Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-18
THE. ALLEY HOUSES
Mr.. HOMER FOLKS VISITS NUM-
EROUS TENEMENTS.
Committee Proposes Erection Of Apart
ments Two Stories in Height
The General Plan.

''Washington slums certainly furnish
some of the most striking examples of over
crowding of people of different sexes in one
room that have ever seen. This, 1t seems
to me- is one of the very worst features OIL
the slums of the national capital, as the
effect is decidedly bad. not only on the
health but on the morals of those who are
forced to live under such conditions.
The foregoing statement was made to
reporter for The Star by Mr.. Homer folks,
formerly commissioner of charities in New
Yorsk city, under the administration OIL
Mayor Seth Low. The work done by MT.
Folks while occupying this position is re-
garded as distinctly noteworthy AS IS
well known, however. there Is new admin
istration at the head of the affairs of the
metropolis now. and so Mr.. Folks IS not
commissioner of charities there any more
Il have been in Washington several days
viewing some of the beautiful sights OF lhe
city," said Mr.. Folks, but recent az
ternoon, in company with Mr.. Charles + :
Weller of the Associated Charities, mace
an inspection of the slums of the city, ana
saw some sights that were by no means
beautiful nor even commemorate; c, a
frankly say, however. that L believe tne
average condition of the Sums in WASH
ington is better. if l may use better IN
this connection. than the average condl-
ton of the slums of New York. The sore
spots' of the national capitol are more
widely scattered over the city than IN New
York; the houses here, too. are smaiier
than the tenement houses of New YORK.
and | believe that is an advantage over Gull
ditions in the metropolis.
The Bad Features.
'.rThere are numerous bad features, how
ever. about a large number of these small
houses that 1 saw in the alleys and by
streets Of the national capital. Many OF
them are dark and damp, and there are
no sewer connections. All these Things as
gravate the conditions of filth and squaior.
They are not adequately heated, are I'M
nronerlv yentila ted and altogether, in most
instances lnsanitary in nearly every re-
spect.
THE crowding of so many persons OF
different sex into one room, l think, is one
of the worst features of the sluns of this
city This feature, it seems TO me, IS d
decided menace to the welfare OF otnef
residents who. are in more fortunate CIR
cumstances. This is true because the SUM
spots are scattered all over the city in the
very heart OF neghborhoods where the
more fortunate class-o people hVe:
The slums are, therefore, not only close
" associated with the well-to-do people
teoayra phically. but the inhQ bitants of the
novels come into direct contact with the
wealther class, l learn, by reason OF theF
being employed servants In the mousse
holds of the city, and, under the circum-
stances. If disease breaks out among the
inhabitants of the slums. it is the more
easily spread to the other residents.
This phase of the Stun question in
Washington is more menacing than it is in
New YORK, because in the latter city the
people of the Sums live more to them
selves, the men working as laborers in the
subway and on other works, and the wom-
en- engaged in other duties in their own
district Thus there is less direct commu-
nication between the Stun element and the
well-to-do people IN New York.