THE BUSINESS OF PROSTITUTION; ITS COST
The present chapter deals mainly with the business of prostitution as
conducted in parlor houses and brothels. Our investigators were fortunate
in being able to mingle freely with promoters and their assistants during
a period of many months, listening to their conversations, consulting with
them about business deals, helping them "make up their books" after the
day's business was over, and writing letters for them; they were, in fact,
treated as members of the inner circle and thus obtained first-hand
information. Copies of leases for property are on our files; records of
expenses and receipts in the handwriting of the promoters were secured;
conversations carried on between promoters and bearing on their business
dealings, have been recorded. It is commonly believed that men who live
upon the proceeds of prostitution are untruthful, that no dependence can
be put upon their statements. This doubtless holds as to their utterances
on the witness stand or before an investigating body. But among themselves
they talk about their business dealings with great freedom, and probably
with more or less general accuracy. They eat and drink, buy and sell, plan
and scheme like other business men; and under such circumstances the
facts and conversations presented herewith were obtained. On the other
hand, it must be distinctly stated that our agents were not authorized or
permitted to "frame up" cases in order to secure facts. They did not
operate houses of prostitution in the effort to obtain direct evidence,
although opportunities of this kind frequently presented themselves. They
could have leased property for immoral purposes, bought shares in houses
of prostitution, or have become active agents in arranging the details
essential to the safe and successful conduct of the business. Their
instructions forbade anything of the kind: it was their part merely to
observe without arousing suspicion on the one hand, and without actual
participation on the other.
(1) LEASING PROPERTY
In order to secure houses to be used for immoral purposes, "go-betweens"
called "mecklers" are employed. The "meckler" is paid a fee, never less
than $30 and sometimes as much as $100. Occasionally he receives a small
percentage of the receipts.
A man of this character[183] lives in East 139th Street.[184] During the
period of this investigation, he selected a building on Sixth Avenue[185]
as suitable for the business of prostitution. Several promoters had
previously tried unsuccessfully to secure a lease on this property.
Through the pawnbroker who occupies the first floor, the "meckler" in
question ultimately succeeded in securing the owner's[186] consent: the
rental was $300 a month, despite the wretched conditions of the premises.
He therefore rented the upper floors to three others,[187] who shared with
him on a 20 per cent basis. The enterprise was not successful; not long
after the "meckler" sold his share[188] for $450. The house closed in
March, 1912, because of poor management. Later three other men purchased
the lease and re-opened the place.
On June 26th, 1912, two owners[189] of a house of prostitution[190] in
West 28th Street, sought to rent a house[191] on West 29th Street. The
go-between was instructed to secure a lease on the house for one year if
possible, and was told to give the agent to understand for what purpose
they wanted the property. If objection was made, he was to tell the agent
that in case of dispossession proceedings, the tenant could be evicted and
a new lease issued under a different name. This was said to be the usual
plan when the police made an arrest or issued an eviction notice. The
go-between carried out his instructions literally. The house agents
candidly admitted that "the owner knows that the only thing we can let the
house for is for a cat-house" (meaning a house of prostitution). They
stipulated that the place was not to be conducted as a gambling house or
pool room; otherwise they did not care. The rental finally agreed upon was
$2,000 a year. It was also agreed to insert in the lease a clause
permitting the lessee to sublet the house to some other tenant in case of
arrest and subsequent dispossession proceedings. A deposit of $30 was
made and a receipt was given in the name of the supposed broker, or
"meckler."
In the renting of premises for purposes of prostitution various devices
are employed to protect agent and owner, despite the fact that there is an
overwhelming probability that in most cases both possess from the outset
guilty knowledge of the facts. In some places, direct responsibility is
avoided through renting empty apartments to janitors for a rental ranging
from $40 to $50 a month. The janitor furnishes these apartments on the
instalment plan and sublets them to prostitutes at the rate of $15 to $18
per week. Then, in addition, he often receives from $3 to $5 per week to
"look away," as he terms it. If the respectable families do not like it,
they may move; and many of them do move.
The method of subletting furnished apartments by the janitor, with the
consent of the agent (who probably shares in the extra profits) is
employed in a tenement building on West 109th Street. In other places, the
agents rent apartments by the week, demanding payment in advance. After a
day or two, they may inform the occupants that a complaint has been made
and that they will have to move. They do not return any of the advanced
rental, but proceed to repeat the performance. This has happened in
connection with furnished apartments on such streets as West 107th and
West 108th.
During the month of February, 1912, a woman investigator visited 122 real
estate agents for the alleged purpose of renting an apartment for immoral
purposes. In each case the investigator endeavored to convey to the agent
the object for which the apartment was ostensibly desired. Of the 122
agents visited, only 17 refused outright to be parties to the transaction.
A few of these were indignant, others said they had to be careful, and
still others said the owners of the property were exceedingly strict.
Sixty-seven agents agreed to rent certain apartments for this purpose and
gave the investigator the addresses of 98 separate apartments where she
could conduct the proposed business. Many of these addresses proved to be
places where the present investigation had already discovered disorderly
conditions. The remaining 38 agents were classified as doubtful. Some of
them were annoyed because the investigator openly hinted her purpose; they
suggested that they did not care, but would not knowingly rent the
property in their charge for such a business. Others pretended to ignore
the questions of the investigator and gave her 65 separate addresses where
apartments could be rented. They were willing to rent apartments of this
character, but did not want to appear to do so. A young man in a real
estate office on Eighth Avenue stated that they "never ask people for
their marriage certificates; they require only that tenants conduct
themselves quietly." One well-known agent[192] betrayed and indeed
confessed embarrassment when frankly told the purpose for which it was
desired to rent a house. He remarked: "I know what you wanted the house
for, but I had much rather you had not told me. If I don't know it, I
don't know it. Now suppose you people are dispossessed and get on the
witness stand and squeal, how would I look?" At a further conference, the
agent refused to agree to a new lease in case of an eviction. "The only
trouble," he said to the stranger, "is that you talked too much. I knew
what you wanted the house for, but I very much rather you had not told me.
What I don't know don't bother me. I tell you what I'll do. You send
somebody else up here in a week or so and I will give you the house and
don't talk too much about it."
In some of the buildings mentioned in the course of the negotiations here
in question, practically every apartment is a vice resort. As many as 16
such resorts were found in one 7-story building. In another, every
apartment except one was a vice resort, the one exception being the home
of a butcher who supplied meat to the other tenants.
Whatever the lease may indicate to the contrary, property rented for
immoral purposes produces extraordinarily large returns. Not infrequently
a high rental is thus produced by houses and apartments that are so
dilapidated that they cannot be rented at all to decent human beings.
Again, there is a tacit understanding that the rental named in the lease
is merely a blind. The agent receives an additional sum, which he may
pocket or divide with the landlord. The lease of a house[193] of
prostitution in West 26th Street places the rental at $100 a month; the
keeper[194] pays $150. On October 5th, 1912, three men were negotiating
with a real estate agent[195] in West 30th Street, who agreed to rent them
two houses[196] in West 38th Street at extortionate rates. On the same
day, an Eighth Avenue agent[197] was promised a bonus of $50 per month for
a house[198] in West 28th Street. Occasionally the increased charge
appears in the lease. When the madame[199] of a West 40th Street
establishment undertook to rent this house, she was told by the agent[200]
that the rent would be $110 per month, and that he would lease the
building to her for one year with a three months' clause. Then he added,
"Now be frank; I will find out anyway. Do you intend to do anything up
there?"
"Well, I might take a chance," she said.
"If you do," he replied, "the rent will be $125 per month."
On March 9th, 1912, at 11.30 P. M., a man was solicited by two colored
girls to enter a vice resort in West 40th Street.[201] The agents[202] of
this building have offices in West 42nd Street. The building is 5 stories
high and four families live on each floor, paying a monthly rental of from
$20 to $25. The street walkers, however, pay as much as $40 per month for
their rooms. Their neighbors[203] declare that the agent has knowledge of
the character of these tenants. A public school is next door, and on the
opposite side of the street is a church.
(2) TRADING IN SHARES
A group consisting of 38 men own and operate 28 one-dollar houses of
prostitution in a certain section of Manhattan.[204] Among themselves
they trade actively in shares. One of them[205]--already referred to as
the "King" by reason of the scope of his enterprises and influence--is
said to own shares in 10 houses, and his brother and nephew each have a
sixth interest in another resort which he gave them as a present. His
one-dollar resorts are located on the following streets:--three on Sixth
Avenue, two each in West 25th Street and West 24th Street, and one each in
West 28th Street,[206] West 31st Street,[207] and West 40th Street.[208]
He is also the proprietor of a $5 house located in West 49th Street.[209]
In some houses there are three partners who are said also to own shares in
other places of the same character; in one instance, two brothers are
partners in two houses--one in Sixth Avenue, and one in West 27th Street.
Four partners were formerly interested in a business conducted in West
24th Street.
The group of men who operate these 28 houses of prostitution are very
careful in disposing of their shares. The purchaser must either be one of
their own number or some relative or friend. Sales are made for different
reasons, sometimes to effect economies in management. For example, on June
7th, 1912, an owner[210] sold a half interest in a Sixth Avenue resort to
a man from the West, for $2,200. Thereupon he bought a one-third interest
in another house on Sixth Avenue for $900, being admitted to the firm that
he might serve as lighthouse and procurer. A half-partner[211] was taken
into another Sixth Avenue house[212] for $1500. The low price was
subsequently accounted for by the owner as follows: "Do you suppose if the
new partner had not had a good woman, I would have taken him in for that
sum? I would have to take a woman in anyway and give her at least 20 per
cent of the profits, without getting anything for it except her labor. To
start with, I am getting $1,500 and a good woman; I save $25 per week on a
procurer, and besides get a partner who is interested in the house and not
a total stranger who does not care whether the house does business or not;
the place is running straight now." While these two men were discussing
this economical move, the madame[213] of a house in West 40th Street[214]
approached, to remark that she had a good house in the 26th police
precinct, and wanted to have one of them come with her as a partner, so
that she could use his influence in making some very necessary
arrangements looking toward the success of the business. In reply to this
offer, the person addressed replied: "They (meaning the police
authorities) will not stand for a one-dollar house of prostitution on that
street and besides I have enough, my hands are full." Thereupon one of the
partners in another resort on Sixth Avenue,[215] remarked that if she
wanted to pay him $2,000 for his one-third interest, he would sell it.
"Why do you want to sell?" asked the woman.
"My woman is very sick," he replied, "and she has to go to the mountains;
also her sister is very sick and I am 'broke.'"
"How heavy is business?" she asked.
He replied that the house was "working" between $1,000 and $1,200 per
week. She regarded $2,000 as too much for a one-third interest, as the hot
months were coming on and business would probably be very dull; however,
she would give $1,500.
"No," he answered, "you cannot buy my share for $1,999."
Buyers are of course wary. They must be convinced that they are getting
what they pay for; occasionally, therefore, tentative arrangements are
made. A madame is installed until actual experience proves that the
property is worth the price asked.
The following transactions were actually witnessed by our investigators:
On March 3rd, 1912, sale of three one-third interests in a Sixth Avenue
resort for $650 apiece; March 11th, 1912, sale of a half interest in
another Sixth Avenue resort for $2,200; March 19th, a sale of a one-third
interest in a West 40th Street resort for $1,500,--a poor investment, for
the house was shortly closed; in July, 1912, a one-third interest in
another resort in West 40th Street was purchased for $3,000 by an owner,
who transferred his women thither from a place in 28th Street.
Occasionally pressure is brought to force a part owner out. On one such
transaction, a profit of $500 was made; in another a share was bought for
$500,--far below its market value.[216]
Quarrels and disputes between shareholders are of frequent occurrence.
Such disputes are deplored among the more intelligent promoters because
they fear exposure of one sort or another. A dissatisfied shareholder may
"squeal" to the police; or his woman may sit on the steps of a rival's
resort, calling the attention of the police to a particular house. The
policy of the business is to keep everybody satisfied and contented.
Nevertheless, misunderstandings occur; on April 8th, 1912, two
shareholders were engaged in a hot dispute; one of them had been a silent
partner who never "came to the front" when extra demands were made on the
finances of the firm, but left the other to pay the bills. It was claimed
that, as a result of his neglect, the house was closed and an officer was
ordered to stay inside. The business was ruined. Finally the officer was
removed, whereupon the "silent" partner wished to be recognized as owning
a share. As the complainant had borne the brunt of the difficulties with
the police, as well as the subsequent losses, he refused; besides, he had
taken in two other men as partners. The delinquent partner became very
angry and threatened to send his woman to the house and to make all sorts
of trouble. The two new partners advised that he receive $150 and be
declared "out for good." But the silent partner was not satisfied when he
heard that one of the new partners had sold his share for $1,700. So he
demanded $600 more for his share, claiming that he was still a partner,
which sum he subsequently received.[217]
The precarious nature of such investments, depending, as it does, for its
value on variations in public opinion and municipal policy, can be
illustrated from former as well as current history:
During the fall of 1907, the Commissioner of Police, as well as the
District Attorney, became very active in closing houses of prostitution in
Manhattan. An owner who was put out of business at that time made the
following statement, in substance, in the presence of two witnesses:
"At the time I was put out of business by Police Commissioner Bingham in
1907, I left New York with $4,800 and bought a farm in Jersey. After
things had cooled down, or in February, 1911, I came back to New York to
look the ground over. Finally things looked all right and I bought a
one-third interest in a place in West 25th Street for the sum of $1,200.
Three days later, "bing," I get a raid and a cop in front of the door for
a whole month. Then the cop was taken away and I opened again for a few
days, when, "bing," another $300 raid with a cop inside. I was tipped off
that my partner did not suit, so I bought her interest for $600 while the
cop was still inside. I then "doubled up" with a friend. We opened very
slowly; I would not let the women solicit at the windows. The weather was
very hot. In August I bought my friend out for $1,200 which made me even.
From February to April, I paid $100 a month in rent and other expenses and
didn't make a cent until August. Since that time up till now I have saved
only $9,000. The house stands me $4,000 after paying rent, the cost of the
raids, and the purchase price."
As already pointed out, any change in the political situation or in the
attitude toward the business on the part of the authorities of the city,
or a reform movement, reacts immediately upon the value of the shares in
vice resorts. Just before the murder of the gambler Rosenthal last summer,
the shares in houses of prostitution were very valuable, and it was
practically impossible to secure them except at large prices. On June 4th,
a part owner in a house in West 25th Street declared: "It is impossible to
get something decent unless you pay a prohibitive price. I had to pay
$1,700 for a one-third interest in this place and only to-day I paid
$1,000 for a year's lease on three houses in the same street. These
buildings have changed hands seven or eight times during the past year and
it is rumored that they are going to be torn down."[218] On June 19th,
1912, the owner of a share in a Sixth Avenue house told a man that the
"stocks are awful high." He offered to sell his one-third share, costing
$500 originally, for $2,000.
The Rosenthal murder took place July 15, 1912, and shares in houses of
prostitution at once declined. Some of the promoters were very pessimistic
over the situation and declared that the houses would be closed and their
business ruined. On August 6th, 1912, while discussing the situation, one
of them[219] declared that it was all over with them. His partner[220]
remonstrated with him, holding that the authorities would not close the
houses. To this the former replied:
"Well, I show you how much I think of it--I will sell my interest and get
out."
"It's a go," said the other, "I've been a gambler all my life; I'll buy
it." The price paid for this share several months before was $1,700, and
the same sum was demanded and refused. After some arguing, the bargain was
closed at $1,000 and $100 was paid on account.
Prior to the murder in question, a one-third interest in a Sixth Avenue
place was worth $2,000. On August 8th, 1912, the owner offered to sell his
interest for $1,000.
"No," said the prospective buyer, "I will give you $500, and I am taking a
gambler's chance in giving you that much."[221]
The decline in values has continued since the date of the above
conversations. At this moment an interest in certain places can be
purchased for the amount of a night's profit.
(3) BUSINESS DETAILS, ETC.
It is impossible to give even an approximate estimate of the receipts from
the business of prostitution in Manhattan during a stated period. We could
not secure access to the books of the owners, even if they kept accounts,
which none do in a systematic way. But bits of direct evidence, absolutely
accurate and reliable, in the shape of records for a day, a week, or month
were obtained here and there; we can also report what owners and inmates
say regarding their incomes. Whatever allowances are made for
overstatements and misstatements, intentional or accidental, the total is
sufficiently staggering.
The most eloquent and significant exhibits obtained were the cards on
which the night's business of the inmate is punched. These casual bits of
information are in no wise exceptional. One shrinks from multiplying them
by the number of women engaged, and the number of days in the year.
Lillie, inmate in a vice resort in Sixth Avenue[222] showed the
investigator a white card in which were punched 7 holes, each representing
one customer or service at $1 apiece, or $7. It was the record of her
earnings during a period of six hours ending at one A. M. on March 14th,
1912. Of the $7, Lillie received $3.50 as her share, from which amount
$1.50 was deducted by the madame to pay her board for the day.
The account of 6 inmates in a West 58th Street resort showed that on
Sunday, April 21st, Alma had earned $7; Pauline, $15; Pansy, $14; Rose,
$17; Bella, $16; and Ruth, $15: a total of $86, or an average of $14 per
day for each inmate. The price in this house ranged from $2 to $5,
according to the customer. The receipts of 3 inmates for another day in
April were, Rose, $49; Alma, $16; and Ruth, $30: a total of $95, or an
average for the day of $31 per inmate. The receipts on May 3rd, 1912, were
as follows: Rose, $28; Bella, $21; Alma, $13; Pansy, $4: a total of $66,
or an average of over $16 per day per inmate. For the week April 22-28
inclusive the receipts from 4 to 6 inmates were as follows:
Monday, April 22nd, 1912, $50
Tuesday, April 23rd, 1912, 38
Wednesday, April 24th, 1912, 34
Thursday, April 25th, 1912, 39
Friday, April 26th, 1912, 54
Saturday, April 27th, 1912, 53
Sunday, April 28th, 1912, 57
This gives a total of $325 or an average of about $46 per day.
Sixteen white cards were obtained from a dollar house in West 28th Street
showing the earnings per inmate on July 9th, 1912. "Babie" is credited
with $27; Buster, $30; a girl whose name is not readable, $27; Charlotte,
$23; Dolly, $20; Dorothy, $11; Minnie, $15; Eva, $16; one whose name is
not given, $15; another, name not given, $14; another, $10; others whose
names are omitted, $14, $14, $9, $8, $11 respectively. The total is $264
or an average of about $16 per inmate for the day. The madame when paying
the inmates the one-half due them for their day's work always deducted the
sum of $1.50 for board.
In the figures above given, there is no element of doubt whatsoever: they
are taken from the actual records of the day's business,--the cards in the
possession of every inmate. Whether they can be regarded as fairly
representative is another question, which it would be futile to discuss.
We possess, however, certain totals, the precise reliability of which the
reader must judge for himself. It has been stated that our investigators
succeeded in establishing themselves on an intimate footing with those
most prominently concerned in the commercial exploitation of prostitution.
They took part in conferences, and could discuss business and its
prospects without suspicion. From time to time these agents found
themselves in position to canvass freely the question of returns, past,
present and future. The approximate estimates of the value of the various
properties prior to the Rosenthal murder; and the main items of expense
incurred in their conduct were set down as thus obtained. In regard to the
general credibility of the figures it is to be remembered that these men
are decidedly communicative among themselves and that any exaggerated
departure from probability would have drawn forth expressions of
skepticism or disbelief; on the other hand, it is not pretended that the
figures are more than roughly significant of the scope and profits of a
fluctuating trade; they are given for what they are worth.
TABLE SHOWING APPROXIMATE MONTHLY RECEIPTS FROM INMATES, MONTHLY EXPENSES,
NUMBER OF INMATES, NUMBER OF MADAMES, ETC., IN 30 ONE-DOLLAR HOUSES.
+-----------------------------------------------------
|House receipts[223] (1/2 fees)
+ +----------------------------------------------
| |House expenses[224]
| + +----------------------------------------
| | |No. inmates
| | + +----------------------------------
| | | |No. madames
| | | + +-----------------------------
| | | | |No. maids
| | | | + +-------------------------
| | | | | |No. lighthouses
| | | | | + +---------------------
| | | | | | |No. owners
| | | | | | + +------------------
| | | | | | | | Value of business
| | | | | | | | S=sale B=bid.
------------------------------------------------------
Location A B C D E F G H
of house
No.--W. 18 $3,600 $814 18 2 4 1 3
" " " 24 3,200 735 17 2 3 1 2
" " " 25 3,200 606 16 1 3 1 2
" " " 25 4,000 839 24 3 4 1 2
" " " 25 3,227 705 20 1 3 1 1 $5,100 S.
" " " 25 3,000 571 9 2 3 3
" " " 28 2,800 729 17 2 4 1 2
" " " 28 3,000 821 16 4 3 1 3
" " " 31 2,800 516 12 3 3 2,000 S.
" " " 35 2,400 788 14 3 3 1 2
" " " 40 1,200 275 4 2 2
" " " 40 1,000 293 6 2 1
" " " 40 2,000 628 12 2 3 1 2
" " " 56 3,200 797 20 3 4 1 2
" Sixth Ave.[225] 2,400 691 14 1 2 1 2
" " " 3,600 689 19 2 4 1 2 4,400 S.
" " " 2,400 733 14 2 3 1 3
" " " 2,000 593 12 1 2 2
" " " 3,200 555 12 2 2 3 6,000 S.
" " " 1,200 437 5 1 2 1 1
" " " 3,200 667 15 2 2 1 2 3,750 S.
" " " 3,600 847 20 2 4 1 1
" " " 2,800 627 15 1 2 1 4 10,000 B.
No.-- W. 24 2,000 674 10 1 3 2 4 {2,500 S.
{3,200 S.
" " " 26 3,700 819 20 2 4 1 2
" " " 27 3,000 570 16 1 2 1 2
" " " 28 3,000 741 16 1 3 1 3
" " " 28 1,200 441 8 1 2 1
" " " 36 3,000 748 16 2 3 1 2 3,000 S.
" " " 36 2,800 706 15 3 3 1 1
------ ------- --- -- -- -- -- -----
Total $81,727 $19,655 432 50 87 24 65
Similar data were also procured--and in substantially the same manner--for
eight five-dollar houses.[226]
TABLE SHOWING APPROXIMATE MONTHLY RECEIPTS OF HOUSES FROM INMATES, MONTHLY
EXPENSES, NUMBER INMATES, NUMBER MADAMES, ETC., IN 8 FIVE-DOLLAR HOUSES.
House House No. No. No. Lowest
Location receipts expenses inmates madames maids price of
of house St. (1/2 fees) service
No.--W. 38 $ 2,400 $ 871 12 2 4 $3
" " 41 1,800 924 10 2 3 5
" " 46 2,800 938 14 2 3 5
" " 46 3,200 952 16 2 5 5
" " 46 1,800 760 12 1 4 5
" " 47 3,000 871 15 2 3 5
" " 49 1,800 878 12 2 3 { 2
{ 5
" " 52 1,600 885 9 2 3 5
------- ------ --- -- -- ---
Total $18,400 $7,079 100 15 28
Ten disorderly tenements were studied in the same way, with the following
results:[227]
TABLE SHOWING APPROXIMATE MONTHLY RECEIPTS FROM INMATES, MONTHLY EXPENSES,
NUMBER INMATES AND NUMBER MAIDS IN 10 DISORDERLY APARTMENTS.
House receipts House No. No.
Location St. (1/2 fees) expenses inmates maids
No.--W. 43 $ 500 $ 189 3 1
" " 45 600 235 3 1
" " 49 700 259 4 2
" " 50 700 264 4 2
" " 55 600 261 4 2
" " 58 800 143 4 2
" " 58 800 175 4 2
" " 58 1,000 440 5 2
" " 60 500 208 3 2
" " 65 600 144 3 1
------ ------ -- --
Total $6,800 $2,318 37 17
We have deliberately refrained from attempting to make even an approximate
calculation on the basis of the foregoing tables of the profits annually
derived from commercialized prostitution in New York City. But a moment's
reflection will suggest the enormous sums involved. If, for example, the
table dealing with thirty parlor houses, _i. e._, less than one-half of
those investigated, even roughly represents the monthly volume of
business, over $2,000,000 a year are paid to their inmates, one-half of
which is at once paid over to the houses; the running expenses of the
houses are about one-quarter of a million; but the profits are not reduced
by this sum, for the payments of the inmates for board and lodging are
supposed to be equal to the expense of conducting the establishment.
Moreover, the estimates above given entirely omit certain very important
indirect sources of revenue,--for large profits are derived from the sale
of liquor, tobacco, lewd pictures, booklets, verse and other reading
matter. Finally, patrons often tip lavishly, leaving "gift" or "luck"
money, and in innumerable other ways add to the revenue of the resorts.
The total expenditure incurred and the net profit to the exploiters,
therefore, run high up into the millions annually.[228]
A partial confirmation of the scale of the estimates above given is
furnished by the following incident:
During the evening of May 3, 1912, one of the owners of a house of
prostitution in West 25th Street was trying to sell a one-third interest
in his one-dollar resort. He had written on a sheet of brown wrapping
paper the receipts and expenses for one month in connection with the
business in this house. This document is in our possession. The items
which interest us in this connection are receipts for four weeks and two
days, or 30 days in all: First week's receipts, $1,735; second week,
$1,612; third week, $1,463; fourth week, $1,401; two days, $243; making a
total of $6,454 for the thirty days, or an average of about $215 per day.
The average number of inmates in this house is 15. In that case, each
inmate earned $15, that is, received 15 men each day.
The income of the street walker is probably subjected to greater
fluctuations than that of the house or flat inmate, weather and other
conditions greatly affecting her earnings. It is therefore impossible to
gain any conception of the volume of money that changes hands in
consequence of street business. Samples are, however, available; the
account book which was secured from a young prostitute, neither very
aggressive nor very attractive, who solicits on East 14th Street and
receives usually one dollar for her services, runs as follows:
Wednesday $7.50
Thursday 7.00
Friday 9.00
Saturday 9.50
Sunday 4.50
Monday 7.50
Tuesday 8.00
a total of $53.
The items for the next seven days are as follows:
Wednesday $6.50
Thursday 6.50
Friday 7.00
Saturday 12.00
Sunday 10.00
Monday 9.00
Tuesday 6.00
a total of $57.
The following six days' receipts were as follows:
Wednesday $6.00
Thursday 6.00
Friday 3.50
Saturday 8.00
Sunday 5.50
Monday 5.00
a total of $34.
The following seven days' receipts are:
Wednesday $6.00
Thursday 5.00
Friday 3.00
Saturday 7.00
Sunday 8.00
Monday 6.00
Tuesday 6.00
$41 in all.
There were only five more days accounted for, when the girl ceased to keep
any record of her receipts:
Wednesday $3.50
Thursday 2.00
Friday 5.50
Saturday 4.50
Sunday 10.50
the total of these five days being $26.
Thus in 32 days, this poorly dressed, rather ignorant and unsophisticated
street walker, earned $211, an average of between $6 and $7 per day.
Practically all the figures in the above concern profits derived from the
sale of the bodies of women. In addition, the exploiters--owners and
madames mainly--derive further gain (by no means inconsiderable in amount)
from such items as the sale to their women, at exorbitant prices, of
clothing and other feminine requirements. Huge as these immediate profits
of exploitation are, they are enormously increased by the vast sums made
from the sale of intoxicating drinks, which business has been shown to be
so closely allied with prostitution, and by abnormal rentals received for
the use of all kinds of property for purposes of prostitution. Even then,
the stupendous although unknown figure involved in the maintenance of this
army of upwards of 15,000 women in New York City fails to indicate what
prostitution costs society. For perhaps the greatest cost of all is yet
to be mentioned, namely, disease. Wherever prostitution exists, there
venereal disease flourishes,--maiming, incapacitating the participants
surely, and not infrequently innocent ones in close association with them.
Reliable and complete statistics as to the prevalence of venereal disease,
its consequences immediate and remote, are not to be had. In the absence
of compulsory reporting, it is impossible to estimate the number of cases
under treatment by physicians; in addition to these, large numbers
endeavor to conceal the truth by foolishly resorting to quacks, advertised
nostrums, etc. Figures obtainable from hospitals represent, therefore,
only a fraction, probably an inconsiderable fraction, of those afflicted;
as far as they go, a careful study elicits the following facts:
During the year 1911, 522,722 cases of all kinds were treated in 17
dispensaries in New York City; 15,781, or 3.01 percent of these cases,
were venereally affected. The hospitals of the city possess few beds for
the reception of venereal patients; nevertheless, 5,380 persons--6.33 per
cent of all cases treated in 13 different hospitals--were venereally
affected, about two-thirds male, one-third female. These infections occur
at any time from the first to the seventieth year,--the period of greatest
frequency being between 16 and 30 years of age: between 16 and 20, 796
were males and 369 females; between 21 and 25, 1,182 and 454,
respectively; between 26 and 30, 692 and 268.
For several reasons these figures are far from suggesting the actual
extent of venereal infection,--in the first place, because, as above
stated, the hospitals receive but a fraction of the sufferers; in the
second, because accurate diagnosis has only recently become feasible. The
percentages increase heavily as soon as the more delicate and reliable
tests devised by Wassermann and others are applied. For example, 308
adults were admitted to the medical wards of a certain New York hospital
during the months of January, February, and March, 1913; though the
Wassermann test for syphilis was made in the case of only 166 of these,
38, _i. e._, 23 percent of those examined, gave positive results; this is
equivalent to 12.3 percent of the entire 308. Had the test been applied to
all adults admitted, undoubtedly the ratio of syphilitic infection would
have been higher still. As a matter of fact, the test as usually performed
does not disclose all cases of infection; so that the prevalence of
disease is actually greater than the tests indicate.
The civil state of the patients in the cases first mentioned is shown in
the following table:
Males Females
single married widowers single married widows
640 2950 57 589 802 90
From the standpoint of occupation, every social class is
represented,--necessarily so, inasmuch as every social class figures in
the phenomena of prostitution. The occupations given by male patients were
as follows: professional, 52; clerical and official, 307; mercantile and
trading, 250; public entertainment, 120; personal service, police and
military, 186; laboring and servant, 1,181; manufacturing and mechanical
industry, 932; agricultural, transportation, and other outdoor
employments, 645; no occupations, 58; classified as unknown, 8; children,
11; congenital origin, 31; schoolboys, 10; students, 10. The occupations
of female patients are as follows: professional, 46; domestic and
personal, 1,144; trade and transportation, 109; manufacturing and
mechanical, 86; no occupations, 72; unknown, 9; schoolgirls, 21; children,
76.
In respect to the disease with which they were afflicted, 413 of the 1,563
females suffered from syphilis; 1,036 from gonorrhoea; 9 from
chancroids, and 105 from complications. Eight hundred and eighty-three of
the men were suffering from syphilis; 1,445 from gonorrhoea; 203 from
chancroids, and 1,276 from complications.
It needs no argument to show that the cost of prostitution is enormously
augmented even by the amount of disease accounted for in the preceding
discussion; as this represents but a small part of the whole, the totals
thus reached require to be multiplied by a large factor. But the reckoning
would still be incomplete, even if we knew the actual volume of syphilis,
gonorrhoea and chancre; for there would remain to be included the remote
effects, not less certainly due to venereal affection, and even more
fateful and costly than the immediate manifestations,--paralysis,
sterility, miscarriage, deformity, degeneracy, insanity,--curses that
stretch even "unto the third and fourth generations." From the effort to
translate such losses into dollars and cents, the boldest calculator may
well shrink: yet they are a part,--a certain, inevitable part--of the cost
of prostitution.