The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-15
Tour of BywayS Made
With Commissioner
mcfarland.
MANYTENEMENTS VISITED
Taken Through Washing
tons Poor Quarters toOb-
tain Data for Lecture.


northwest resident district, cabins and
tenement houses, where sdualor and
filth have made OF human habitations
a kennel, were shown TO Jacob Riis,
the socie logist and reformer by Charles
F. WelIcr, secretary of the Associated
Charities. and District Commissioner H
3. F. mcfarland. who. together with a
number OF newspaper reporters, accom-
panied Mr.. Riis on his trip.
In their inspection conditions were
found that would amaze the average
resident of Washington. who, secure in
the belief that the pretty parks and
streets are a general indication os the
city'S high state of cleanliness and we'll
being. is serenely unconscious Of the
novels and reeking tenements that line
the narrow alleyways hidden perhaps
Only half block off
Subject Of Lecture.
Jacob Riis, whose name is widely
known for the battle he has waged
for cleanliness and health OF the poor
in the larger cities. is TO deliver an adj
dress at the annual meeting OF the
Associated Charities tonight, and his
trip Of exploration today was made with
a view to securing points and taking
stereopticon views to be used in con-
hection with his lecture Part Of me
object of this address is to aid in arous-
ing a public sentiment in Washington
which viii result in tearing down thes,
shaEties, and in a general cleaning UP
OF the alleys. and the enforcement OF
laws which will better regulate the
tenement houses, preventing the over
crowding and the disregard Of sanitary
menace to the health Of the entire city.
4 as1 not an anarchist" was Mr..
Ris' remarE after ne had observed
some of the places where families OF
women and children were dwelling in
shanties that threatened to fall down
over their heads, but 1 itch TO bring
torch and set fire to these human
kennels. and 1 would gloat over their
destruction. as it would put an end TO
conditions that are disgrace to a
.rodern city. Why can't something be
doUe 10 tear down these Buildings; to
wipe them OF the face of the earth7
They are a menace 20 all OF Wash
ington, and men and women there can
not but be subject TO the lowest in
huences. AS for the little babes and
children. Heaven forbid that they should
grow up In the darkness and squaIor
that make Of these pieces another
Hell's Kitchen. Such dwellings breed
murder
Congress Must act.
It was explained 10 Mr. RHs that the
District Commissioners were doing all
in their power TO secure the necessary
legislation to accomplish the needed
reforms.
The first place visited by the exploring
party was an alley in the square bound
ed by Eighteenth and Nineteenth. L and
NJ Streets. Here. just two blocks from
the British embassy. and within one
block of the Church OF the Covenant.
where Mr.. Riis will deliver his address
tonight, the party came upon a row f
squalid wooden shanties where filth
reigned supreme. "Bedbug Pow is the
title by which the place is known by
its inhabitants
Swarms Of ragged children and IN
kempt men and women poured in and
out Of these little one-room huts. The
rooms were bare OF furniture, except,
perhaps. bed without mattress or COW
ering, where four or five children, it
was learned, were accustomed TO spend
the nights.
Shanty on Open Lot.
A quick trip through one or more al
loys and the pat.y had then reached an
open lot. between Twenty-fSurth and
Twenty-hfth Streets. and NJ and n.
where another one of these shanties was
found. in which 4 family was living This
place was IN reality an old stable which
had been converted into human habita-
ton. An old woman half paralyzed sat
shiverinE before an empty fireplace.
Next the party found some cuesous
and ramshaclSie old dwellings from
which the United States Weather Bu-r
reau. block of is in plain view 1T
Twenty sixth and NJ Streets were found
more OF the same character Turning
into Twenty fifth Street again. Mr.. Ris
was shown some Of the brick ter -mclts
over two stores in which families were
living with i've or six 20 a room.
Along the River.
From this section of the city the party
drove rapidly toward Georgetown,
where. on the banks Of the river. were
found conditions which perhaps were
even worse than those already visited
White families were found swarning
in filthy tenements which Mr. Riis said
could only be equalei in New York.
In a place on Potomac Street. just OF
the Georgetown Market. Mr.. Riis found
yard and tenement OF which he made
careful survey with a view to COM
menting on II tonight
Little Boston was the nickname by
which a settlement In Thirty-third
Street. on The banks Of the river. was
designated 20 Mr.. Riis
In Georgetown the party continued
its trip OF investigation, and also Wis
tied many other places in the North
west section where they found on every
hand evidences OF 9th and snualor