New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-16
REMODELLED TENEMENTS.
REPORTS ON PHILANTHRoP1C WORK IN
NETWORK CITY.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO SECURE BETTE
RoMEs AND THEREFORE MORAL LIVING

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO SECURE BETTER
RoMEs AND THEREFORE MORAL LIVING
AMONG THE POOR.
Not the least interesting feature OF the morning
sessions OF the class in phanthropic work OF the
summer school Is the reading Of tho major reports
Before the summer school opened some fou- weeks
ago II decided that each member should mako
personal investigation and report OF whatever
phase OF sociology he particularly inter
ested IN.
In consultation with MI Ayres the director the
programme was outlined. The result Is most
satisfactory So far four major reports have been
made. So impressed Colonel Waring with the
clearness and comprehensiveness OF Mrs Mary
Roberts Smiths report on Police Courts and Po-
ucemen in Courts that he wrote 10 the director
asking for copy and the name of the writer
1T struck me- he said "as clear-headed and
satisfactory" Mrs. Smith Is professor Of sociology
h Leland Stanford. Jr.. University She is the
daughter Of a college professor. and has been a
prominent educator for more than fifteen years
Later all the major reports will be published In
pamphlet form. and doubtless they Will comprise a
valuable contribution 70 sociological literature
The class was delighted with its visit on Nednes-
day to the Catholic Protectory and the gracious
hospitality extended 1t by the Sisters Of Charity
Apparently II was a dissipation. for the attendance
On Thursday was not up to the Standard conse-
uuently many lost rare treat IN not hearing MIS-
Anna Garland Spencers report on New ork
Tenements" Mrs Spencer is known TO sociological
students throughout the country. She Is particu-
larly identified with childrens rescue work
1T In good and helpful" said Mrs Spencer, TO
have mothers meetings. working wonens clubs
bows and girls clubs but II Is certainly more help
ful to put It In the power OF every mother and
hard-working woman 70 make and keep COMFORT
able and pretty home when che has learned 10
want H. The home is. and must ever be, the vital
centre Of all genuine social organization and upNt
Ing. Some fain, recognition Of this fact and its
vital Significance has resulted in New-fork In three
distinct yet closely related. movements OF social
progress:
"First-A movement Of investigation TO learn no"
far the housing OF the poorest peopit le" SHUT ."
the real home need.
..Second-A movement toward legal control OF
that housing in the interest OF better sanitation
and moral conditions, and the prohibiture OF the
greatest evil revealed by the Investigations
"Th!rd-A movement toward providing hetter
houses and tenemcnts for the poorer people
The investigation OF teneTnent-house conditions
IN New-York City has been most intelligent and
complete The results published In the reports
from 1884 1874 are an awful indicmep. o sefIe
ment found in a careful iuvest legation or SIX nun
ivsd in ore or TWO room tenements. New-York i
sixth among the great cities CT the WoTI III ueIs.t
p pevppS Is More cro%ded than any other known
.not on earth. More than 20 per cent OF the pOPu-
iaton live In tenement-houses
KINDS OF OVERCROwDING.
which New-York is prominent One is the crowd
Ing into a single room. In this particular we can
no, equal the statistics OF some portions OF the
Cd World The second IS the number OF people
.refroooitan city can more equal the foreign
conditions That eight TO eeven persons "a OF os,sn
four 10 eight persons IN two-room tenement
frequently with one Of the Two dark o
o. eIoWdng is by Multiplication Of tenants upon
land
York City gains It's great supremacy in density OF
eity lots are crowded with buildings. one-third
o. the city fires are in tenement =, lazy
ere not enough 10 remedy the situation mere
m. n. pd be o s 16 70 o has 6 nSH
country in three lines. and by voluntary ana ,P} ,
vate. rather than by governmental and pubic:
Initiative One OF The earliest ana mos successful
efforts may be seen to-day at Mulberry Bend oppo-
The tenants in this house which contains twenty,
esht families. nave each two or ihtee rom, an
closet, and welipainted walls. with hreproof STAR
WASHED eas2 day by The sc yen
house inmate must use night key for entrance.
rOr years TIL. building has stood in one of i@e
with is death rate lower than the average"
OLD RoOKERIEs AND DENs.
Mrs Spencer gave graphic descriptions Of the
efforts OF the managers OF the Chichester estate 20
replace nest OF old rookeries the den OF thieves.
by model tenement-houses: also the tenement house
reform accomplished by Alfred T White. Of Brook
Ign, which gives comfortable living to 527 tenants.
comprising day aborers. ower-grade mechanics
artisans and small tradesmen
Miss Ellen Collins's work in tenement reform IN
Nies careful consideration. This philanthropist
bought In 1880 three houses in Water-st. which had
become notorious not only for their nitary CON
0uon, but ms the resort Of all sorts OF evil cnar-
acters. She spent $1,000 in making repairs, ight-
Ing the densely dark halls and rooms by windows,
end IN putting water on each floor, giving decent
comforts OF all sorts
She enlarged 'he yard space and made the whole
place At for human habiiaton. Many OF the same
people remained tenants. but were changed by
their surroundings and the steady uplifting OF inc
woman resident agent who helped them 70 peter
living There is a pleasan; yard. which fur-
nishes q playground only for the children or
Miss Collins's tenants but for the less fortunate
children OF the neigh hood. Miss Collins has
added to her original property By leasing TWO other
buildings-one a low dancehouse. the other saloon
I'm order protect the people OF the neighborhood
from their evil influence She has opened pleas
ant sittingroOm the ground floor OF one OF these
buildings. where pictures. plano and library az
ford general resort for the people and a place OF
meeting for various societies In which the neighDor-
hood is Interested
The result OF this process has been VAST I'M
provement In the tenants. and their retention al
low rent brings 20 the last point-the necessary
OF having better housing at cheaper rents t ui
are now paid BY the poorest people MISS CoIlih
estimates that she makes . per cent on her p,op,
erty. This OF course does not nclude the purely
phianthropic phase-the leasing OF the houses iot
meriy used for immoral purposes. and turning '"e
came over to the tenants -,
After Mrs. Spencer's report the class Houe
study Of the freeh-air work OF New iork o! ">''s