The Washington times., 1906-03-11
Building Inspector Ash
ford RefuteS RiiS'
Statement.
DANGER SPOTS REMOVED
Dilapidated Dwellings in
Squalid Settlements Are
Being Pulled Down.

THE National Capital should not be
exploited as a sIum city, for no condi-
tions of a-sufficlent magnitude to war
rant such an assertion exist within its
borders. However urgent the need may
be in certain quarters to demolish dilap-
idated structures. the situation can be
adequately handled by the District
Building Department"
This is the sta cement OF Building In
spector Ashford in commenting on the
vigorous campaign now being made by
the National Publication Committee. of
New York, and the Associated Charities
here for larger appropriations from
congress to facilitate the destruction or
dilapidated buildings and the removal of
unsanitary building conditions In Ger
tain sections Of the city of Washington.
Buildings Destroyed.
To Times reporter Mr.. Ashford dis
played an interesting group of pictures
Of dilapidated buildings in various sec
lions of the city. which, by his direc-
tion, were torn down as unf1t for habita-
lion. These buildings are twenty I'm num-
Der, and had they not stood as barriers
In the path of Mr. Ashford's general
houseeleanins plans. would have. per
maps. ultimately given way to the pro-
cess of decay.
For the most part, these buildings rep
resented what was termed "the social
dregs Of Washington. particularly as 70
Quaker Court" a squalid settlement
between Twelfth and Thirteenth and r
and S streets northwest; end Cottage
Row. between L and NJ and Eighteenth
and Nineteenth streets northwest, ike
wise p lo1S-standing eeye-sore9 to the
commanity.
Other dilapidated dwellings to faH be-
fore the building inspectors elimina-
ton policy, because he deemed them un-
safe TO their respective neighborhoods
and unit for living purposes, We're 800
ninth street northeast. 1913 Twenty first
street northwest, 1903 Eighth street
northwest, 42S First street southeast. s23-
-o-Z3 New Hampshire avenue northwest
2ll6 Florida avenue northwest, 2217 Up
per Water street, 226-S L street south
west 1921 + street northwest, 1857 Ohio
avenue, row on Van street southwest
and 1904 Tenth street northwest The
Van street houses, Mr.. Ashford states
were used by Jacob Riis to illus
trate a slum condition, which he is re-
ported to have said was worse than
anything he had ever seen in New York
city"
To this statement Inspector Ashford
takes exception, affirming that. al
though certain neighborhoods are in
urgent need of building improvements.
in reality 10 siums exist in Wash
ington.
Ridicules Riis' Statement.
II am constrained to say" Inspector
Ashford remarked. that the statement
accredited to Mr.. Riis that Washington
has slum conditions worse than, or
even equally as bad as those known to
exist in New York, is ridiculous. No
conservative persons. in my opinion.
knowing the situation here, will give
it serious consideration. 1t is likely.
however. to create the impression
among people in the States who seldom
visit the Capital that we are menaced
by a serious slum life.
Mr.. Riis mind was no doubt filed
with the magnitude Of the New York
slums, In which he said, [ understand.
he had helped spend over $4,000, 900 to
reclaim. No statement could be wilder
or more absurd than that such a sum
was needed by District officials 20 bring
about the reclamation Of Washington's
poorer localities.
Agreeing with the Associated Chari-
ties" continued Mr.. Ashford, chat 900
alleys exist here which should be wip-
ed out entirely. this work can be better
done by the Building Department than
any outside agency. Granting that in
these objectionable alleys there are
1000 or more houses which in time
should be abolished, l think our record
OF twenty of them pulled down in less
than half a month, the present. one.
proves that we are pursuing the work
energetically. To continue this. which
we undoubtedly will. means that 240
viii disappear in n year. and the last
vestige of a slum will be wiped out in
the next six years
ITO do here as Mr. Riis has advised.
secure large appropriation and de-
molish these houses with one swoop,
would be little less than confiscation.
This suggestion. I think. is responsible
for the opposition among property own
ers TO the demolition of their Nuildings.
which has obtained since t'.s recent
publication of Mr.. Riis' remarks. In
matter of this sort the moving principle
should most certainly not be sentiment
Let conservatism rule and the problem
viii work out its own salvation and re-
demption.
Authorities Well Equipped.
In the event OF the Commissioners
bill providing for the demolition of all
unsanitary buildings passing and with
the present law regarding dila pidated
structures" concluded Mr.. Ashford 1.-The
District authorities will be armed with
sufficient legislation to work all the
changes needed here"
Taking the initiative. the District
CONTINUED on Fifth Page)