The morning call., 1890-05-01
LIFE IN FLATS.
Ann0yances to Which Tenants
Are Subjected.
The Urgent Necessity of Making the Walls
and Floors Sound Proof-A Physi.
clans Advice.

Some OF the glaring drawbacks of life in fats
me'c yesterday presented by James Z. Wolfe,
the architect, IN an interview with representa-
tive of THE CALL.
!ne uuulsturbed quietude OF home life" said
MI. oiie " Is the sacred right of every man and
woman TO enjoy without molesIation, and IL Is
.ne privilege OF each TO complain at the slightest
INVASION OF such rights from whatever source the
auuoy ance may come, especially when Imposed
ny INDIVIDUAL caprice or want of reasonable care
anu caution on the part OF the offender to avoid
VIC ihHictloh OF discomfort upon others in any
shape. Nor does the fact that the annoyance is
not pfemeditated nor willful lessen The effect.
among the many dsagreeable things met
win IN common life is that OF living In fiat
III .ne construction OF which but little or no at
.ehiioh mas oeen paid TO the very important mat
Ter OIL aeaiening the floors; II tile attempt has
Deen made the method employed proved wholly
INADEQUATE or entirely worthless. The tenant on
Tue moor 6elow' is ever al the mercy of those
on the floor above and helpless as TO remedy
eAeept 10 lodge complaint with the owner, who
uo1 unHequentiy, relying upon the Reliability OF
MS property Is unwilling to admit any defect In
Tue construction OF his building. or TO recognize
merit In the complaint made and often as likely
as not dismisses the complainant with the con-
iorlihg assurance that he or she is at perfect
iipeisy 10 move II the premises do not suit.
A PHYSICIANS EXPERIENCE.
During recent consultation with client In
reference TO deafenng IN a contemplated fat
construction" continued Mr. Wolfe, "a proml.
heht physician who was present voluntarily
ADDED his testimony as follows: My dear sir. by
all means deafen your floors, and do IL well and
enectuaily Do not be afrai OF the cost. Let
your architect exercise his best skill and
khowiedge 10 accomplish the result. Continu-
lug, the doctor further said III You would but
ioiloW me In my vlstations upon the sick who
i've Ill mats, and listen the complaints made at
inc noises overhead, and could realize the suffer
| n rnrt ANTS NJ
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES not seriously III, yet all
worked up by reason OF the distracling sounds
from the upper floors. and to the bedside OF 9TH
ers whose lives may hang upon single thread,
duu 10 whom absolute quiet is of highest impor-
tdnce, you would feel that 1t was not only The
foors.'
" 10 this may be ADDED the TOO common fact
OF nelglDorhOod wrangles,' and friendship
oroken, growing out OF The matter under notice.
oome people are so touchy that they cannot be
approached, however nicely done, even TO be
dNheu 10 discontinue or prevent the commission
ny themselves or others under their control and
authority OF acts which they claim privilege to
petpetrate without remonstrance from any one,
upon the grounds of personal liberty to do as
they please, without any consideration for others.
anu tue complaints OF even hitherto friends are
oIten received with bad grace, or perhaps FOL
lowed by angry words and future unfrendly re-
lallonship Hence, Two facts fairly deduct
Die; First, that an equitable and reasonable
proposition, viewed from the stand points of
owners and tenants, the floors of all flats should
De ueaiened, and also all lathed and plasIered
partitions between apartments forming the only
barrier between tenements, SO as 10 prevent the
passage OF sounds. Secondly, such deafenng
shoulu De OF the most perfect aud effective char
acteT no difficult task to any architect proficient
III luis department OF his profession.
SHAM ATTEMPTS.
"Ihere Is considerable money spent In sham
attempts added the architect 10 deaden
SOUNDS III floors and partitions but the expendl-
lures In thousands OF cases are simply a waste
OF tinances, serving no other good purpose than
to draw the coin from the pockets and hands of
the man able TO build and pass IL 10 him or those
VINO earn Inc amount expended and whose only
resources are their daily wages. But the owner
Is out OF pocket all the same. without any recon-
pen,e Tor the expenditure. The religious and
moral aspect OF the case is also a factor worth
considering, for tens of thousands Ell utterances
DS DO means loving, elegant nor deVout escape
me Ups Oh men living In flats, seeking the
sweet repose OF a midday or afternoon siesta,
or who have letters 10 write or accounts
10 look over and adjust during the evening
cares OF the day, lay their heads upon their Dill.
lows for sleep ana rest, but instead are tor
lnenied by the rackets. The hum-drum OF piano
pIactlce, the lnnarlnOnlouS and uumuscal strains
OF some would-be Patti, the shu1ing of the feet
OF dancers, likely ending In breakdown, the
hearty laugh provoked by some practical joke
or the telling OF some amusing story attended
with stamping upon the floor, and, per chance
the music OF The hash cleayer preparing food Tor
| the next mornings breakfast ending with one OF
the boys or the Cinnamon splitting up
the kindlngs on the kitchen floor Tor
| other vexaIlous aud discordanr sounds,
wen calculated to render the lives OF the under
toH'tntS anything Dul pleasant. Ana the poor
women, agonized with sick head aches, perhaps
| The result OF tender weary watching ana caring
Tor some loved sick one, with frelfui babes star
| tied from their siumoers by some tnump noise
| above, or the aged grandmother, to whom a
quiet nap during the day or the rest Of unds-
| iuibed early retirement would be sweet rightly
| regard II an act akin to barbarianism for owners
not TO exercise all possible care to have the sep
arate stories OF their fiat tenements made as
nearly soundproof as architectural skill aud
reasonable outlay can make them. Such at
least Is the expressed sentiments of a very large
| proportion OF jewellers In flats"