The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-06-13
SQUAL0R AND FILTH
1 IN FOREIGN QUARTER
CONTINUED From Page one.)
more in the cellar"

started down, followed by DIR. Bow
man with lantern. On hollow dirt
! floor, with the ceiling not five feet
high. was a bed on which o woman
partially nude was lying. She wrap
ped a blanket about her as the crowd
entered. The cellar was a wretched
place. damp and without light.
In house next door the same con-
dition of affairs was found, with If
teen men in the premises. A house
on Stirling street was found to be in
much better condition than many that
had been visited. Several fairly in
man and made brave effort at Eng
lish lived in this house. One of these
stated that there were about 300 Rou-
manians in Canton, all OF whom lived
in that section of the city. SIS
WORST OF THE LOT.
The officials were now travelling
on foot, finding the houses SO close
together that Che use of the rig was.
not necessary. The fourth OF Mrs.
Goldstein's houses was then visited. 1t
is fairly large affair at 1910 East
Ninth street, along the Wheeling and
Lake Erie tracks. Here in six rooms
and cupboard were found 32men in
the worst condition yet revealed.
In several Of The rooms the beds
were merely old, dirty mattresses
thrown on the floor. In others, where
cheap beds were set up, two and three
men slept in each one. On the second
floor locked door was encountered.
A hearty kick on the door brought a
response and little weazened fellow
showed his head. He was sleeping on
diminutive sofa in hall cupboard
about 2 by 4 1-2 feet in size. There
was window in the room, but 1t was
tightly closed.
One of the men was queried as to the
amount paid for the lodging. He said
that he paid 81 a month and was COM
PEELED to furnish his own accommoda-
tions. Beer kegs were in every room.
One of the men said they have
good time every Sunday" with the
beer.
RACHEL APOLOGIzED.
Mrs. Goldstein apologized profusely
to the members Of the board Of health,
because she had not yet finished clean
ing house. The stencil was strong and
all the windows were closed.
How many houses do you own
down here, Mrs. Goldstein?" the wom
an was asked.
Three" she answered with a grin.
"Why we have been in four of your
houses already" was shot back at
her.
"Oh, yes" she answered, stIll grim,
ming. =
The crowd then crossed the rail-
road and went into a small frame
house which, in its five rooms, shelter
ed seventeen men. Here the worst
odor of the "trip was experienced and
several of the Investigators made a
rush for the open air. The men were
ordered to keep the windows open.
TYPICAL BOARDING HOUSE.
On Eighth street, the crowd went
into the house of Johann Peterson.
Peterson and his family and few
boarders lived on the ground floor
and about seventeen men on the sec
ond floor. This house was typical of
the foreigners boarding houses found
where foreign population becomes
even more congested than in Canton.
Peterson protested that nobody but
himself and his wife occupied the
lower floor, when an investigation
showed several men, women and girls.
The cleanliness of the lower floor Of
this house was somewhat better than
the average. E
A house on Madison street in which
number of Turks lived was gone
through, but was found fairly clean.
The Turks heard of the delegation in
the neighborhood and cleaned up a bit
in anticipation of their coming.
John Brown" said that he run tho
house with eight men as the total
number OF inmates. 1t was in pretty
good condition and in several OF the
rooms pictures and theatrical posters
adorned the walls.
NO SOCKS IN SIGHT.
Most of the Roumanians that were
visited were employed in the steel
works or on the electric railway lines.
Their clothes was feature that at
tracted much attention. All slept with
the greater part OF their garments on.
No socks were visible, the men using
pieces of cloth In which to bandage
their feet before putting on their
shoes.
Some Of the Syrians work on the
ceiS WIN tuC poFh6 BANGS anu
others are employed on the hotel on
old Hurford house site.
The members OF the board of Health
expressed themselves as being much
dissatisfied with the condition OF af-
fairs in the congested district. The
health Of the foreigners was found to
to good, not one of the men having
been found sick. Nevertheless they
think that the condition of affairs is
a menace to the health OF the COM
munity and some action may be taken
at future feeting to adjust the ten
ements in more sanitary condition.
THE FOOD QUESTION.
The entire district is without sew
ers and most Of the water that is used
is drawn from pumps and wells. The
food question is another feature that
| interested the investigators. No care