New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-04
HOME OF CHARITY 4 BUN
Rats OUerratap Offices of Department
an Borough of Brooklgn.

| Most unhappy OF the branches Of the municrs
| government IN Brooklyn is the Charities Depar.
ment which Is situated In the midst OF the ruin
Of demolished buildings on the southern side q
| Livingston street. just east of Boerum Plaza
The department occupies two little brick build.
ings. which were once dwelling houses. at Mes
126 and 12S. Beside them. three other hOussa
stand, but workmen are preparing than fc'
removal to lots TO the rear OF their present sites
Only few isolated houses stu stand On aai
side of the street nom BOerum Place TO Esi
bush avenue. and these are occupied for the moss
part by hotels whose licenses will cot sZpli
till May.
While the rats and mice from the demolished
houses are converting the department. buildings
into a counterpart OF the famous RAT Tower 0,
the Rhine" the city officials are securing ID
city for other quarters for the offices. The bu-d'
ings occupied by the department belong to Oh
man and the land to another The man VIE
owns the HOUSES has determined 10 have then
torn down. and the city needs the land IN n'
widening OF the street.
Though the work of the department mas ne1
carried on in the buildings for seven years tn''
are not fitted for the purpose, and II IS pa
haps fortunate that other quarters must |"
found Several houses have been under eohs'-'
Grafton 1t is absolutely necessary that ths ~
partment be moved into quarters thar VII y
nit its business 10 continue uninterrupted -
three chief places considered were at NeVins o.
Schermerhorn streets. at Boerum Place a.
SchermerhOrn street. and at Fulton and Cnn"-
streets.
The building at Fulton and Clinton slf7s
will probably be selected for the new 1uaEA
This is occupied by the Brooklyn National ha-
1t is considered to be the best adapted !"
requirements of the available buildings
borough. but much fighting viii be neee'sl
before the Charity Department can get -
session
The old bank structure backs up on the -
yards of the dwellings, on Monroe Place
street is one OF the most aristocratc on
Heights. 1t is only one block long, but on =,
block live St. Clair McKeIway. Frank e-
Horace c. Duval. George Foster Peabody W.
lam Pratt and other prominent Brookyn"
Ever since this building has been under cons
Grafton letters from well known people -
been pouring into the Controllers ofhce' y
testing against it's selection. and bodies OF "
gates have visited Mr. Metz and expos'ai''
with him In person
II IL proposed that the city acquire the p'S.
erty. ut a cost OF $4,000. The real estate
SLY that II Is worth about St9.hV OF
Whether the victory will rest with the w''
or the people of the Heights or the exissA
OF the Charities Department. which must =.
Il nome somewhere in the downtown seVN
t''he only viii show. year ago the h'A.
department attempted 10 establish a dsF~
Sary Tor consumptives in the same neis"'-
hood. but the cutlery occasioned by the prVp'''
eifectually killed it,
tn .al1-
me location of the department in the he''
oorhood is no doubt undesirable. and W.
probably end in driving away the class OF y
PIE that now give 1t It's tone. Behind the =
ouiidlns an alley way. which Frank Gtoo 4, ~ =
TO purchase for $4,000 a while ago. w" ar
useV tor back entry for prisoners WY S,ng
brought 10 the department daily before an
transported TO the Almshouse. The sish.s ls
lever eulIylng when the wagon arrives - sol
parts ana the people in Monroe Place anntsa
lspoSed TO View with eQuanimity the aeesss
ot me scenes TO their back door paLols son
II lle department is established here also 10
rye race VIII become a thOrOughfare y. IA.
NoSohs mat pass from the courts 10 the uefes
.heht ana from the department 10 the ,zs,ra
MOUSE and, verse than that. for the muirss
charity