New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-24
A THOROUGHLY BAD MEASURE
IT PERMITS TIE BUILDING OF rENEMEyTs WIFE.
OUT PROPER VENTILATION AND PROVISION



OUT PROPER VENTILATION AND PROVISION
FOR SAFETY IN CASE OF FIRE
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The result OF the very laborious work OF N
Tenement House Commission last year was ~
passage OF the Tenement House act. since whee
time IL has been impossible 10 erect tenement ana
lodging houses In this city which are not comps"
lively safe In case OF fire. and which are not PRIV
yided with a reasonable amount OF light ana 'n'
tilation Recently. however. a bill was 'ntfoduc@
In the Legislature 10 amend the present law ins
bill Is thoroughly vicious The result OF Its passass
would be the erection OF hretrap tenements con-
.tructed with little regard to sanitary condiuous
This bill therefore, Is OF vital interest TO even
citizen of New-York for the improper construee'oa
OF such buildings has a most injurious enee' wv.
the health and morality. not only OF the occupsn~
thereof but Of the whole community.
The objections to the proposed law are as io'o.'
I. The present law permits tenement ana ious'"s
houses TO cover only s. per cent OF tue 'o's y"
which thev are erected. save that they may eo.e'
:. 49, on,, on condition tina, the light and ventila-
ton ,herso, are materially improved onder 'ns
nronosed law. such buildings may cover % pc. 80
and M condition IA exacted Of improVea "s"' -->
ventilation. - A.. Ara, Aoors
. The proposed law will permit the n's' ' 49,
of such buildings, IL they are 70 DC os =, ,hs
rooms. to extend back 10 within zen ~, ,s'.,ns ,hs
rear line OF the building lots. thereby '''
yard space more than one-haii' a.. basement
4 The proposed law will permit '"e $500,
stairs 10 be connected with the MAJ" s ,ss,
Tho CHIEF Of the Ere Department has s'a"
ha considers this change little short OF CT '"'.-
l. The proposed law abolshes tne pSu., ~
oulrement OF an open area in front OF 'ne 'e m.s,
such buildings for the purpose OF '"e ''N'
and ventilation thereof. s., AZ
g. BY subtle change OF words the a..,,oof
buildings that may be erected wi'hou Greatly IN.
staircases under the proposed Ia" 70 ave stories
high must be provided with ireprooi ~ TEN
The proposed law will permit the ersSsy s,aircasss
ement OF any height without nrep,SSy yss sutes OF
provided there are not more ina" wv"
rooms on the floors thereof ,o.t al tene.
q Under the present law. In aimvs. "a M made
ments where staircases are not relu,a rsnrooi ma.
terlal The proposed law does away e"'''"
' Fanlights and windows in the wsI', are not
narrtted under the present law. since ."e irnes1
considered very dangerous IN case ,oooa ~ law.
restrictions are abolished by the pIupan sleepinr
rooms OF tenements must contain AZ es sousr
dow having an opening OF al least Nv from ~
feet admitting light and ar aire,s ~ done sval
street or yard This provision Is "''' =.
with - -.s law would be Y
cheaper the cost Of construction o. ,,snt therein
Gan IL be doubted therefore that mos ,,rsiy selfish
its massage are doing so from an en. ~ .xnerenc(
motive? Those opposing II are ms" Is based sssI
on the sround that the passage OF the ucoa III
| have a most Injurious effect, nor om,yy,nity.
poorer classes. but upon the Wnm ors UapsMER
Assistant Attorney 70 the pep"''"'
\cW-York, April 10. lc~