New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-08
LODGING HOUSE TOUR.
D4RLINGTON SLUMMING.
Unassisted He Makes Investigation
in Bozcery Neighborhood,

Commissioner Thomas Darlington VI the Ai0ai1ii
Department unassisted personally inspected the
sanitary conditions of many of the lodging houses
last night situated In Chatham Square, Doyers'
Mott ana Pell streets. He spent several hours IN
the Bowery slums, and it was midnight before ne
was through with his investigation which he ac-
ccmplishcd without being INSTRUCTED in any way
He first visited one of the poorest lodging houses
in the city, where bed can be had for seven
cents This place at No. Mulberry street. Is
known as the ''Bismark House." patronized chiefly
by ''panhandlerS'' and professional beggars
Passing through a long alieyway in the rear,
the Commissioner assembled to the office on the
second floor. He was at once recognized by the
proprietor. who was willing to show him all
through story brick building, containing
two hundred beds. whose prices range from
seven to twelve cents a night. The Commissioner
inspected the beds and other parts of the building
Few dodgers were IN the place. due to the hot
weather.
The Commissioner. after his Investigations. said
that the proprietor trying to comply with the
regulations of the department The Decent and
12-cent beds have mattresses. sheets and pillows
The 7-cent beds. which the top floor.
only pieces OF canvas about three feet wide.
stretched from pole to pole Nearly every one of
these beds occupied last night
The lodging house inspected of
higher class. This the Glenmore House. at
No Chatham Square. which charges 25 cents
night for it's beds. After examining several of
the cucles and the general condition of the place,
the Commissioner seemed to think II was not COM
plying with the ordinances strictly the cheap
house.
The Commissioner then visited the American HO
tel. at No. IS Bowery. which rents beds for 10
cents. According to the Commissioner. 1t was do
ing well in living up the health ordinances.
Several lodging houses visited along
the Bowery from the Bridge to Grand street The
conditions found to be all about the same.
In speaking OF his investigation the Commissioner
said that since the adoption Of the new reguia-
lions of the Board of Health last month many pro-
had been received from the keepers. Since
/ entered office four years ago" said the Commits
sioner. Il have taken special interest in better
ing the conditions in these lodging houses There
has been great change since then We have been
keeping after the propretors all the time until now
they fairly educated up to having clean places
and preserving good sanitary conditions.
1t will be hard for us TO enforce these regu-
lations. The majority of the proprietors OF these
houses trying 20 do the best they can and they
we'll But if do not keep at them they
forget themselves and the conditions become
bad before I'll admit the regulations are
hard on the proprietors but they know better than
others what disobeying the law entails
The Commissioner is soon to make an inspection
of the chop suey restaurants and opium joints
of Chinatown.
Following the protests of the Lodging House
Keepers Association under advisement by the
Board of Health. Commissioner DARLINGTON SAID
that a committee of the board would make a tour
OF inspection of lodging houses toward the end OF
this week before any definite action would ne
taken The committee will consist of the Commits
sioner Deputy Police Commissioner Arthur j.
o'Keeffe. DR.. Alvah II. Doty. health officer OF me
port. and Eugene w. Scheffer, secretary to the
board. ~ =,
In Speaking OF the condition Of lodging houses In
the Bowery the Commissioner said;
THE dodgers who inhahit the Chea per houses are
personally uncIean in their habits. and when from
ffty 20 one hundred OF such persons are housed
nightly the difficulties in the way OF preserving or
der and cleanliness apparent
TT IS found that In most instances means arc
provided for the proper ventilation of the doTmi-
tories but in the cold weather the means are not
,sed 70 the extent they should be To secure
proper ventilation by the means at hand II would
be necessary 10 station an officer In such estao-
lishment each night. for soon as the inspector
leaves the place tho windows are closed Evei
when artificial means OF ventilation are provided
Il Is frequently found that the shafts are stopped
I'D 10 shut of tho offending atmosphere
The bedding used In lodging houses consists
usually of a covered with glazed leather
covering and this in turn incosed In muslin or
ticking cover; two sheets. a blanket. pillow and
pillow complete the equipment. inc coz
used Is about five feet long by three feet wide.
and In some instances where the air space per-
mits. usually the office floor, double deckers are
used.
majority Of cases. without any garments on ana
without the formality OF bath After one night
use the sheets and poDow cases are hlthy ana
should be washed. When 1t Is remembered that
the cost OF n nights lodging IN number of these
places is from 10 TO Il cents. and that II would
COS. from three 20 five cents to have the cloth
ing washed daily. II will be seen that when the
business IS conducted money making scheme
the temptation to avoid this expense Is wennish
overpowering.
Nor IS this all. for the clothing the mat
.resses not only wear out time but II frequently
happens that a drunken ledger going TO bed with
his shoes on will tear new mattress. The
replacing of worn and torn mattress covers is de
lavcd as long as possible to avoid the expense OF
new ones.
The floors Of ali the lodging houses should be
scrubbed at least once a day In most cases this
rule is adopted. We are probing dry sweeping.
but In the poorer places constant Vigilance is
needed 10 enforce this requirement. After having
heen occupied through fall and winter the walls and
ceilings OF the houses have 10 be cleaned, painted
and Whitewashed.
1.-The toilet accommodations usually distrib-
rted throughout the building. group of from two
10 five on floor. The simplest and strongest kind
NJ Mushroom Is best adapted for these places. One
Mushroom is required for every fifteen dodgers.
and the requisite number is provided In each in
stance.
'Of course only a small proportion of the lodg-
ing houses are In a condition to warrant criticism.
Fully 15 per cent Of them clearly and we'll kept.
The cheaper class of lodging houses might be