Evening star., 1897-03-27
HOMES FON THE POOR
Important Problem Considered by the
Board Of, Trade.
A PUBLIC MEETING LAST EVENING
How the Difficultytis Met in Other
Cities.
INTER ESTING ADDRESSES

The problem of providing better homes
for the 10000 people who now dwell In
crowded and insanitary houses In the al
leys of this city was considered by the
hoard of trade last evening at meeting
held in the Builders Exchange
The hall was we'll filled with men and
women prominent in the social and busi-
ness life Of the capital. Among them wer.
Mrs. Sternberg, Mrs Ruth G. D. Hayens,
Mrs. H. B. F. Macfarland. Miss Simonton
Mrs. Mussey. Mrs. Dana. Miss Hosmer,
Miss Elizabeth b. Johnston, Mrs T. B.
Hood, DR.. Geo n. Kober, COMMISSIONS.
Truesdell. Health Officer Woodward, S. W
Woodward, VIM. C. Dodge. Allison Nailor,
B. H. Warner, John Joy Edison, W. w
Surdette. Dr. S. c. Busey. Aaron s. Cay
wood, Samuel W. Curriden, Geo <. EN-
mons, A. P. Pardon, W. J. Frizzell Evan
r. Tucker. Edward Graves F. L. Harvey
Superintendent Powell. Frank Hume, b. f
Janney, Simon Wolf, c. c. Lancaster, G.
W. McLanahan. H. b. F. Mcfarland. Sur
seon General Sternberg of the army, J. f.
Manning, Johiah Millard, Daniel Murray
r. Ross Perry, DR.. c. B. Purvis, A. Nj.
READ, II. l.. Rust. l.. NJ. Saunders, T W
smith, Matthew Trimhle. j. B. Wight.
The board of trade held a short business
meeting before the public session was be
gun. President S. W. Woodward in tn.
mar. NO action was taken on b. H. War
ner's resolution. recommending the chang
ing Of inauguration day from March 4 t6
April 30, the consideration of that uues-
t!on bainS postponed. as was consideration
of Josiah Millards proposition for change
in the law governing the board of Commits
Sioners for the District of Columbia Mr.
Milalrd's plan Is to have five Commission
ers. one from each of the four sections OF
the city and one from the county.
To Complete the Tunnel.
w. c. Dodge's resolutions were adopted,
as foIlows
Whereas, there has already been expend-
ed On the tunnel and reservoir nearly two
and a half million dollars, and the same
is of no use in its present condition: aid
Whereas. there is pressing need of all
increase in the water supply, especially Oh
the higher grounds; and
Whereas, the Secretary of War and th..
chief engineer have approved of the plan
reported by the commission of expert ell
gineers for the completion of said work,
and 1t is estimated that two ears will be
required for the completion of the same
therefore, be it
Resolved. by the board of trade. That
Congress be, and is hereby, respectfully
and urgently requested to pass the pending
bill at the present session for The compile
ton of said work. .. sci
Resolved. That the secretary transmit d
copy of the foregoing TO the chairman OF
the committee on appropriations of the
House and of the Senate.
Mr.. Woodward Opaned the public session
OF the board with short address on the
object of the meeting. HE said 1t was Vi
tally important to the. city that there
should be slumsl in the most beautiful
capital of the world The topic not only
related to the condition. of the poor, bat
to the health of the entire city.
Objects OF the Movement.
MIR. Woodward introduced Surgeon Gen
eral Sternberg of the army. who proceeded
10 explain the objects of the movement for
better homes for the poor, He opened by
reading extract from the Medical Jour
nal. showing that in Berlin in 1879 there
were but fifty-seven houses connected will,
drainage system. when the death rate
32.9 per thousand. In 1885 there were
15."S5 houses connected with a drainag.
system with the death rate 24.4. while in
1895 the houses connected with drainage
system numbered over 22UOO, the death
rate having fallen to 1914.
The mortality statistics of twenty-four
leading cities of this country from typhoid
fever, he said. showed that Washington
stands No in its death rate from that
disease. Its death rate from typhoid, he
said was double that of New York.
DR.. Sternberg read extensively from
reLort lately made to the Com missioners by
III w. NJ hODeT, ullder the direction OF the
health officer showing the lack of sanitary
conditions in the suburbs of this city large
ly because of the want of drainage connec-
ton. He said that while In well-drained
and sanitary cities like New York the
spread of infectious diseases was impoSsi-
BILE such diseases. if once given a footholG
here, would spread like wildfre. 1t was
shown that in 1893 there were 1853 box
prives in the city limits and 5.153 in the
county. and many of these We're leaking
and filthy He showed that last year in the
northeast part of this city the typhoid
death rate was Sal, while in the northwest
1t was only 1.15. He showed that 13,WO
houses last year were not connected with
sewers, and. though comprising but one
third OF the houses of the city. they fur
nished over one-half of the cases of ty-
pnoid.
Sources of Conta9iOn.
Physicians know, DR.. Sternberg said,
that noxious odors do not cause sickness
but it is the germs coming into contact
with the human organism that causes dis
ease 1t had been shown that. flies the
most fertile source of contamination from
such germs. Fly screens might shut out
such pests, laden with disease, but the
better plan would be to clean up the
sources Of contamination and protect
everybody
Speaking of the proposition 10 make an
effort to wipe out these insanitary condi-
tons, DR.. Sternberg said it had been de-
cided first. to build sanitary homes, and
then the committee had provided for a
board with power to condemn insanitary
houses. and have them removed from the
city. company with $1.00O.OOO could take
care Of but 5000 of the 5000 people living
in the alleys in this city. Many prom
inent citizens. he said, had agreed to be
come incorporators of the company.
Mr.. B. f. Janney was then introduced
presiding officer of the meeting, being
chairman OF the board of trade commit