The record-union., 1895-04-04
THE TENENIENT-H HOUSE AND So
CIETY.


The tenement-house question has be-
come one so full of danger and import
ance that the late Legislature of New
York appointed committee to look into
1t and report if the evils can be mltigated.
The committee but ill-performed its duty
so far RS reporting the full facts were con-
cerned. Had it given all the facts in cold
detail it would have amazed the Nation
In brief, this matter of the home of the
poorer wage-earners and of the squaIid
in great cities is one that threatens the
foundations of society. The tenement
home of such poor is no home at all,
scarce an abiding-place. The child of the
ill-paid wage-earner in tenement home
is raised without the fsintest idea of what
home is, and as result that institu-
ton, which is held to underiie the found
ations of the State, is becoming an un-
safe cornerstone; more and more so as
the drift to city life augments and manu-
featuring on small scale multiplies.
Large manufacturing, as q rule, seeks To-
calities not crowded by human beings
this for economic reasons. But the small
manufacturer gets as close as he can to
the metropolitan dealer.
Mr.. Riis, in the Foy1sm, does not, we
think, at all exaggerste the danger to the
State and to society that resides in the
tenement-house question. He asks,
"Can the home be protected if this evil
is allowed to grow to any greater proper
tions?'' and il must be confessed that il
requires unusual courage to make an
swer.
The committee of the New York Legis-
lature reported that 8 readjustment of
conditions can be effected that will mini
mize the evil, if the public viii stand the
cost. Private interest must be satisfied
and sppeased in the first place; greedy
capital must be shown that there are
limits which society will establish for it
in this matter OF crowding human beings
into tenements. Parks, schools, roomy
homes, must be supplied. Children
must not be driven by necessity upon
the streets until late hours in order TO
avoid as long as possible the close at
mosphere OF ll-ventiIated quarters, in
which there is no room for exercise or
heslthful movement.
There must be Fairgrounds in plenty,
and freedom 10 use them, and good order
and modest behavior must be insisted
en- in them. Teuements must be of
decent size, and sky-scraper homes OF
the poor mus. De forbidden as dangerous
to life and health. Ventilation. sunlight
ana cleanliness must be provided for,
and hlth, the breeder OF crime, be de-
clarsd public enemy.
These are no mere palIiaEvss but
lArgely-not whoIly-remedies, and have
been 50 proven in London and other
great cities; they must be applied TO New
York, Boston, Chicago and our large
csnters OF population. It is shocking
70 contemplate thai the average popu-
lasion OF New YORK below Harlem Is
now l4S.2 per sore, density greater
than say other in the civilized world.
Even in Paris it IS fearful ST rs. In the
Tenth Ward, New York, the density is
62&26 per scge, and in one sanitary dis
trict in that city it rises to the awful
figure Of $50 10 the acre. In Jossfstadr
OF Prague, the densest place in aII Eu-
rope. It IS AZ the worst part OF the local
isy 1874 to the acre.
The New York committee SAYS in one
part OF It's report that "rssr tenements
are veritSh,e slauEhter-houses." L de-
msnds regulation that VIII 10 sway with
them altogether. ana root ous every old
ramshackle, dise&se-breeiinE tenement
house in the city" That is Sll well
enough. but as Mr.. Riis well says il viii
not settle the tenement question. Be-
yond abatement, there must be supplied
the substitute. The livins~tsusnss sra 10
be dealt with afssg the ramsh&ekle tsae-
ments nsve been blosted OUT They muss
be given room sud plenty Oft, free and
welcome TO al AMI so Inviting that the
very atmosphere viii be moral. purify
ing and olsAnsinx. The eE0sdilS in.o