Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-18

Washington. In the metropolis, said Mr..
Folks, the illiterate foreign element forms
an important problem in slum work. The
foreigners, he stated, however, seem to be
more desirous of lettering their condition
than the native American poor.
In front Of the very door of one house
l visited near the canal in Georgetown"
said Mr.. Folks, II saw small pools of foul
water. Several small children were play
ing about the door. Upon investigation
found that the foul water flowed from an
open sewer pipe which came to the surface
a short distance above the house, and from
seems that such conditions could be RENE
died without any great outlay"
In speaking of the attitude of contractors
and others in New York, with regard to the
building regulations, Mr. Folks stated
that when the laws were first put in Oper-
alton speculative builders said it would be
impossible to construct the kind of tene-
ment houses prescribed by the new laws.
Now, he said, these builders have changed
their minds about the matter and are en-
tering into the movement. heartily. The
strongest opposition to the new regulations.
said Mr.. Folks, is with respect to changing
the houses already erected under former
regulations.
Improvement of Housing Conditions.
At meeting of the committee on the i'm
provement of housing cond tons in Wash
ington, held Thursday afternoon at the
rooms of the Associated Charities, Mr..
Folks made short address, relative to
what he had noticed in the slums of the
city. The meeting was PRESIDED over by
Mr.. S. w. Woodward. the chairman of the
committee, and among those present were
Col. George Truesdell, Gen. John M. Wilson.
Gen. George M. Sternberg, Admiral w. X.
Van Reypen, Mrs. Henry B. F. mcfarland,
DR.. G. NJ Kober Prof B. T. ] 2nney and
Messrs. b. H. Warner, George s. Wilson,
Herbert w. Wadsworth, s. r. Bond,
Thomas w. Smith, J. B. T. Upper, Samuel
w. Curriden and Charles F. Weller.
One of the most important matters
brought before the committee was the prop
osition presented by General Sternberg,
that Sanitary housing company be or
ganized, similar to the Sanitary Improve
ment Company, for the purpose of erecting
sanitary apartment houses, two stories in
height, to be rented to the Industrious poor
of the city, at a rental of from Sc to IS a
month, for two or three rooms and bath
The company TO be organized on a basis of
3 per cent dividend and the capital stock to
be not less than 10000. 1t was specifically
stated that no salaries We're to be paid to
any officers or directors of the company and
that shares were to be sold at 500 each.
General Sternberg sta cd that a mum GER
of prominent and phlan hropic citizens of
Washington have already signified their
Willingness to invest in such a project and
assist in the movement.
The committee adopted resolutions in
dorsing the project and appointed General
Sternberg to select nine other citizens to in
corporate the company and ia Ike other steps
toward the contamination of the plan.
Mr.. Woodward, just previous to the close
of the meeting. requss ed Mr.. Folks to re-
late the results of his inspection of the
slums of the city. -....
Mr. Folks spoke of the overcrowded con-
dition of the houses in the slum districts
here. and stated that there was another
feature of extreme Importance to be given
attention by those working to better the
conditions of the very poor of Washington
That was to prevent the further develop
ment of undesirable conditions in this city
such have developed in New York and
other cities. The Sums here, he stated are
not extensive, and the development of bad
conditions can be prevented by the enforce
ment of proper building and sanitary regu-
lations The people of the city, he sad
should secure the establishment of wise
code for all future construction work in
Washington.