Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-01-24
MANY AT
LECT URE
Tenement House Conditions Are
Told of by Secretary Of
State Commission.
GREAT WORK BEING DONE
Fire Escapes and Necessity for
Pure Air and Light Are
0weIt Upon.

In spite of the storm last night
the lecture room Of Simpson NJ. e.
church was filled with men who went
to hear Charles ]. Allen, secretary of
the Board of Tenement House Su-
pervision, of New Jersey, speak on
tenement house conditions.
The lecture was under the auspices
of the Mems Club, and they had ex-
tended an invitation to the Building
Trades Association and city officials.
The builders met in Dana hall and
marched in body to the church.
The lecture, which was illustrated,
started about $3.50 O'Clock, and last
ed about an hour. The speaker was
introduced by South r. Harrington.
MIR. Allen said the first tenement
house commission was organized in
New York in 1888. The idea of q
commission for New Jersey was
brought to the attention of Governor
Murphy in 1903. The speaker then
told of the conditions in different
cities. especially Newark. Jersey City,
Paterson and Elizabeth, before the
commission started to work and of
how they had been improved. Pic
lures of the places before and after
the conditions were altered were
shown. The commission is making a
great effort to improve all tenements
that are not up-to-date. They were
giving special attention to light and
fire escapes.
The inspectors have found rooms
In various cities where it was i'm
possible for any light to get In. In
speaking about tuberculosis, Mr.. AL
len said that "a per cent of the
deaths in large cities are caused by
it. but sunlight and pure air are foes
Of the disease. Efforts were started
to have the fire escapes put on all
tenement houses more than three
stories high.
After the lecture, Mr.. Fletcher, of
the Mems Club, said that Mr.. Allen
would answer questions asked by any
one present. and Samuel G.. Garrett
son, of Rector street, said he would
like to ask a few. Mr.. Garretson,
who is the owner of a number of
houses In this city, was high in his
praise of the tenement house commits
sion, but he said he would like to
know why they had ordered fire es-
capes on roofs. Mr.. Garretson said
he did not think this city had many
tuberculosis cases, and did not think
fire escapes were necessary on iso-
lated tenement houses.
In answer to the first question, Mr.
Allen said that fire escapes on roofs
were for the benefit of the f1remen,
SO that they may easily get to the
top of tenement house to fight the
flames, and that he did not want the
impression to be conveyed that he
had said that this city or any other
suburban town had as many cases of
tuberculosis as did the crowded cit
les, but that precautions were taken
here, as well as in other places, be-
cause the time might come when this
city would grow larger and the trou-
BILE worse. In speaking about fire
escapes on isolated tenement houses
Mr.. Allen said, If this plan were not
carried out, a man could build tene-
ment house on a lot, then skip lot
and build another tenement house;
and so on. and in time build tenement
houses on the vacant lots between.
Mr.. Garretson moved that Mr.. Al
len be rendered a rising vote of
thanks. All of the members of the
club and guests responded.
A social hour followed and refresh
ments were served.