The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-22
NEED MORE AIR.
Horrible Condition of Old
City Hall Prisoners.
The Mixed Army of Unemployed
Men and Tramps Occasions a
Menace to Health.

The admission of about 800 homeless men TO
the old City Hall prison every night has re-
quilted In violation OF the "cubic air law" AS
a humane measure the Chief Of Police ordered
the prison keepers 10 admit as manv applicants
for lodgings as thr old jail would accommodate,
but IN spite OF The good intention OF the Chief.
the result is a strange admixture OF humanity
and inbumanIty.
Every afternoon the little court between the
Morgue and the prison is filled with motley
crowd of raeamutfns aud men who. on &C
count OF inability 10 get work, are forced TO
apply for shelter. large proportion OF The
applicants are unclean, DesOtted and altogether
repusiye Individuals, who eXude WHISKY ana
exhale lis fumes. During the day they loaf about
the water front and the Barbary Coast Saloons
and at night go TO the old City Hall to take ad-
vantage OF the charity inteDded for deserving
men. The consequence Is mat at plgnt every
foot of flooring on the Washington and Mer-
chant streets sides of The prison Is covered Dy
fecumbent men. They lie on The boards ana
concrete pavement as closely buddled togeiber
as family birds on a perch. In short time
the atmOsl here OF the low ceiled, iil-vrntll ted
place is simply sitting. II Is the nightly expe-
rience of the prison-keepers. reporters and
others who have TO inbale it that they go home
with throbping heads and weakened nerves,
and il Is evident that from sanitary point OF
view the Guy Prison, as IL Is now IS menace
lug all the variety of bacillI known to pathology,
and affords most fiicacious means OF sending
them broadcast into the city.
Among police officers the nuisance Is daily
discussed, and several eXpedients have been
sugges ed for at least a partial remedy OF the
evil. A sergeant of police said yesterday: II
believe IL is right 10 let men who have no other
place TO sleep spend the night in he old City
Hall, but by all means the tramps should be
kept out"
How could this be done?"
81 think it could be done. | know that al
most all these tramps are known by the police
officers. Some OF them have been around here
Tor years. Any old Officer could pick the m out
of the crowd. Some might Succe d in getting
III, but The professionals who have been around
h re for any length of time could be made 10
clear out.
"AnOIber suggestion that 1 would make
would be 10 put all The dodgers upstairs Almost
the entire Street-ffOOr OF the hall Is vacant.
here are severa! courirOOms and the old
Sherifs office aud the rooms formerly occupied
by the Chief of Police and.detectlves have been
deserl ed. They all have windows and are much
better ventilated and altogether more comfort.
able tlan the old basement. This might entail
the detailing OF several officers to KEEP order
and zee that the men were properly distributed
In the rooms; but that would not be an ODerous
duty and the force might spare mau or two
for thai purpose"
This suggestion, which has been made num-
be- OF times, sermS 10 offer a way out OF the
Difficulty. A question OF safety also enters into
The admi lance OF TWO or three hundred out
sders TO the jail at one time. By pretending TO
be destitute friends OF desperate criminals
could gain access TO the place, and thus enjoy
every facility for aiding in 1ail-delivery or
outbreak OF The prisoners. But this is an Incl
dental phase OF the matter. IL Is not thought
likely that an attempt at ia-breaking will re-
suit from the presence of the army of unfed and
homeless men, bu IL Is certain that there is
disease and perhaps death in the foul air ana
lack of ventilation. Chief Crowley will prob
ably be waited upon and asked TO take steps TO
secure the accommodation of applicants for
shelter on the ground floor OF the building.