Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-03-22
Condition of the Freedmen in Washington.

DEPARTMENT OF MErRoPoLITAN POLICE,
OFFICE OF. SUPERINTENDENT, WASHINGTON,
March 6, 1866 have the honor at this time
to submit report, based mainly upon personal
inspection, of the sanitary condition OF certain
localities in the city OF Washington, Inhabited
by colored people, mostly known as contra
bands, = together with certain other facts con-
nected with the condition of these people.
The first locality visited is Known as .'Mur-
der Bay, aud is situated between l3, b and 18th
streets west, below Ohio avenue, and border
ing on the Washington canal. Here crime,
filth, and poverty seem to vie with each other
in Cal eer Of degradation and death Whole
families, consisting Of fathers, mothers, chi!-
dren, uncles, and aunts, according to their own
statements, are crowded into mere apologies for
shan.ieS, which are without light or ventila-
ton During the storms of rain or snow their
ro,fs afford but slight protection; while from
beneath few rough boards used for floors; the
miaSmatic efHuvla from the most disgustingIy
filthy and stagnant water, mingled with the
exhalations from the uncleansed bodies Of nu-
merous inmates; renders the atmosphere with
in these novels, sitting aud sickcnng in the
extreme. Their rooms are usually rot more
thansix or eight feet square, with not window
or even an opening (except door, Tor tie ad-
mission of light Some of the rooms are en-
light at all reache>, where perSons live aud
spend their days ana nigh's. In a spsceabout
fifty yards square, [ found about one hundred
families, composed of from three to ten per
sons each, living in shantles one story In
height, except IN a few instances where teEe-
ments are actually built On the tops OF others.
There is distance of only three or four feet
separating these buildings from each other-not
even as convenient as an ordinary three feet
alley. Thee openings lead in so devious
course that one with difficulty finds his way out
again. Thus pent up, not even these paths
are purified by currents of fresh air. In one
building visited, seventeen families were found
upon he ground floor, consisting of from two
to seven persons each, one re taurant and one
boarding house The second story is a large
dance hall, where these people nightly congre-
gate for amusement
Nearly all Of these people came from Elr-
ginia during the reb llion, and some of them
that they can get work to do there, and will be
we trsa,ed 1t was found that from to
dollars per month are paid for the rent of these
miserable shnntles, except IN some instances,
where ground rent of three dollars per month
is paid for a little spot. covering few square
feet-there some OF the more enterprlslng have
erected cabios of their own. These also are in
equally close proximity 10 each other, SO that
it is with difficulty that one can crowd between
them.
Cn the west side of 4th street, near the same
!oca ity, are a large number OF small buildings,
which, however, are kept In a somewhat more
cleanly condition, and are opened to light and
ventila,ion Here some of the occupants Of
houses boast of small back yards but so low
and wet are their surfaces that they are a curse
~ tho,, a bo,,oH+ E1+b,- ,-,+ar bar,
cumulateS, from which, with the advent OF
warm weather, the seeds OF disease rust spread
among and destroy the wretched people.
In these localities there are no proper ac
commodations and those that exist are in leaky
and filthy condition generally. Nor can the
sanitary laws be properly enforced against DE-
linqucnts, for they have no means WherewlIh
to pay fines and a commitment to the work
house is no punishment [ can see no efficient
mode of remedying this evil, except that scaven
gers be employed at the public expense to visit
these locaitios; though by far the best remedy
would be to require that these buildings be
RACED to the ground.
Uuder the best sanitary laws that can be en-
acted, striDgeptly enforced, these places can be
considered as nothing better than propagatlng
grounds Of crime, disease aud death; and IN the
case of prevailing epidemic, the condition OF
these localities would lie horrible to contem-
plate.
A similarly crowded lot of shanties exists on
Rhode Island avenue, between 10th and i lth
streets, though as to fresh air and cleanliness,
somewhat better coudilion Of things exists
Here in a 81 ace some two hundred feet square,
two huudred and thirteen persons reside, most
ly known as 'contrabands. - There are several
other places equally crowded within the city
limits, which have not yet.had time to visit
aud iuspec. personally; for which purpose re-
spvcttuy ask for further time.
\. RICHARDS, Superintendent.
To the Board of Police.