The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-17
USES FOR WORKMEN.
Observations Made An Europe by a
American ArclItcct.

Observations Made An Europe BY. an
American Architect.
As in our own country we shall ind
only Isolated cases where the health
and comfort Of the wOrEiur-mau have
received more than passing consider
alton from the employer Of a large force
Of labOrers, 50 in Europe we shall find
the larger part of the working popula-
tion living as those do who DO not own
their own homes. But their houses
neither com aine the convenience nor
comforts luXuiesl of tho same class of
homes which the ordinary American oc-
cupies. Their houses arc built in con
tinuoUs blocks Of from twenty to thirty
each, and two or three stories high
The front is placed on the lot line, and
very often the back stands on the lot
line also, and opens directly into the
alley. Sometime there is q small
paved yard at back. This plan admits
Of no shade trees To- dispel the glare Of
the sun or grassy lawn 20 rest the eye.
Examples of single or even semi-de-
tachcd houses are rary indeed.
A two-stOry house usually has two
rooms on the first floor and two or three
on the second. In such a house, fur
HishCd in the most meager and scantv
''N-gr e@'N A-H'a 'aN-At--J -Ht--AAa- ANhD anu
three families, consisting of man and
wife and two or three children in all
stages OF growth. In Manchester are
many examples of four and five persons
living in single room. aud if this be
on the ground floor il VIII be paved with
brick or tile, rough, uneven and broken
in many places-rrobably a century or
more old-cold, damp and uuinviting.
Frequently, as al Crereld, Germany,
where large sik-wcayinE industry Is
carried on outside the regular factories
by the operatives ct their own homes.
the same room answers tho double pur-
pose Of workshop and liviug-room
In the planning Of such houses little
attention has been given 20 either ar
rangemenU or convenience. The only
desire seems 10 have been 20 get the
greatest amount Of floor space and the
largest number OF apartments on a given
lot.
The sanitary condition Of such houses
can not be Of a very HIGH order and in
many cases is simply deplorabIe. In
deed, in the better class OF hotels and
cafes the plumbing and sanitary ar
ranCements are of the very poorest
class with no attempt az ventilation Of
closets or layaUories. nor is rhc supply
OF water in such fixtures as closets and
urinals sufficient to keep them fresh and
clean. The autiquated death trap. com
monty known as the ''pan closet" long
ago condemned as unfit FOR use is the
universal closet throughout Europe
When we find such a condition fu saui-
tary matters in buildings o. the highest
class. what are we 10 expect iu lu-e Of
the poorest? 'Ti- not hard 90 imagine
the condition among a class gi people
who seem TO ignore one OF tHe greatest
of natures laws-tbat cleanliness is
next to rodliuess."
Their homes are warmer in winter and
cooler ia summer than ours. But this
comes from the scarcity of wood and
abundance of brick and stone, making "a
masonry construction imperative Built
OF brick aaa stone as they are. the entire
construction IS very light In Nauchos-
ter were many houses in course Of cree
ti0n with four-incL brick partitions.
ioists Of 2zt and 2Z6, and roof timpers as
small n proportion.
The heating Is done by one stove or
range, which warns the whole house.
and on this is done the cooking some
times for two or more families. This is
necessary TO reduce the cost Of heating
and fuel-G. William Nettleton, in Chi
cag0 News.