas became such an important factor in
Western Pennsylyania and created de-
mand for thousands of Iaborers that Italians
came here in such numbers. There is q
peculiar feature about them, too. They
always live in colonies and drive every
other nationality out of the neighoorhood.
Virgin alley, Tunnel street. High street and
other streets on the hill used to be occupied
by respectable Irish. Now the Italians are
in full possession.
NO LACK OF POWER.
Inspector McAleese, in talking last even
ing about the necessity OF purifying these
Italian plague spots, pointed out the fol
lowing section of the law relating to the
powers of Boards of Health:
In case Of pestilence or epidemic disease. or
of danger from anticipated or impending pesti-
tarv condition of the city should he of such
character as to warrant 1t, it shall be the duty
of the Board of Health to take sLch measures
and to do and order and cause to be done such
Though not herein OF elsewhere authorized) as
it may in good faith declare the public safety
and health demand.
"There is no question:" said Inspector
McAleese, that these places threaten the
city with pestilence, and immediate AID
strong remedies should be applied at once.
Their existence in the midst of population
OF half million human beings is an out
rage upon the rights OF good citizens. The
crate to this country do not add
anything to its wealth or strength.
They spend far less for living expenses than
the Chinese, and the latter are infinitely bet
ter citizens The Chinese are cleanly in
their personal habits, and are quiet and
generally law abiding. As soon as an
Italian has saved $500 or $400, and he can
generally do that in less than two years, he
puts the money in his pocket and returns to
his native country to live for the balance Of
his davs."
Detective Bendle, the speak-easy expert,
knows something about the average Italian
lodging house, as he has assisted in raiding
several of them where liquor is illegally
sold. He says that at No. liz Third ave-
nue. over 100 Italians find shelter and rest.
In three rooms on High street 130 OF these
people give themselves over to sweet dreams
of their vine-clad hills and breathe carbonic
acid gas all night.
Close to the Central station, off Diamond
street, is little alley that thousands OF per-
by sense of smell. The police estimate that
100 Italians have their household gods set
up therein.
A.RAPID ROAD TO FORTUNE.
In one court off Tunnel street census
obtained $50 names, and it is
hard to tell how MANY more he might have
found if his stomach had been stronger.
On Fourth avenue recently an Italian
rented two rooms at a a month. If the
Board of Health doesn't interfere pretty
soon this mans fortune will rival that of
Jay Gould's. as he has taken go lodgers at
81 a week each. thus making clear profit
OF 81, S32 year from two rooms.
At Homewood there is a cabin 20x40 feet,
in which $50 Italians cook, eat and sleep.
1t is pleasant Sabbath sight to watch $50
men baking, each one making enough rye
bread to last him until the next Sunday.
There are many, perhaps hundreds, of
similar plague spots in the city. and the
police are looking them up in order that
they may be able to assist the Board Of
Health when it makes a move against them.