Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05

is second only to the first precinct and
falls below that only by a small margin,
which can be accounted for by the near
ness of the first precinct to police head
quarters.
The feature of the fourth precinct from
both police and from human interest
standpoint, is the alleys. And the condi-
lions which exist in them can only be APP
preciated fully by personal visit to them.
The station house is located on E street
between 9th and AZ streets southwest.
Louise alley Is one of the famous places IN
the precinct. One of the first of the houses
visited in this alley is used as store Kept
by and for Italians. There were no embel-
lishments of any kind in the room except
those needed in holding the wares. The
store was not over ten feet long by seven
feet wide. Bags or pasteboard boxes on
the floor and on one or two shelves con-
tanned macaroni, rice, beans and other sim
liar food.
The next house was that Of a colored resi-
dent Of the alley What a contrast to the
shack Just left! While the other was free
from embellishments. here was one which
resembled department store window On
picture bargain day. Every available space
was covered with pictures of all kinds, some
cut from the yellow journal, others OBJ
tanned with soap wrappers and some few
purchased And the rear room, used as a
kitchen, was almost as well decorated but
with cheaper class Of pictures.
After Louise alley Is Willow Tree alley.
the most thickly populated alley in this
city While the blocks on the main streets
outside are built UP solidly. there Is lit
tie village back In this square. In the hot
weather of summer 1t Is almost impossible
to walk along the pavement OF the alley, as
the hundreds Of Inhabitants swarm outside
on their steps and lie In the street In their
efforts to keep cool! With its population,
which numbers nearly Thousand, COM
posed of some Of the toughest and tough
est element in the city, it can be seen that
this Is beehive of petty quarrels and
vice. Many are the policemen who have
been attacked there at night and nearly
overpowered. AT night now two officers
make these rounds together. There Is one
adjunct to each front window, which Is
not found in the Connecticut avenue house
that is, the tin pail hung from the blind.
This varies In size and in age, but never
In It's use-to bring that thirst-sattsfying
liquor from the saloon at the entrance to
the alley. Here rs the most thriving groWi-
err" trade In the city and the most valuable
saloon property.
From Willow Tree alley, across the street
is the entrance to Clark's court, thence to
Cullinane's alley. to Knox's alley. to Fight
ing alley and Bears Gap, today regarded a S
the toughest places In Washington. The ele-
ment in the gap is of the disorderly and
desperate kind, which gives the policeman
his troubles. 1t is thickly populated, each
of the little rooms in each house holding
all the way from five up, and nearly all
the inhabitants colored. Dixons court and
Aliens court complete the stretch Of al
leys, which extend from the Mall to the
river.
In this same immediate section of the
city and B-and-a-haf street. Temple court.
between D and E. Delaware avenue and 1st
street southwest; Nolans court, between
Half and LIST streets; and N streets:
Christian court, between Half and 1st, F
and streets; Springman's court, between
G and H, 9Th and 7th streets; Ambush court
Union court and Hontoon court The last
named place is occupied largely by white
people of the very lowest class. In Spring
mans court lives one of the interesting
characters Of South Washington, Blind
Pete" Although he is as blind as a bat, he
goes to work each night on the coal dock,
loading coal on one of the passenger steam
ers, and he is frequently seen going out on
the wharves alone. When asked where hs
is going. he always replies:
Use goin' down to see my boat"
In the Western Section.
In the western section of the precinct are
q few alleys Of a troublesome population
These include Pork Steak alley Desmond's
court, Diapers court and Bureau alley.
The last named is known among the DO
licemen of the fourth precinct as 1.-The
greasiest" In the city. 1t is an alley OF
boarding houses and every day there gather
here drivers of coal wagons from the neigh
boring coal yards In large number
Should you have business with the fourth
precinct station and ask to see the man in
charge of the station, you would be ushered
al once into the office the west of the
entrance. You Will find there a man OF