New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-01
HARD DAYS FOR SQUATTERS.
SOME OF THEM OBLIGED TO LEAVE THEIR
SHANTIES
THE HUTs IN UPPER FIFTH AVE. TO CON
Meet THEIR PLACES WITH THE
SEWER SYSTEM AND WATER
SUPPLY OR GET OFT.

SUPPLY OR GET OFT.
The squatters having a hard time. There Is
much vailing and gnashing Of teeth among the
people who. for years have made use of the vacant
ground along upper Ffth-ave., over the enforce
ment OF the regulations of the Board OF Health.
Your houses must be connected with the city
sewer system and water supply" says the Board OK
Health. I'VE haven't got money enough is the
fearful answer of tho squatters And there you are
They there yesterday. too the sqnatters
And they were ali Of them very much exercised over
the official action OF the Health Board and every
stranger who visited them yesterday was cordially
invited TO inspect the place and that good CD
CrOton water was obtainabc on the premises ms
cordaliiy was particularly noticeable among those
who had complied with IN. law and were afraid that
there might he some misunderstanding and that
police officers in citizens clothes were seeking them
ont in the crdcavor to find those whom they
might devour. In such cases the squatters inVari-
ably acted up to the principle that courtesy was
the best policy and that, at any rate, no one was
to be antagoniZed
The squatter settlement in New-York Ia ore OF
old standing. and the familiar term Of "Goatville"
and the region OF the Harlem palaces are "eH-
known to all Gothamites. Years ago. wnen New
York much further downtown than II Is TO-
day. the poor people Of the city who wanted
home OF their own went up 70 that part OF the
island where real estate was not In particular de-
whatever material they could lay their hands on
Some OF the shanues are made OF wood. and some
almos; entirely o, tin and the exteriors OF nearly
all Of them are decorated with the festive white
wash.
WHENCE MOST OF THE PEOPLE COME.
Most Of the inhabitants OF the region are irish
men The whitewash and the general appearance "t
the shanties remind one Of the peasant shantleS
on the good ould sod" To be sure. the thach
roo, Is missing and often;imes the earthen floor,
and always the peat fire: but all In ALL the home
IS about the sane as the one that left in
Ern's Isle when the old folks left behind
and America. the land where every one can make a
fortune" was sought These people have various oc-
cupatons There are carpenters and ash-cartcrs
ami hod-carrlrrs. and candy merchants ton small
scalc), and washerwom,n. and men and women VINO
work only when driven to II by sheer necessity
homes yesterday afternoon The first place that
was visited was A shanty In Madison-ave., near
ana IN the rear there several sheds and barns.
when the reporter went - the froni door three or
arose slowly from their bed on the improvisod
ycranda ana disappeared slowly around no corner
az the house with their tails between their legs:
After seyera! knocks at the door man appeared
and looked askancc a. the apparently unwecome
visitor with the question a 10 what he wanted
plainly written on his face. He evidently thought
hat the reporter was an officer Of the Health De
After being reas.nrcl and mprcs. win me fact
.aii: "Oh. you fellows are pretty crafty But III
just a. soon tell You how long I'VE been here. 1t
must hc twenty -hN"\pr iw"nty-scN"n years now. II
not more. on. I'm connected with the sewer. and
with the water supply. on th" dead I'm Il car
renter Ny name? Not yDur lif". Mt You
ant have that. have t. pay little rent for my
home. and I'm happy here with my wife and three
children. didn't build he house myseit but !
;hink you've got about enough stun now. You can't
get anything more out of M. Goodhy Am com
f1rfablc7 Well guess ye-. 4 man can live much
more comfortable here than he can In a Nat. I'd
sooner have ihis than the finest Nat that ever was
huiif ffDoihy'
The man vas only doing what he thought was
rghi In mere self-irfenc" when he refused 70 give
h.s name bur u d.d good. His name. however IL
Eugene Srhl'z and hs has brother living IN the
same block The ground near the street IL on The
stree; 'rye but tie centre OF The block Is about
twenty feet below. though n" weight that j. had
beer carrying had proved TOO much tor 4. In the
centre ~ me roo: almost completely covered 10y wood
nine making J.; iook Ike continuation q the green