New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-05
50=54 West 22d St.

Mary's Churchyard as the model for its future
building operations. This is a brick building set
back from the forecourt line in front. and
planned with wide areas around other sides Of
the site and inner courtyards for Hight and air
/ The roofs are covered with states. nailed upon
concrete slabs on the front elevations. and else
where they are fiat. with concrete and steel
! construction. and are covered with asphalt
The floors are OF concrete and steel and the
J starcases and landings are In Portland cement
concrete. The building contains separate ac-
commodations for the superintendent and clerk
a section for the bedmakers employed as day
servants and a catering department. with
kitchen. sculery. larder and servants rooms.
There are dodgers dining rooms. scullery. lock-
ers. shop. smoking room and reading room. The
sleeping rooms. numbering over eight hundred.
are approached by two freproof starcases
which are carried up 10 the roof and the lava
tories and bathrooms are In the basement with
scientific plumbing and drainage The general
arrangements and accommodations Of the third
hotel are closely followed in the new structure
at Hammersmith. The lavatores however. Will
be on the ground floor Instead Of in the base
ment OF the new hotel which Is a higher struct-
ure. with three-quarters Of an acre as a build
Ing site The ground acquired for the
about hall an acre in area.
The management Of each hotel Is under the
direct charge Of n superintendent. who Is allowed
70 select three or four men to serve under him.
The ideal superintendent Is found 70 be an
army veteran who has served his time cor
poraI or sergeant and is out OF employment. He
Is strong muscular man. who IS able TO eject
a troublesome lodger whenever discipline is
quirei: and with a staff Of old soldiers under
him something Ike military order is maintained
I'm the management OF the hotel. Tho clerk IS
his adiutant and ia In charge Of the turnstIes
and books when the doors are opened AT night
70 dodgers. The superintendent hires the bed
makers and other servants and the catering IS
carried ont by the companys staff under his
direct supervision. Supplies are purchased for
ali the Rowton Houses on large scale and on
the most favorable terms The enterprise Is 4
commercial one from beginning 70 end. and the
stockholders have a margin Of profit in every
sxpence that IS taken In.
The Mills Houses have been opened since
left New-York. and consequently cannot make
any comparison between them and the Rowton
Houses but can only describe the London sys-
TEN as n has come under my observation. and
contrast II with the municipal lodging houses
which have seen I'm Glasgow and other pro-
vincial cities The Rowton Houses are designed
exclusively FOR men. and provide at moderate
cost accommodations superior to those OF or
binary lodging house bedrooms, from which the
natural outlet is TO the public house and the
streets thrifty workngman or an INDECENT
gentleman can live comfortably az one OF these
poor mems hotels for one shilling and seven
pence day When ne passes the turnstile ne
receives a room with a clean and good bed for
sirnence His dinner consisting Of soup roast
beef and potatoes and pudding, VIII cost eight
nance He will have access 70 reading ROOM
q sr,o,eing room and a library during the even
,,g and can talk. smoke and play checkers or
o,ass with fellow dodgers In the morning he
,or have a bath for a penny and a breakfast OF
broad butter. bacon and tea for fourpence. II
no cooks his own meals he can reduce the cost
-, bis breakfast and dinner from twelve 10
saven hence. and live thirteen pence a day
without the penny bath From eight TO ten shil-
rres from 50 10 50 800 IS the average weekly
mi ~ expense at the Rowton Houses
The sleeping rooms are Of one price-a six
hence a night-and one IS AZ good as another
Each has a bed and a chair small shelf and
three iron pegs a narrow window and a bolt on
~. door The floor is spotessly clean and the
sheets are fresh every morning, and there are
warm blankets on the bed. The wooden par
tltions arc good conductors % sound. and some
~ the dodgers In the corridor are certain either
"a cough on % snOrn otherwise the cuhicle X
as comfortable a sleeping place as can De- found
ln London over "A hundred dodgers can ind
tables and seats I'm the smoking room, with It's
solid oak floor and I'm winter II IL cheerful
place with It's large open fires. There is also
an open air smoking lounge. In the reading
room there are seats tor about one hundred and