The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-01
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1Itss2!i( inEs and cottages which sheiter
GG-s..aJ o5uy) persons. who regularly
my rc,,, into the common treasury. inns
Ia only The beginning. Plans have been
ndopted funds raised and work Is IN pro
rrcgs on buildings which VIII provide
for 1900 more Of the home-scekins class
o. Inc metropolis These investments
renresent an expenditure in excess OF
81. ooa,0ro.
Tberc are only thirty-aight cities IN
t,c limited state, with a population
larger than that which Will dwell IN the
bo,,xcs owned by tho city of London. and
under. the control Of IFS county council.
~ tenants viii number more than reside
such populous and progressive cltieS, as
hibany. Lowell Portland. Atlanta, Rich-
nond Nashville. Hartford. Wilmington,
pes .I beem led TO suppose that municipal
ownership, in Great Britain had not pro
crossed beyond tl.e experimental st ,tass,
which will be contained In these articles.
'srIie circa, Britain Housing Act. az :
II g called was passed py r ar az
London i County Council. No such radical lt;.l
niece OF legislation was ever serlousiy
Considered by q iaw-making body In .tne
United States. 1t had its origin the iact
that the landlord class was deal 70 PUP pun
lie opinion. There We're. more than a mn, !,
lion or people denied the opportunity Oh
renting decent places of abode .ao,,
drastic action. II clothed the London
County Council and similar bodies IN
the larger cities with powers lney ha asii
not hesitated 10 use, The housing , piit
provides three methods of uttack. Fart
/ nIaces upon the London County e9nh-
Gil The duty OF PREPARING ana easEs ,!atls
tary of state and ParllainenD schemes
for The Improvement of insantary areas
which are OF snch size as TO be OF gen
eral inheritance to the whole country.
IN ans, SUCH scheme Ii Is essential that
new dwellings sl.all be provided on the
area dealt with COR at least half the per-
part ii enables the borough councils
to take proceedings before magistrate
for tho closing and demolition OF single
houses which are unfit for human hitbt-
tation. II also enables the borough coun-
ellis and the county council. either IN
conjunction or otherwise, TO undertake
portaEce TO the whole, county. me
borough councils also have power TO
purchase and destroy buildings which
prevent the proper ventilation OF adoar
Part III Is still more sweeping and
revolutionary in It's character. It enables
the county council to purchase BY agree
ment or with the consent of the Score
tarS OF State and Parliament. by compll..
sion, houses for The accommodation or
persons of the working class. or ianu
=
ing it may be well 10, note that there Is
no instance on record where the secre-
tary OF State and Parliament have with,
held their. consent; The confedIe der NJ T.,
ment as Will hereafter be shown.
An even more extraordinary power We was va
granted BY parlament tn aSc Hsars sho asH
have unlimited scope in solving the hous-
Ing problem II was enacted d., t nat y ,he g,
AL fh.A
jurisdiction" for the purpose OF erecting
dwellings for the working classes;
TINS stop was urged ana aanpas
were acquiring and holding large tracts
in the suburban districts best fitted for
nm extension Of municipal nouslnE
sory sales, the price to be fixed By com
potent and disinterested appraisement,
in the event that the negotiating parties
failed TO reach an agreement; ,o,s,,,
Stlll the agltators for better housing
were not satisfied. They complained that
tho original bill vas defective by reason
q The fact that the London County >,
,lnsanltary areas consisting Of less than nan
twenty houses, It frequently developed
that one or more houses IN good condl-
Of objectionable ones, A year ago Parlia-
ment constituted structures housing thirty
persons as an area OF disturbance. N
old streets ortto cut mes, y :. VIE ti
right to purchase oil abutting property
and rebuild thereon.
llasmuch as there is absolutely no
limit to the borrowing power OF the
London County Council for the purpose
Of executing reproductive enterprises, II
IS difficult To tiX the possible bounds Of
IN i, operations, # has not the slightest
oiilieulty In floating enormous bond is
sues, and is authorized to make them
TGids,emnbel ~ the end Of e!g'ty,year pc,
per, cent. bonds sold for s9,9o9ooo The
taxpayers arc not disturbed since there
Is no charge ngainst tho rates ,rhe
buildings thus far erected show II band
some profit A few of the great private
landlords are disposed to fear the threat
sned ciomIpe'it'on and to resent the rigid
committee, but DESPITE their vast wealth
and high Standing, they do not seem "a
e their, numbers; Having, spent the most
q my NE IN Chicago, washington, and
10, comprehend this phenomenon.
As, stated IN the preceding article
London is eooi'npoe,sed OF the sql'aro mlle
hs lnp, r,f loo