Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
RowToN HOUSES IN LONDON.
A New Addition to the Poor Mems
Hotels.

London Correspondence Of the Scotsman.
The Rowton houses, or poor mems no.
tells as they are sometimes called, are
serving useful purpose in helping to solve
the London housing problem, which must
sooner or later be grappled with seriously
by the local authorities, or, failing them,
by parliament. The idea originated with
Lord Rowton, a nephew Of the late Lord
Shaftesbury. who devoted his life to the
amelioration of the condition of the Lon
don poor. The opening Of the first of these
model lodging houses in Vauxhall in 1898
inaugurated a new departure in the houS-
Ing Of men Of slender means; and the ex-
pertinent was attended with such a large
measure of success as to Justify the promo
ters in erecting similar buildings in other
parts Of London wherever suitable sites
could be obtained. There are now five of
these establishments. the latest of them
being opened in Whftechapel about fort
night ago. 1t has accommodation for S16
male dodgers, for whose comfort and con-
venience everything has been done. Being
primarily intended to provide nights
lodging for poor men, special attention has
been given to the sleeping accommodation.
The upper floors are devoted to this pur-
pose, each floor being arranged precisely on
the same system. A spacious corridor runs
down the center of each floor, and on both
sides are the cubicles, or sleeping compart-
ments. Every lodger has his own cubicle,
and every cubicie has it's separate window.
The beds are let at sixpence a night, or 3s.
Cd. week. Lodgers can go to bed any
time after o'clock, but they must be up
In the morning not later than 9. Cheap
meals are provided in the establishments,
and each house is furnished with q large
dining room, smoking room, reading room
and other accomm odation. There Is also
shop for the sale of all kinds of food,
cooked or uncooked. well as temperance
refreshments and tobacco The quality Of
the food iS excellent and the pripeS a trif1a
lower than those charged in the ordinary
retail shops outside.
The reading room Is well stocked with
newspapers, magazines and literature Of a
wholesome chara cter; while chess, draughts,
domtnoes and other games are provided for
the recreation of the inmates, who are
thus able to enjoy all the advantages of a
good workingmens club without paying
any subscription. 1t is not surprising that
the houses are immensely popular, and
nearly always full. 'All sorts and condi-
tions Of men" are attracted within their
walls, from the poor man in search of work
to the respectable mechanic earning his f3
a week, who could afford house to him.
self. The movement has been entirely
cessful, not only from social. but from
financial point of view. Lord Rowton orig
inally invested $4,000 In the enterprise,
which has since been turned into a limited
company. The profit on the first years
working of the Vauxhall house was 5 per
cent on the capital invested, and the I'M
ueTtdklnS is Stlll aDle 10 pay a dlVlQenQ OF
per cent per annum. The other three
houses are situated In Kings Cross road,
Newington Butts and Hammersmth. The
building in Newington Butts faces pretty
open space, formerly the churchyard Of
st. Mary's, and is now being enlarged to
accommodate over one thousand dodgers.
1t is the intention of the directors to go on
building similar institutions in other parts
of London as sites can be obtained; and
there is scheme under consideration for
the erection of Rowton houses for women.