The New York Herald Newspaper, January 21, 1869, Page 9

Number of Tenement Houses In the City and the Families Occupying Taew--tieneral Dew ecription of Them and Their Varteties—Im- provements Demauded tn Thelr Construce tion—Model Tenement HouseeLegislation on the Subject=Fire Escapes, Tevement houses are a feature of New York. They are the product of our city’s growth. They are the offspring of our heterogencous population, made up largely as itis of the laboring poor. New York is, at the least calculation, a century pehind the great cities of the Old World ta respect to tenement houses. Take tue city of Parié as @ sample. Crowded as is the gay French capital, the houses occupied by the poorer classes are constructed with a view tw the utmost possible comfort of their occu- pants. It is no disgrace there to live in tenement houses—no special, undisguised work of poverty, as here—no positive assurance of limited resources. And the same system prevails in others of the lead- 4ng European citieg—in Naples, in Florence, in Rome, tm Beriin, in St. Petersburg and even in Londen. The reason is obvious. The same greedy grasping for gain does not influence the landlords there as in our city, the same careful calculation of the net proiit of thelr investment—the same eagerness to grow rich upon the necessities of the poor. The re- guilt here of this avarictous spirit” we see on every side, at every turn of every street, in the muititudinous tenement houses blockading every avenue and byway Of our great and growing eity. We see itin the mode of their eenstractioa, in the crowding together in the smatiest possibie space the largest possible number of tenants, in the exclusion of air and proper ventilation essential to the ac hment of this result, im the en- denmics oceur from this most obvious that violsion of nature’s plaipest and simplest laws; and last, but not least, in the exorbitant charges exuctod for rent, One half of our population hye im tenement houses, Althost the entire population of some Of ox wards comprise those living in tene- Ment houses; some streets are wholly made up of this class of «ly through nesrly every street - and avenue and eof the city they are as “thick ws leaves in Vailambrosa#? A week of assiduous Livestiga!ion into the character of ont tenant houses, delving too deep aud dark basemenis, Unreadiag the Jabyrinithian mazes of our colossal Hnement houses, and monnitng to the sky-kissing atcies of the more Bavitious ui Gus class of houses, has enadled us to full and comprehensive the subject, and with a descrip- 2s, We throw out suggestions which mt to the case and of value touching vir mode of construction, snd 4 important bearing on the future wel- pants of this class of dwelliags and -being and health of the ctty a: large. BER OF TENEMENT HOUSES. as already, ®ated, that nlation of our city live in ov tenement houses. A special censns, having reference to thus subject, was taken in 1862 by the Police De- partment, pursuant to special orders, This census showed (Le following resuits:— ba ber of tenement honses, oy Celiur pe —Of the having proper means of escape and 3,501 as being tin means of escepe in case of tire. This further showed that of the buildings enum@ 126 were properly ventilated and 4,221 with- ‘ou! adequate means of ventilation. { was still far- ther shown that in respect to sanitary condition ‘10,924 of these bulldings complied with the exisung Btatutes on this subject, and that 4,221 failed to com- ply with the legat requirements in such cases made ond required. Particular investization—a point of Most vital ibteresi—was made in reference to the mutaber of cubic feet of air allowed the respective inmates. The facts elicited upou this point were gummed up as foliows:— No, of Cubic Feet. From 100 to 00... Houses, + 1,900 Poylation, 62,985 to 1,000. . 1,288 2, ‘The palpabie and giaring defect with regard to tae mumber of cubic feet of air essential to health ia made evident tn view of the weil-estabiished fact demonstrated by very casual pathological investiga- on that one thousand cubic fect of air is the mean rd xequisite for maintenance of health. en it is seen, as is clearly demoustrated by the mbove table, that the amount of proper air and venti- Jation essentiat to good healsh ls only enjoyed by a funail percentage of the population of our tenement houses tue danger of zymotic diseases, or diseases eugeudered by foul air, 1s Milly eppareat. The only wander Is, in view of the facts stated, we have been spared a visitation of the terrible Plague tat visited London—a plague traceable the crowded dwellings and lack of good end pure air. Fortauately the great fire that swept over tue crowd- ed portion of the English metropolis very soon after the Visitation of the plague removed the cause of the «bsease, and thus Vented its recurrence. The compact and crowded dwellings were destroyed in this conflagration, which led to the erection oi more suitable dwellings, muking wider the streets and dneuriog to the occupants better and purer air and consequent exemption from a repetition of the same devastating epidemic. If our own ienement houses contmue to be crowded as they are; if the same reck lessneas of uninan comfort and health ts shown in the ad jitional teaement houses being erected, and if ‘the sare one purpose ig kepi in view a4 LOW, to gifect the largest possible percentage of profit on the invest- meuts wiade, it will not be jong before we are visited ithe game dire calamity of endemical disease, veeplug over ourcity wiih the like besom of de- strucdon. As surely as the wages of sin ia death, fo surely the present system of crowded tenement houses will Work out the same resuit unless some stringent reformatory measures are adopted tw ward of the tnpending calamity. sSiuce the census was taken, (0 which we have recerred, our city. has increased wonderfully du population. fhe nuwiaver of tenement houses has increased, beyond donbt, fuily ove-fourts, end the population resident in them may be salely set down as over half a million. In the Seventeenth and Fourth wards a more recent cen- #u*, apd to Witich We shall particularly allade here- after, has been taken than tat to which we ha Telerred, Meantime we will in generat terms de- serve the teaement bonses in (hose wards where they prominenuy abound, SEVENTRENTH WAED. Beginuing with the Seventecuth ward, we begin With » good sized city of tiself, Jt towerls's tenement 8 are &wight to behold, and the compact | 2 them & marvel and a mystery. A special census of this ward was taken two years ago with the folowing res Number of tre ment houses . es esee -. 200 in Ole past two years this ward has greatly in- sased in population. Taking the Bumber of votes ard at (he iast election a8 % proper thnate, the present number of mhabita: inay be setdown st 125,000, with proportionate it- © of tenement abodes. The w. of itself, is ws lager sess (han fonrtern ¢ ant 1 ehes. ve waloons, viaces where all kind# of liquors are inedis- Ninth, y and ive 1 vene- benighted | im tis wa rows and re from First ave and Fourteenth \ thoagh n “ Ragplekers’ Khuw v of swine modern Many of ike ulation of this War!, as is well Known, are Ger. ns, Who'are laW-abi ‘ing citizens, a8 shown In the Tact that, nobwitastanding tu imrnoral teudenc much crowdingasgge tiie: ripe ja this. Wade in propor tian in any of the down town wa ihe buildings NEE MEE iuenisherdt Ww mut They are nok ecomsldered ve ‘ i here, aa everywhere, Mb taot, ave very high, rang feos five Colara te MOMEM Soe the SMAaiome sor Lo foo to tibet for talf # fear RYBNT/ WAKO. +. Another copsiteranie elty is chee Wart vo ines than 90,000 beng the estiinited pop: ; of the resident live in tenement fouse Mans Of the latt of a different pty we lave just ‘ rt of Lit winet, i raaatily vid = two part of Mean Urls vootan wtructures ‘in wotsh piace i at Alle, jewstug into Ca vidhagy axe muta, Old anc ia the eamne sty tween Lewy etyect moiverabiy O18 aad rionet pot the place wh ener of iy thglugies river. we heautifi yement houses 8,548 were pronounced as’ | cont on the cost of buniding th ely sold. Chere is no ward in the cliy where | proportion of the popolation lives in leme- at how: wellings in NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1869—TRIPLE SHEET. E E ee E up exclusiv no improreniens 1 houses, 1 in i fice wa ‘immates alley ways and low, small o rene. sunlight, from the height of surroundii; wi never enters and the Pm atmosphere of tii ‘upper air never circulates, mM underneath cover- ings of dithy rags aud in buddled groups about the scunty fires and scantler meals poverty reveats itself in its worst aspect of mingled want end woe and seeming utier hopelessness a¥ regards the future. ‘There 18 not a street ia this ward, thatis not tilied with tenement houses. In Broome street, wwacds the East river and in Willett, Sherif and Pitt »treets are to be found the worst ciass, and those thie, most crowded. in Clinton, between Grand aud Division streets, and in Albauy street are some more five story brick tenement houses with six rooms ou a vor a family. These hovses are well built, with igh ce: hall Ways Wide and rooms of good size aad well ventuated. TENTH WARD. ‘This ward ia about cyually made up of private dw aud tenement houses. A lovality chris- tened “Young Jerusaleni,”’ from the number of Jew living here, is pronounced the worst section the ward. Thi oa is in Essex street, be- tween Hester and Division streeta—a* row of large brick tenement \.ouses, five or siX stories in height, but crowded as compactly as it is ible for irto be. There is a very imposing row of tenement honses tp Allen gtreet, op the east side, between Ne- Janvey and brdpme soreets, These are six stories high, iuciudiag the basements, which are let out for business purposes. Tobey are said to be mere sieils.- A very good class of tenement houses have been pat Up on the site of the old brick church burial’ground, These are tive story Lrick buildings, Wits sigh basements, and built for four, famules on » oor, euch Jamiiy having four rooms, for wuich they pay from eleven to sixieen dollars) a month. On the Chrystie street frgnt of this old burial gronnd 1s a eimilar row brick ‘ structures, It is called “Lovers? Row,’ from the number of pretty waiter giris and young miliiners and seam- Stresses occupying reors there. At the lower end of Chrystie, between Canal and Bayard streets, are some Very good tenement houses—inat Is, teuement houses aggregated in the genera! run. In Pelaucey street, between Essex and Norfolk streets, are some five story brick tenement houses, very weli put up and well taken care of, and occupied by a good clas® of tenants. Nearly opposite the Forsyth street churet are three very old brick tenement houses, all crowded and dithy, SEVENT WARD. ‘This old Quaker ward, as it used to be called, has sadiy degenerated from woat it used to be, German ‘ars, with their cunning and dark bead-lke 8, lager beer venders and petty dealera of all soris of petty wares, with a few of the oid politicians who still 81 here and controi the vote of the ward, have displaced the sleek und robust fraternity of broad brims and shad bellied coats. The old Quaker mapsions, stcii as are not used as cheap boarding houses, are let out to two or three families. Many of these old dwellipgs haye been topped out by we addition of two or three stories and thus converted into tenement houses, ‘The worst tenement jiouses in the ward are in Cherry strect, on Doth @es, between Cotharine and Market streets. There are occupied by Engtishweén principaily. Kiv- ington strect, or rather an slley. running irom Henry street 13 a feartui locality, filled up as it is with un- usually old wooden buildings, all crowded to thetr utmost capacity and indescrivably flitay, The re- constructive influence of a good fire is greatly needed here, There are no modern built tenement houses in the ward except Nos. 236 and 235 Henry street. These are five story buildings, the frat stories having a front of Nova Scotia stone and the* rematuing stories fronts of dope! syns brick. They are well conatracted, with high ceilings, rooms large and well ventilated and rents high. They are the nearest approach to model tenement houses to be found in ail the eastern section of the cliy, This is the grand Couteal pont fro hich dy ry m which to stu the mysteries aud miseries of tenement house living in our city, To undertake to describe the wretched abodes of pover be, however, an ancient r q knows of the house No. 65 Mott street, seven siorles in height— the largest and one of the flithiest tenement bouses of ite class in the city. Every! knows of Donovan's Jane, runoing from Pearl to Baxter street, filled in with yore Everybody r ings réet, huddied indiscriminately on the foorless ground. Everybody knows of Nos, 38, 40, 42 and 44 Kaxter street, occupied by Italians im front and by negroes in the rear. Eversbody knows of the past history of the oid Mulberry street -Baptist church, and to what base uses it has come last a8 @ tenement abode. No filtiuer place can hardly be tmagined, and nowhere except here at the Five Points can be found a more degraded class of inmates. This vicinity abounds with thee miserable abodes of the most wretchedly: miserable of our chy popuiation. FOURTH Waitn. This wart may bean improvement on the Sixth, but it is only sight, Nearly al! the population live in tenement houses, and nearly ali these are structures: twat, although being tenable, are not tenable. The Worst class of buildings is to ®e¢ found in Cherry, Water, Roosevelt and Oak sireets, and the betier class in New Bowery and Chambers street. A recent censusof ths ward gives the exact number of tenement houses, she number of families occupying them, the names of the owners of the buildings aad the rents they respectively derive from them. The results are tiuse upou which philanthropists may well ponder, The number of tenement houses are 319, Which live 3,630 families. This seems in- credible, but @ glance at the mumber of families “occupying separate houses removes all possibie doubt of the accuracy of the report. For instance, Nos. 36 and 38 Cherry street are occupied by 200 fain- ilies; Nos. 35 and 37 Kfort street are occupied by seventy famihes; No. 14 Roosevelt street by sixty- four families; No. 10 Roosevelt street by forty-two families, and Nos. 16 and 16 of the same street by thirty-four and forty families ively. In Nos. 24 and “4 Cherry atreet are 100 families, In No. 24James wtrect are tuirty-ix families. We might continue this record to almost unending length. It is appai- Hug to see with what inhuman criminal reck- lessness human beings are thus huddied togetier. What do the rapacious landlords receive as rents on these bufidings? One house owner receives $11,000 a year, another $7,000, another $4,009, another $3,000 ana 80 on to $800 and $700, a year, for the timatest apologies for stianties, There are only very few decent tenenicnt houses in the ward, aud these have been erected lately, Nos. 24, 26,28 and 30 Oherry street are five four Story brick buildings and tullt with alt ile modern Livprovementa. The landiord has @ man cou- it ly looking ater them, and everything ts a Deat J a8 On 8 an-ofWar. ‘The rooms are large, high and periocurentdl n is secured. The rents is 80 ar. aw yleid only five per some tive bulidings are just being fnisued at tue reseveit ix Madison streets, which, story brie orner oF juiging from the thickness of the walla and spa- ousness of (he rooms and hallways, promise when coinpleted to be moe! tenement houses, OTTER WARD fenement abodes abound in nearly al the other wards of the ct The t ia Washington and 6 1oat deplorabia syectinen bers Inthe Fifth ward, some of t upied by negro the Fouru deplorable exhibit in this regard, Lists 1) t i a ta. Following up the avenues, n Which the street cara ran, ti massive ern butt tenement houses loom view on every aide, Allof these have stores naderneain and we upper portions ace let uut in aparimeuts, from Fowry Fifty-serenth street they largely abe being Huet up with the eam and Harlém terapidiy bringing w Many Of these houses are of course hurriedly ond fuasiiy butt, bat large nambers are well coustructed end with some decent regard to the comfort ana } safet of the inmates. AS @ general thing farther one gecs up towa the better the buthtings, But ihe cky is not two-tiurds 1. Acres of tenement houses, with their poor ns and narrow and confined quarers, are vet Lo be palit, where te poor workingmen familles of OAF City Must live and suffer 4 ty and pay bigh rents that rapacions ray ive Lo frst class mansions yn first sain drive frst class Lorses and car dd enjoy the rst sud best of everything. TIONS AND INPROVEMENTS FO AR aCe OPSCRD— MODEL, TANEMENT HOUSRS. iv leading huperteetions of tite tenonrent houses of our etly are epparent at a giadee, (0 the Gret place, “i had uM Ad Wie peramount pur of the “adlond 18 to Couve the largest ible percent “the yaoney itvested pgs or wi Tosuls ef bids bs efecten jonse watidings On front aud reer af Vie wane ja waking wilways tarrow apd Ww res an exeinsion of proper air. not thick enowgh, making the inte unienabie, and proper precautions are not taken ty Avene esoape 1D Case Of ve. ow, ail Chis suowld be remedied by legislation. U1 the fire’ place, uo rear budidiogs ehouid be allowed, Fires Choos TaRtOcials Mad UNeXCEptonable Workman- abtp only showid i ployed. The wails should et. ventilate Guss' to ‘satey oat ah smscke eit vensiaune Sues to ¢ oll amoke mulating ui tases of Yaa) the ball paruGous shoul? o# eoustracted of brick. The floor beams ehould belron and massive, the same ws ID freproot hitelings, AW®pariicotarly where jower parca of the Pui idivuge are occupied for a Done. Gus eolptins the taster hy @precuesly tre. de tc nN PR Er SPS nn EE nS Ec IN One Sts aCe SNE SERENE Sn RRS RS Oe enn ne ee ee NE EL EERIE SE oa and improvements of our people and their roodes of living , is ere three rigs from the front bujiding (one at each side), pate aixurive feet, and euclesg. a court Bixty five feet square, which is entered through a vered from co wi Stanton street, The front cieva- tion is a mode) of architectural beauty, aud 50 re- lieved by variety in siyle a8 Ww remove objection- able barrack-like appearance wuich uniformity in a row of buildings gives. It is vulit of Philadeiphia representing six distinct four story buildings, at-inch set-of8, Four of the duildings have roois from the third story, the two centre buildings going up tush, Thé sills and liuteis are of brown stone, those of the central portion ef arched and the others square, A heavy nice with deep brackets, distinct for cach — building, WS front wal adorned with vases and other ora: the whole surmounted with an iron . house has & as they cail it im Sngland, of first-class residences. ‘The tirst and second oors of the front houses are finished for a single tenement, and consist of six rooms, three on each floor, fivished in first-class style, Windows in every room, heater, kitchen range, stationary washtubs, boiler and ali the snodern conveniences, besides bathroom, water closet and pantries. No comnmnication is possible between any of these and any other part of the belaie, each being a separate and distinct establish. ment, complete in every ect. ‘Two of these houses have no haltwavs, simply @ vestibule, ihe room being taken up oy the archway. In the centre of the front building & wide archway, provided with fron gates, which admits to the court and the first floors of the side rear buiitings. Oneach side of this covered way is a wide siaircase, ceed with black walnat ana ash, which leads to @ corridor similarly finished on the second feor, in the rear of which, in an extension, is the Janitor’s office. Thence by other staircases you pass to corridors above. From each of tiese corridors doors to the right and left open upon galleries which rua along the extent of the buildings outside and from which you’ enter the different tenements, Fatrance is thas ob- tajned to the second, thin and fourth floors of the side buildings and the third and fourth foors of the front building, From the end of each of these gulleries fartiest from the entrance an iron jadder communicates with the court, whte the other end of this gallery |eads to an opening ina enatt which extends from the top to the botiom of the rear projection of the iront building, in which all ashes and sweepings may be thrown into & vault below. From the cortidor on the fourth floor of the main building a stairway leads to the roof, communicating with the roois of the other buillings by meuns of bridges, ‘The tenements other than those first described, which comprise two floors, ail contain four rooms—parior, kitchen and two bedrooms eacii—having windows of full size, with closeis and pantries. ‘itiey are each provided with water, sink and gas, and. are all neatly and comptetély flotwhed, of tue beat ma- terials, aud have pienty of light and wir. Pach teae- ment has @ separate celiac partitloued off in the main cellar, wit back partifiol aud private key, and also, tn the rear building spoken of above, & feparate water closet. ‘To ts rear building, like wise, are ten bathrooms, supplied with hot and cold water at the expense ef the owner ol the buildings, and in care of the janitor, for the use of the ten- ants. The court, which is to be paved with concrete, with @ fountain in the centre, is to be Kept lighted by the owner, as also the galleries and corridors de- scribed above, Much of that spoken of above as existing has yet to be done, the buildings being now in an untinished siate; but When compicte these tenements will pro- sent a model of neat and elegant houses, combining comfort, convenience aud privacy, within the re of men’ of moderate tacomes, deserving of © sive imitation in future building enterprises in this city. ? THE LAWS ABOUT TENEMENT HOUSES. In 7713 our State Legislature pa an actregard- ing the erection of buildings—the first (egisiative ac- tion taken in this matter, The law, however, did not prevent the erection of “timsy and insecure buildings. Buiiders went on pretty such their own way, when the lire Warden sysum was in- troduced through an act of the Legisiature, passed April 17, 1860, The great Kim street fire aud loss of lives led to further legislation, and finally In 1862 the passage of the law entitled “*An act to provide for the reguiation and inspection of build- ings, the more effectual prevention of tres and tie better preservation of life and property in the city of New York.” Asis well knowa, there have been various amendinents made to the original act. Not tll 1866 was any specific ion made upon the subject of tenement nouses. The following section embraces the main and vital points bearing upon Uhis class of dwellings:;— BEOTION 32. That all tenement houses that now are or bo erected In the city of New lork, to contatu four or more families above the first ay connected with 4 proper open- ing 3 that all the rooms on each oor shall connect by doors from front to rear, in order to facilitate the means of im ease of fire, aud that every such ‘dwelling house shall have placed thereon a practical titeproof fire escape; that in no case sali a froot and rear tenement house be erected on the same lot, unless anid and each of them shall be ballt fireproof; that in all it houses erected subsequent to the pa: of the ‘act the hail partitions, from founddtion to roof, brick, not less than twelve inches in thickness, and the floor beams aball be of tron, with brick arches turned between them; that all stairs alin be of stone or irou, and when the first (oor i used for busicess purposes of anv kind, that first tier of beams above the store tlogr shall be of fron, with driek arches; that ail rec jes for fuel, wien collars of suc! sea, be cons! wholly of tire- proof materials; and Puaily, tbat in ail ouildings of mready erected the de; ‘shall have power to deter- mine and cause to be made such alterations as may be ne- cessary to afford m xafe aud gecure means ef escape in cane of tre. It will be se@n that the above 'peaviaons sie amply suilicient to eure the object desired—that of iad tecting, as far as possible, the lives of those dwelling in tenement houses from being destroyed by fire. ‘The probability is that still further amendments will be introduced during the present of our State Legislature, incorporating other almost equally important poiaia, upon which the interpost- tion of special legisiation is as imperatively needed. FIRB ESCAPES. We might 011 two or three columns describing the various fire escapes that have been imvented and whose inventors are sedulously striving to popularize and upon the results pocket handsome profits. The law ts evidently lame in allowing 6uch diseretionary wer upon this subject to the Superintendent of Buildings. There can be no doubt that the use of this power has led tw the more general adoption of a fire escape which very essentially jails short of What is roguired, Tue- oreltcaliy the department, however, ia not supposed to interfere in the matter, but pracuvally it is claimed that it does, Cne ting must be to the credit of the depariment—thac in all cases where five escapes have been placed upon buildings In ac- cordat with the requirements of the law and put up io aod suls‘antial uauuer taey have been roved. Tine of the avstems of (ite escapes possesses. many excelient features. {t is simply a staall iron tube or hollow bead fastened under coy cornice gud exvend- ing acros# the enure iront or fronts of vulldings. The lower part of the tube or bead is open, and m- side of the same is aa iron ball, whieh revolves upon inner Wheels; aa ivon strap or hool is attached to the ball, aud from this descends a tackle, to which @ car or basket and the hose or pipe can be attached in a moment and raised or lowered at will, The bali moves inside of the tube, and by this means can be carried from window to window to any part of the building, The entire apparatus is dreproof, and can be worked by one or two men upon. the sidewalk with perfect ease, Another valuable and simple system consists of & strong iron chai ladder, coiled upon #a iron wind- lass, under cover, Gpou the roof of a building, and se arranged by #a iron fod, rinning from the wind- ines to tie sid > enable the ladder to be instantly lower od to the curb, adording eriain and secure means of reaching way part oC ve higbest bulldings In Uy he jadder and balcony cxcape is tye one most generaliy in use and wore fully sanctioned by the superimien p When tie ladder is folded agral f se it is locked by a bolt aud a guard iock at completely cover ing the ladder from the grou » first baleony, tine hou for ure from eabadnge tt the ladder at the guard look the ladder ght av ouce and ut lever locks attached to tie ady for use ia an instant a# the patent closing ladder, not Oufertng from Ue above, except ip He. is anobher style of fre escape. Stil “i la known as the steam pipe fite excape—o balcony arrangeniont, for which spocxal superiorly is cialined from there being no riveting, ali the work being securcly screwed together: tn aidition (6 ail these there ia a barometerlike alrangement, with a clock accompunimuent, for iM dicating the presence of inthe room. The object of Lhe Clock ts to givealaro iv case of fire and thus caabie prompt escape and special exempiion from the danger of eyfocation by smoke, from which cane, if faet, more dentas really occur than from positive ile. PORTHOOMING MPO ‘The report of ihe Superintendent of Unsafe Bald. inga for the past year is almost Onished, and will doubtless be submitted. to the Hoard of Aldermen ditring Wegresent week, Tie nuniber of tenement houses erected during the past year have been about one-third more tian the previous year, More right compliance wit the iaws ae regards thiekness of by apes, ke, has been exacted than mt year since the organi: po A A organization of phis de New Usk FoR 4 PHoroor A gentioman in se go hgs ® former domest now at work one of our Liills, Whose passage back to inglend wishes to pay, but the femaie in question cannot read or write, and her relatives personating her at the Post office auppress her bettors or give ber trans lations of them quite Variance with the original text. In this divemi HrAgsatianiic cluzen haw forwarded the giri's photograph to the postmaster Eramuicadon between ber but her iyhergtet Ki an he Fae Level (Maes.) Comerr, ‘i PT BROOKLYN CITY. THE COURTS. . SUPREME COUNT—CIAGUIT, Action on a Promissory Note, Before Judge Gilbert. Wiliam H, Gutla vx, Join H. Flagler ana Others.—The defendant, Flagler, and his brother, another of the defendants, were iron merchants in New York, with a branch house in Boston, and did business under the firm name of Flagler & Brothers, Holden and Simpson, the other two defendants, were boiler makers in Brooklyn, under tle name of Oliver Holden & Co, These two firms had extensive dealings with each other, and in the course of their transactions Flagler & Brothers be- came indebted to Holden & Co, m the sum of $9,500, For this indebtedness Flagler & Brothers gave on the 18th of April, 1887, three notes, all hav- ing several and the one ih question nine montlis to run, The necessities of their business were such aa to compel Holden & Co, to realize someting Upon these notes if ible, and they were eudo! by Simpson, as ch with the firm name and presented at a bank in New York and one in Brook- lyn for discount, but without success. Simpson Hnaily made known the state of aflairs to Flagler at the New York house, who promised to see if he could getthe notes discounted. Faiimg in this in New York he communicated with the Boston house, and a man by the name of Guild, the plaintiit in this case, was foond who was willing to iake one of the notes, the face of which was $3,106 67, for three per ceat & month of. simpson led on Flagier again, and this offer was stated to the former, with the sugges- tion that the other two notes might possibly be dis- pues of on the same terms, Simpson, when cailed the stand, testified that he consented to surrender the old notes for new oues with but atew days to ran at a shave of three per centa month, When the old notes were sirrendered and the new ones taken the former he considered as canceled, though he ad- mitted tiat through some inadvertence on bis part the endorsement was not scratched of the back. Flagler on the other hand stated in his testimony that he told Simpson of the opportunity he had to dispose of one of the notes, and that he thought he could also dispose of the other on the same terms; that he could avcomnodate him with the three notes to run but a few days and pay them at ma- tirity with the proceeds of the sales of the long ones. To this arrangement Simpson, as claimed, readliy assented, and the long notes were endorsed by him at that time and not at the time of their belig pre- sented for discount at any bank, and were left in the hands of Flagier, as his agent, to dispose of in tie way proposed. ‘that Simpson surrendered the long notes and took in return short ones of the same amount in the aggregate, less three per cent a month Of, thore was no dispute. One of the nine months notes Was actually sold to the plaimtuff, who brought this action against both makers and endorsers to re- coverthe juli amount. ‘The defence was that the note was cancelled by its surrender, and that, even ir it were not, the action could not be sus- talued in consequence of the violation of the usury lwws. Pialntiis counsel held that no Such defeace could be set up because in M. itisetes, where the money was paid for the note, there is no, usury law. “fhe Court ruled that the law of the State where -the mote was made and payable, must govern the case, On the point raised of invalidity because of surrender, the Court ruled that if the piaintit’ paidyvaiue for the note Wi hout nor ‘v1 the facts in te case, the en- dorsers were i Action tor Trespass. Thomas Hays vs, Michael McGonigle and Others.— Hays and MecGonigie owned adjoining lots on North Second street, Wiluamnsburg. Wishiag to build anew house on the front of hu lot MeGonigle moved the old one to.tue rear, he contract for building the new house and removing the old one was made with one McQuade, one of the defendants, who sub- let the job of meving the house to a Mr, North, a house mover, Jn taoving this house and to building the new one, it waa claiined by the piainuft saat bys own house was much injured, his shade trees cut down, his gardea destroyed, &c., and that he and lus famtiy sufered much meonvenience and some- tmmes snsults by the builders. MeGonigie’s defease Was that he had nothiug to do with the building and rotmoving of tie house whatever, but the Court ruled Uiut he was responsible for the trespass whether } | | done by himself or U® others under # contract with him. The other defendant denied all the allegations of the complaint. Verdict, $241 for plaintiff, ‘ Suit of a Plumber for Work Done. John Brown vs. Clement Read.—The plajntiff aplumber, made a contract with a builder by the name of Hooper to do the plumbing work in five honsea In Quincy street, Hooper to give plaintiff an order for the pay on the owner of the bi , & man by the name of Hignet. Plaintii? went to Hig- net, and by him was referred to the defendant. Piaintu’ swore, and another witness corroborated ‘his testimony, that on going to defendant the latter said to him:—“Go and do the work, and when it ts finished 1 will pay you.” The defence was that Read was only the agent of Hignet, to out money de- re ai, aatgy Me ur) ny jotutt's % 4 Vertlict tbe the Slanutr for $1,647 33, the whole amount claimed, CITY covAT. Action to Recover Cost of Goods. Before Judge Thompson. James FP, Burgess vs. Charles S. Sleigh.—This was an action to recover goods alleged to have been sold vo defendant v0 the amount of $3,225, The defence Was that they were received to sell on cominiasion. ‘The jury disagreed, Pincknéy ana Cawpbell for plaintiff; D. A. Levein, Jr., for defendant. 4 The Action for Broker’s Commission. * Manly A. Ruland vs, Elizabeth Furman et al.—The jury returned # verdict in this case, which was an action to recover commission on the sale of a house, of $200 for plaintm. Kelly vs. Gordon,.—Verdict of costs. aside upon payment COURT CALENDARS—THIS DAY. Surrame Covrr—Crecvit.—Nos. 126, 81, 99, 4, 2245, 35, 40, 124, 144, 148, 149, 1, 86, 89, 10034, 109, 150, 11, 152, 163, 154, Ciry CouRT.—Nos, 61, 78, 80, 82, 88. BROOKLYN INTELLIGENCE. Heropisa i WIiLLAM RG.—The body of a full grown tofant was last night found in Nortn First street, Williamsburg, and conveyed to the Fourth street station house. Frora the appearance of the body a murder is suspec' but Coroner Whitehtil will Investigate the case jay. DeATH FROM STARVATION.—Coroner Whitehill was notified yesterday afternoon to hold am inquest on the body of Patrick McLaughiin, residing at No. Bast Baltic street, who died, as represented by his neighbors, from starvation, not having had any- thing to eat for some days. The Coroner will make an inquiry into the matter today. It IN Tax Sreeet.—Last evening, about five o'clock, officer Curran, of the Forty-first police pre- cinet, found an elderly man lying in Bridge street, opposite Chappel street, im an _Insenstbie condition, the resall, a® supposed, of a fit. He was taken to ibe s.ation house aad attended to by Surgeon Coch- itis condition Was precanous at a late hour ran. ‘Tia YOUNG Max's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF re EASTERN DisTyieT.—This useful and highly re- spectadle body last night inaugurated their new Kings County Savings Bank building, corner af I way and Fourth street, The attend. anee Was large, aad the exercises consisted of vocal an’ instrdmental music, prayers and addresses. ‘She association is ia a Sourtskiug coudition. ALLEORD LAROPNY FROM THR PERSON.—Yesterday afternoon an examination was held in the case of ‘Thomas W. Grogan, charged with having stolen $100 to legal tender notes from the person of Patrick isarret, of Sixteenth street, near Fifth avenue, South nm. It appears from the testimony of the coinplainant that on the 6th inst. he was drinking in company wit the prisoner at the bar of the Frank: v the Faiton ferry, when the prisoner rooms In t \ the money out of his (Barret’ het, and when subsequently asked if he retu it he sild he had cone so. Both partes were under the intuence of iiquor atthe time. They parted com- pany at the ‘y gate, and shortly after thie Bay fouvd that t oney had not been replaced. e testimony ranung the truth of the charge, Jus- tice Delmar heid the accused to await the aetion of | the Grand Jury. AKRBeY OF BROOKLYN Boys im New Haven. On Thesday evening three boys, who gave their names a Peter Gillen, Christopher Morey and Joun Nolan, entered the siation house of which Captain Win, Cali isin charge, ia New Haven, aud asked if they might stop there for the night, Something in bd ged manner led the Captain to question ei closely a4 to Wienco§they cante, when he elic- ited the fact that they had uu concerned tn a game of dishonesty in Brooklyn, where they resided, and white place they had lett that same day. They had been impitcated, they stated, in collnsion with other boy of sixteen years, named Anthony Nel- nm, M collecting woney due the Scrauton Voat Corm- pany, corner of Atlante and Henry streets, and ap. bropriating the procesds of their peculations to them. solves, ‘She Capta.n immediately telegraphed the ferday aiforodon Sergeunt Temple, of tue Pony tiie Lemple, oi the Forty. [hey Lente PE tag 3 pwned) Cen , in p ing ihe kumof eleve ars wo his uso, Mr. Stephenson, 06 the Scranton Coal Com- pany, appeared as complainant in the ease, whieh Was subsequently brougut before Justice Welmar Ge . pig hd nei the exact mount thas collected by these boys bh, _ ined. y yj has Net been am Horeenins.—A roll of carpet covtaining abant aixty yards was stolen from the store of Mr. J. Het- triek, No. 110 Myrtle avenue, yesterday. The thief ‘Was Dot detected, ‘The washhouse of Mi. Robert Donald in Quincy street, near Nostrand avenue, was brokea into on ‘Tuesday night and robbed of twenty-tive dollars worth of linen, ‘The clothes line in the yard of Mr, S. D, Higgins’ residence in North Oxf street, near Myrtle @ve- ‘was stripped of about seventy doilars worth of ol by some thief on Wednesday night. Peter Johnson was convicted having stolen several articles of wearin; ee from the resl- dence of Mrs, Eliza ‘Mendo No, 6% Union street, Jeaterday. He was arratgned before Justice Delinar, Who sentenced hint to the Penitentiary for six months, Angnes Denses the man arrested by detec- tive Corwin at tile Walton on "Tuesday. night, with a chest of tea in his possession, was taken be- fore Justice Buckle, Fayre f and committed to await the action of the G: Jury. The tea was identified by Messrs. Sodon & Long as haying been stoien frem their store, corner of le avenue and Pearl street, Jacob Ryman was sent to the House of Refuge yesterday by Justice Buckley for having broken iuto the office of Mr. H. 'thonws, a lumber dealer, at the corner of Nevins and Degraw street, and stolen three coats, | The Lege’ ‘was arrested on Fuiton street, by detective Frost, on Monday afternoon. News IN Brrgv.—Johu McLaughlin, twenty years of age, was arraigned before Justice Deliar yester- day on charge of committing an indecent assault upon a child eight years of age. He was sent to jail to await examination. * Sleighing has not been general in Brooklyn this season owing to some cause unknown, even when the roads are m trim for that description of sport, ‘The Democratic General Committee has voted two hundred dollars each to the Constitutional Union Association, Conservative Soldiers and Sailors’ and MeClellan Legion Associations. Mr. Cyrus P. Smit will assume the dutios of Prest- | dent of the Brooklyn City Railroad Company, vacated by the resignation of Mr. Henry A. Pierson. An appeal has been made to the public by the Mercantile Litrary Association for funds to pay of the balance of the debt on the new building—$20,000, The tobacco factory of John Thompson, Quay street, Greespomt, was seized yesterday for non- aymen® of the special tax on manufactured to- 100. John H, Banner, who was examined before Justice Cornwell! yesterday ou charge of arson, on complaint of the Assistant /rie Mars! was committed to uivaus the action of the Grand Jury. The Park Commissioners have determined to advertise for proposals for the construction of a grand fountain on the plaza at the entrafice to the Park, which will cost about $40,000. + ABREST OF A NAVAL OFFICKH ON CHARGE OF ABANDONMENT.—On Tuesday evening detective ofticer John Herbert, attached to the Forty-third pre- cinct police, armed with a warrant issued to Mrs, Julia Knowlton, by Justice Delmar, proceeded to the Navy Yard and there by virtue of his authority arrested Miner N. Kuowilton, second engineer of the United States steam sloop-of-war Narraganset, on charge of abandonment. He was taken to the But- ler street station house. and there detained for the night. The accused i# a man of rather ine appear- ance, is thirty-one years of age and was attached to the American squadron in the Asiatic, as emymeer, until October last, serviug on board the steam sioop- of-war Iroquois. He is well known in the service, having been al! throngh the war; is the son ofa clergyman and belongs toa Lye respectable family residing in Connecticut. The complainant, Mrs. Knowlton, who has an exteaded acquaintance in society, @ tall, Qnelooking woman, and is @ native of South America. She was tie widow of an experienced and much esteemed member of the editorial staff of a lead- ing New York journal, and marred the defendaut tu 1867. Shoruy after the nuptial Knot had been tied he received sailing orders, which latter, thougl not unlooked for by the newly wedded pair, was, nevertheless, a most unwelcome document just at that peculiar time. Mr. Knowlton suaticd shortly afterwards. In due course of events a child was born, and months rolled by when the wife received intelligence of her husbaud’s prospective early re- turn, He finally reached his native jand, but did not visit his‘home; and his sorrowing w.fe as a last resort has thas caused the arrest of her erraie hus- band on charge of abandment. He was taken before Justice Deimar yesterday, but the complaiuant pe- ing unabie to appear from indisposition the accused ‘was committed to jail, in default of $500 ball, to ap- pear for examination on day next. KINGS COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. ae The Kings County Board of Supervisors met yes- terday afternoon, Supervisor Osborne in the chair, A TWO-THIRD VOTE TO INCREASE OR FIX SALARIES. ‘The Law Committee, to whom was referred the resolution requiring the drafting of an act making a two-thirds vote necessary to increase or fix the sala- ries of county officers, submitted @ report to that effect for presentation to the Legislature. ‘The Clerk was directed to “transmit a copy of the act to our re; ntatives in All and that the; be requeatett to tavor the passage ‘the same, ) THE LEASING OF THE COURT HOUSE §XTENSION GROUNI At the last meeting of the Petra Benervisvs How ell offered a resolution that the Law Comm ittee of the Board be authorized and directed to lease for the term of two years from the first of May and to the {interests of the county the premises belonging was could sae i z ‘i 5g i ta tion, and the it of the county to lease Repae entirely upon whether the an absolute title to ‘the juired such title q right of the Supervisors to lease it or otherwise dispose as the bane interests might require. bate then followed as to the propriety the property, when an amendment was “offered to make the term of the leases one year amendment was finaily lost and Mr. Howell's resointion adopted. Supervisor Litre then offered a resolution that no liquor be sold on the premises leased. This was lost. A PROTEST, A number of Mitizens sent in a remonstrance inst leasing the old but! now on the Court jouse extension grounds for dwellings or stores, and insist that the eae should be kept for pub- lic purposes as int led by law. The document ‘was placed on iile. THR QUARANTIXE AT CONEY ISTAND, Supervisor ST1LLWH@L offered the following:— Resolved, that our representatives in tue In ture of this State be requested to the Frit a3508 EE: ie < # 4 " 717, of laws 1868, ng $25,000 to enable the acquire a site on id and erect thereon residences for tue officers and men in the admiuistration of quarantine in the port of New York, or so modily or amend said clause that no more than two acres shall be taken,.and that the landing of passengers for Lol pe noes of sea bath- , &c., Shull not oe preve or interiered with. ¢ resolution Was A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES REJECTED. The Law Committee reported that they had exam- ined the claim of Messrs. Hobbs, Blici & Hebpard for damages sustained by a break in the temporary wridge at funter's Point, and say the fiym have no just or valid claim against the county. They there- Tore wended utat the claim be rejected, aad a. moti twat effect was adopted. ‘Phe Board then ad, MEW JERSEY INTELLIGHNC:. eyo Jersey City. An Lnqu ner was commenced yesterday by Coroner Warren on the body of a German, named Nicholas Readenauer, who dropped dead on TueMMay after- Roon. Deceased was about thirty-two years of age, and was employed at a bakery in Grove street. A post moriem exainiaation Was ordered and the in- quest was adjourued, Ter Hackensack Ronseny.—William Shade was brought before Recorder Pope for examination yes- terday. M a Fair testified that the prisoner was in her étap! 4 on Thesday ware Of fi cause he had for loving, aa she had treated bim kindly and the “les lnced, which were fonud in the possession of the prisoner, were her yperty. Pope ed that this was not acase of theft merely, but also of breach of confidence, and he committed the prisoner for trial atthe presen it term of court. THe Jonson INquest.—The inquest in the caso of James Johnson, who died trom injuries received on the Morris and Esvex allroad, near the Bergen tunnel, on Tuesday, the 12th insi., was resumed yes- terday by Coroner White at Union Hi), The evi- dence showed that the deceased left hia residence on Monday and went towards Jersey City in search of emp me } 3 a Ltontagte return, & foun OW: via near track on ralioad wit hig Hew fractured ana one Of his arms lace je laquest was thon adjourned til! ten o'clock to-day. Bayonne. Roars oF TH PROPLE.—The taxpayers of Bayonne township have sent w protest to the Legisiature against the action of a meeting held on the 1ath instant to consider an act in ting the city of Bayonne. They state that the e of the meeting was worded in such @ manner as to disguise the reat of the call, and that the Ee of rat. fying the act of ifvorporation _~ a in even- by alfout 190 pertons, Who they claim did pot and to not repre- maa hopes of the 400 voters wo reside in the r South Oranue. Heeonrion Favourne THR Rerean oF Tae Roav Boaun,-—At og adjourned meeting of the citi- zens of this place, held recently, a resolution was passed instructing State Senator Hays Essex county members of Assembly to cat bad utmost endeavors towards ¢1 the repeal of the Road Board act. A committee of two, Messre, A. B. Bald- win and Moses P, Smith were appointed to go to Trenton and take all proper measures to effectya ree Paterson. GRanp Bate av TURNER'S StaTion,—another grand diamond ball caine oi? at Turner’s Station, on the Erie Railway, on Tuesday, night, in the fine building known as the Orange Hotel. The display of wealth aud fasiuen was your extensive, ad thousands of dollars im silks and jewelry adorn the ladies, The aflair was pera cnlegy. by devotees of fastion residing in the vicinity lew York city, who were conveyed to and from the ace yo special train with sicoptng, care attached, The occasion was one of considerable enjoyment to all who attended and everything passed off quietly, It was, like the one held at the saine place a short time since, gotten up by the Erie Ruliway ofictais, with an evideut inten- tion of having a good time, and the anticipated re- sult ws fully attained, 4 Elizabeth. Toe Recenr EXPLOSION—ARNKEST OF WoDE.—Pur- suant to order from Dr, Louls Braun, George Wode, thd proprietor of the turning shop at Eliza- bethport who stands charged with criminal care- lessness in the niaintenance of the exploded boiler ‘on his premises has been arrested and lodged in the jail, He made no attempt to escape. In the mean- time pubite opinion is very severe against him. Deara oF «4 PROMINENT JBRSEYMAN.—Yesterday morning about five o'clock, at the advanced age of sixty-eight years, James B. Burnett died at his resi- déuce, corner of Rahway avenue and Cherry street, in rather sudden and unexpected manner. Mr. Burnett was a native of Essex county, of which he was sheriff previous to the separaiion of Essex aud Union counues. Subsequent he was elected @ chosen freeholder of Essex county, and more re- cently, in i861, occupled the position of mayor of this city, after several years’ residence. He was a leading repubilcan and was highly respected by both olitical partis, ie leaves a widow wel! provided for, but no faxaily, ¢ VOICE OF THE PEPE. History of the Park. Genera Viele, who as chief englueer in perfect- ing the present plan of the Park ought to be well posted im regard to if, writes a lengthy letter relative to a lately pubiisied “History of the Central Park.” He denounces the book as “a gaudy and spices. catchpenny.” All the merit he concedes to it, in fact, is as a picture book, and even then as only being mteresting to lovers of poor art. This he would willingly let pass by, but ag an alieged “medium of personal defraction and false statements” 1: deserves, in luis opinion, unspar- ing censure as well ax public exposure. He p isto give, as showing the alleged ialaity of certain state- ments contained in the book, the leading facts con- nected with the early history of the Park—facts with which the public are perfectiy familiar, and shere- fore unnecessary to repeat here. He ventilates the subject without reservation and with no show of mercy to the unknown because anonymous authors oi the so-called “gilded catchpenny.” 2 Government Offices at Washington. One who was lony connected with the government offices at the national capital, but is now an out sider, undertakes (to expose some of the mysteries and inner workings of them, and in coanection with_ Such exposure show how reform should be intro- duced and retrenciiment exercised. It 1s the old, old story of periodical telliag, the occasional bomb- shell, well charged and well directed, but exploding harmiessiy over the heads of its intended victims. Congressional pernee showing itself in nepotisar he urges as the foundation oi existing abuses—o nepotism giving first class positions to drst class fossils, who are ouly the tools of their patronsy and who, to secure their fat places, dg | ro A hang on to with the tenacity of li itself, have to subinit to the spoliating schemes of their superiors. [e says there 18 not a buread im which one clerk cannot do the work uow assigned to four. He makes a strong point of the known dis- loyalty of many of the cle His plan of retrench- ment is a general cul off of heads, a general sbaking up of the dry and, in making the clerical force one fourth that it now is, infuse an ele- mhent of sturdy, honest working in al! the depart- ment offices. fs The Shenandeak Claims, A gentleman writes very feelingly and sorely upon the subject of the Shenandoah claims. He protests stoutly against this matier being smothered up in any settlement of the Alabama claims. He recounts being present at Melbourne, Australia, when she arrived there and was put in a government slip for repairs previous Cs her a expedition our whalers in the North Paciilc.. He recites the treatment of the oMcers by. the government officials, their occupying 4 vernor’s box at the theatre, and a bail given’ their honor by the leading citizens, and then hisown treatment for daring at a public meeting to oppose these pi He had, as he alleges, one limb broken, another dist his hair and whiskers out, and after being led from the platform, ive fect high, was picked up and transferred to a Joathsome dungeon, where he was kept for three months, . os Second Avenue Railrond. ‘The alleged grievances to which those have to sub- mit who are compelied te travel on this road form the subject of a lengthy letter. Having to wait en indefinitely long time at Sixty-second street for dum- my Cars is the chief burden of complaint. The sys- tem of waiting enfc the writer has re- solved itself into suuatae People woul let this Teoaipia last month,” Belug’ $40,000 ‘against those of jast month, the Third avenue road, $108, pnp at the close of po ee mi vel je~ v9 podnod stock of this —— franchise 6 that ra on of the ent oc a ete rhe its a whoever are the to carry out the provisions of he insists is not now done. and suggests that the com; Would bo stil better, erect fowerlag” gates oa each would be st , erect lowe: on side of the track. 7 : Our Jary System. The working of our present jury system elicits & scathing letter from one who evidently knows what he is writing about. He desires to have broken up the present = of professional jurors. These men are paid two dollars aday for their services, but this he claims ts only nomtnal—the nest. th which they fill their nests to repletion. “fie system now, he claims, ls receiving pay for v te, the amounts of course vi x according fo the amounts in ieee or magnitude of interests involved. He recommenda a new jury law, such as will give verdicts to uiajorities and prevent tae “holding ou’ of paid rogues. . Ladies at the Burns Festival. A lady correspondent announces herself as one of @ tiousand aud one ladies of this heartily endorsing the Hrranp in ite urging thi of ladies attending the approach Burus festival She hopes the managers of the val Wilk adopt the HktaLp’s suggestion in this regard, promises that the presence tt Le yd will add greatig, the f f to (he feast of reason and “cee = a een & ee ~ if detectt pursuit of the murderers of Rogers find a defender in one signing himeelf “Fair Play.” He thinks the newspapers have been woo explicit tu recounting the movements of the detec- tare "tegrer aos ast oe achieved. He gives rourderer is concealed by his friends. A SAVAGE MIUROER IN CLAREMONT, NK. A Farwer Killed and His Wife Badiy [Claremout, N. H, (an. 19) corresponience of the Journal. «a Woodel, # farmer, living ina romot tem toon, Was most havewely murdered between ern five and #ix o'clock iaat evening im his own house by bis nephew, Willam N, Kenney, without provo- cation, and with no apparent ve. tered tie house wallo eupper, and attacked We three (errible wou: upon the throat—one of Vein, He lived buts fow moments. Kk took an axe and inflicltd four more terrib! upon his victim's left shoul on nad YP upon Bhe made her band’s father's, 38 now ali’ tent! eacaped wit bat will