New-York tribune., 1902-05-19
WOMAN INSPECTORS DUTIES
CONDITIONS THAT CONFRONT MISS
THOMPSON IN HER NEW OFFICE.

Miss Helen n Thompson. the recently appointed
sanitary Inspector Of Orange, y. J.. who entered
upon active duty April /. has already
,ountered much that is of general interest in
course Of her work and Is able measure
with fair degree Of accuracy the conditions with
which she viii nave to contend.
The field of her labor a wide one. comprising
t7e twin cities of Orange and East Orange and the
township Of West Orange. In the last named place
there is no public scavenser and no system Of
sewerage. so a careful inspection OF the scattered
homes Of the people is all the more necessary.
East Orange is almost aggressivey respectable.
the more ignorant classes are but slightly repre-
Eented; therefore the municipal authorities, though
mere men," find themselves nearly equal to the
situation it takes woman. however. to deal with
the more cosmopolitan population OF the city OF
Orange. where the mill operatives Of all grades
and all nationalities. from good Americans. who
have intelligent ideas of home keeping, down to
HunEarians and the denizens of Little Italy"
For Orange has its Italian community. herded to-
gether. speaking English and understanding
but little. and possessed Of very unenIghtened
notions as sanitation and even common cleanli-
ness.
Miss Thompson speak enough Italian for
ordinary communication, and is learning more.
Among these people as everywhere. she Is kindly
welcomed. although their habits and traditions
make il difficult to impress them with the need Of
reform In general however, the house mothers in
the tenement houses and cottages are favorably
disposed and efforts. sometimes pathetic in their
e4rnestnesS. made to follow Miss thompson
friendly suggestions. In one OF the worst streets.
neglected by the city and the property owners
she told ny young woman employed IN a
factory that the ne!ghoors knew OF her ana had
waiting receive her. and that all the factory
girls were interested one mouse whicn she 9 I9uid @
al hrst IN shocking coholtloh W. PFeparep TOT
her second visit by vigorous course Of Scrubbing
one room %Ts chSsSI si d" settIeen 4S Where MISS
several times come in voluntarily to report cases
All this the young inspector regards as the most
ntted 10 deal with individuals. having pleasant
the class OF 80. and has already had valuable ex-
cfaffy oTganizst6n Society and the Friendly Aid
Settlement The conditlons whlch confront Hsr III ia
diyidually by the emergency nurses from the Me
mortal Hospital; but they lacked authority;
first place and then the Civic Sanitation AssOca-
ci2bs Of men and women the value Of authorized
"9TI1b On his ged tb oranges are only typical com
rnunities. Everywhere individual inspection IS be-
i-It Aries rI1onpson finds the need Of co-opera-
IIion Il1-' with other inspectors She says 4 know
nothing Of the factories; go into homes. But
spector ] found an old. wretched building which
ought 20 be condemned but the Beard GI heat9 fa9
bv a pathetic old couple, nominally the owners,
time it has practically owner. The old people
destitute. the wife being partly p&faIyIed out
they refuse 10 90 to the aimshouse ms ] areaq 4i o.
@ f tbe greatest difficues met with by all
In another case reform is hindered by an odd
legal complication. number Of houses built
close together and owned by one neglectfu land,
1ord have no sewerage connection. and are drained
into a ghastly. swampy lot at the back, which IS
used general dumpinE ground ana adorhed N I
yz-tb stagnant pond. The deed reveals that this
p0ud is nominaIIy-and may at one time have been
uvatercourse: therefore the owner declares MN
self helpless. The city. however, promises relief
The most characteristic thing so far Is mat the
rlr0hlen is complicated in so many cases DE pc
c1ar and unexpected conditions. legal ana other
wise Changes that appear to be perfectly simple
and practicable blocked by some little technical
5i4nclItv impossible fOresee. There Is little or
no antagonism the people themselves,
rrorab their promises often unfulhlled. eSpe-
ciaIlv IN the case Of the colored people. VINO are
lavish in verbal encouragement The Work, now
ever is largely educational and will progress II the
local authorities be convinced OF us uSeIul-
ness Is O sanction and sustain it,