Evening journal., 1895-01-15
The c,ty,s Health and Morality.

do net know even where the other half
live
There are to day shanties located all
over our beautiful city, which are
disgrace TO II, menace to property aud
a danger to health. Hovels where filth
rules supreme. where dlseaHe germs are
bred, and where vice hourishes Dives
inhabited by the lowest class Of colored
and the most depraved Of white people,
and frequented by the worst OF crimi
nails They are owned by reputable oitl.
zens too. and, from a standpoint OF dol
lars and cents, rank among the most
profitable Of their possessions
The police know and dread them and
when duty calls, only enter then with
caution and watchfulness- Local mis-
sionaries and agents OF societies having
as their object the amelioration OF
suffering and the advancement Of NOR
ality, have worked In the localities whore
these pest spots are to be found, but any
good they have succeeded in doing has
been soon destroyed by the very sur
roundings Of dirt, vice, poverty and
crime The police have used the strong
hand OF the law against these social
outcasts. but others have crawlsd in and
more than filled the vacancies made
Now a new factor, and a most potent
one. obeying the call Of an awakened
people, has taken hani, In the person
Of Building Inspector Daniel Dohl.
This Is not an overdrawn picture, as
was demonstrated by an EVENING
JOURNAL reporter. who made tour Of
inspection In what is known as the
Hoodle. comprising Greeley and Decatur
streets in the Eighth ward, west Of
the p, W. & B. r r. tracks,
and extending one block towards
Buttonwood street The houses are
two story frame buildings little more
than sheds, each containing four small,
ill-ventilated, poorly lighted rooms
The buildings have no cellars nor yards,
and the window sashes are in nearly
every instance short from one 10 four
panes, their place being taken by rags or
paper In front of those facing on
Decatur street, stands a row OF water
closets. without vaults, from which
comes a stencil overpowering to even
the most hardened and which would put
to blush a phosphate factory in full
running order.
These houses are occupied by white
and colored families, the major portion
Of them Of the criminal class They are
filthy in habits, lax In morals, and
ignorant and careless in matters OF
health The rooms swarm with vermin,
and the dirt, the accumulation Of
months, even years. covers walls and
floors. Here children ale born, live after
fashion, and II they are not carried
away BY disease, or brutal trsatment.
grow up to take their parents places in
the great criminal army
In one Of thess shanties, Kate Daily,
better known as Oyster Kate. lives Her
rooms, foul and III smelling. we're q
sight When she opened the door IN
response to the knock Of the serbs, the
stencil was for moment overpowering
A table sat in the centre Of the room, on
which was a plate OF meat aud another
Of bread Right along side was a dirty
looking. soantily covered bed, while
couple Of broken chairs completed the
outfit. Three or four disreputable look
ing cats made dash for liberty, whlll
from an upper room several chickens o
the dunghill variety came stalking dow
TO see the visitor, for these fowls are
part Of the family, A few days ago
fire occurred iu this place and pile O
RAGS and rubbish cleared out OF tlg
shanty still lies Ia front Of the door.
There are eleven OF these shanties, 81
Of them occupied, and dirt IS prim
factor In them all They are part @
the William Forrest estate and Charlie
carrow Is the owner snd agent. Iti
said they rent for IS month each A
tbs end Of these are two frame stables !
very bad condition, one owned BY Csi
row, the other by Robert Butler. Bull,
Ing Inspector Dohl has dscleed that the
must all c,me down within thirty day
and they win too, unless tie Cit
Council disregards public health al
safety aud entertains an sppsal which
is said the owners will make
At the northwest corner Of Ssyent
and Button rood streets, known as NJ
701 Buttonwood street. is tines stoi
frame building. Owned BY George
Msrls, and a part Of It is used as = color'
church, the balance as a tenement Th
is in very bad condition and must
repaired or come down within tbir
days. West of this, on the north side
Seventh street, are three novels n
900 owned BY William T. Massey. a
Nos. 9ll aud 9l3 By George O. Mar
They are very much dilapidated and M
come down within thirty days. At I
corner Of Seventh street and the rl
road is a shed owned By the Dlamo
State Car Spring Company. and this a
must be razed within thirty days
In conversation with Mr.. Dohl u
official said 'ti sss not aware until q
that such cordltion OF affairs existed
this city. ukd often heasd of
Hoodle hu & never visited il as th
1,aS ~.n~.~