BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-18
SAN JUAN, OCTOBER 1S
Editorial Comment.

TO many of the large municipalities in the
United States the ever crowded tenement
evil is an old question. In the larger cities,
many Efforts have been made to reach the
primary causes of this menace to humanity
but these efforts being attended with little
success, it has now descended to schemes to
alleviate the sufferings and ills consequent
upon throngs of humanity DWELLING ip,space
hardly large enough to be a fit habitation for
an equal number of flies. Many obstacles
however, are and have been in the way of q
proper solution of this problem in the states.
In districts where work could be found more
plentiful for the laboring classes it wss also
found that the space used for human habitat.
ion was absolutely inadequate; to remove
the wormen to remote neighborhoods meant
car fares, achich he could not afford; and
the risor of many northern winters necesslt.
ated ready communication with workshop.
Many other obstacles too numerous 10 men.
ton were also considered as beirg in the
way. The result of all effort was the estab.
lishment of societies to remedy and restrain
any ills that might occur as the result OF
this congested existence.
In ihe City OF San Juan, nhere none Of
these obstacles can furnish an excuse, the
overcrowded tenement evil exists in its most
virulent and dangerous form. A walk along
any of our city streets, and an occasional
peep into dark Railways will disclose 3
condition Of human existence which it
would be hard to believe coud exist
anywhere in the world. In rooms that
would furnish ample Accommodations for
q pet cat can be seen families of ten and
twenty persons, crowded together in such
scay, that fire at night or any catastrophe
that might occur, would be sure death to ali
of them.
The rooms are so small that during the
day time these poor people are compelled
to spend their lives in the haliweys, such
ting as an actiue existence in the rooms
being out of the question. A visit to these
places at night will disclose ter, twenty and
even thirty persons living in two or three
small rooms, breathing info each others and
their cots other beds SO close together that
all must turn at the same time to avoid CO.
lions. Despite the worthy efforts Of the
Board OF Health, the smells that emanate
from these rooms and Railways are menace
to the community.
It is in sOp:s like these that the worlds
greatest plaques and scourges have original
ed. Nowhere in the United States can the
terrible effects of this evil equal ichat it
might cause here in San Juan. One gwen
a start, plague would carry this commuu-
ity of before any successful effort could be
made to stop the ravages. And these spots
would be the best nurseries, that plague
germs could fud. Without air, without
room, without sanitation and hygenlc
conditions an unknown quantity, these poor
people would be carried off like sheep to the
slaughter.
Cold, removal from workshop localities,
and the other obstacles that were found in
the United Ststss do not exist in San Juan.
With plenty OF room, plenty OF heat, and
the work shops and laboriDg yards scattered
all the way from Moro to San Antonio
Bridge there is absolutely no excuse for the
condition that eIist in many buildings,
humsn kabitations, on Sol Street, LunL
Street and all the across the city to the lower
end OF Teiuan Street
NJ voice can or should be raised agar ct
The people who ere compelled to live out
their lives in these dark, l0athsome dens.
They take The best rooms that can be obtain
ed for their money, and By reason Uf long
ususge and continued practice have learned |
better than to make protest. The cr0wding |
Of many people into the smallest possible |
space is to them part Of their existence,
which they think . necessary condition. II
We were living In the fourteenth or fifteenth
century it would be . necessary condition,
but to day it is not alone unnecessary, but
1t is frsught with danger to the community. |
It is menace and disgrace to an enlight |
eDed natien, and heritage Of bad manage.
;nent that must be removed and destroyed |
st the earliest possible moment.
The Superior Beard Of Health, the Local
Board OF Health, the Board OF Public
WoIks, or whoever it may be that is respou-
sible tor the building, ventilation PROPER
Of tenements sould take this
matter into consideration, and that at once |
It can truthiuIIy be said that the evil as it /
txists to day rould be difficult TO remove
with one stroke, but the enaction Of laws
tie erection Of further holes of i
ibis Kind would be an easy matter. The
Uify Council should take the matter under
sdYisemenf, and If their efforts are without
result the Legislative Assembly should pass
building regulations, the same IS sre in effect
IN al modern up TO date municipalities. /
Rooms should be Of q certain size, certain /
number Of people only should be permitted
10 1--we in one room, slleywa3s ard railways
should be kept clear, and garbage and refuse
sans should not be permitted to lie under /
he sleeping rooms Of human beings. All !
|heso things are matters Of regulation.
This is not . question for philosophers,
Dnt plain matter Of enacting and enforcing
|he proper building, sanitary snd hygonicl
81