Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06
How the Poor Classes
Live in Mexico CITY
Written for The Star.

Written for The Star.
IMMEDIATE steps are to be taken by
the Mexican government for the proper
housing of the poor in Mexico City.
n The imperative necessity of improv-
ing conditions in the quarters of the
city inhabited by the poorer classes has
been clearly shown by the epidemic of
typhus fever, which has raged in Mexico
City since last October. and even now.
when the warm season is approaching, con-
tinues unchecked. 1t is significant that the
diseases has been confined practically to the
sections of the city where the poorer peo-
pie live. Since October l. when the disease,
which is endemic, became epidemic. there
have been 2,620 cases and Cos deaths. Dur
ing the month of March the epidemic evil
IDENTIFY reached it's worst stages. as there
were In that month S75 cases and 1914
deaths
AS 1t is practically the unanimous opin-
ion of health authorities that the epidemic
Is due to insanitary conditions and over
crowding, the government is now consider
ing plans for the tearing down of the old
buildings, which are breeding places for the
disease, and erecting model tenements for
the poor. While it has been the epidemic
which has drawn the attention of the gov
eminent to the re-housing question the
annual death rate is so great as to COM
mand consideration. 1t ranges from 80
to % per 1000. as compared with 40 per
loo in Bombay and 1871 per 1909 in New
York.
While no definite plan as yet has been
decided upon by the government for solving
the re-housing problem, the proposition
which is in greatest favor contemplates the
purchase by the government of whole
blocks of houses in the poorer wards and
regulating the construction of new tene-
nTNrrF ,VRyfa TO f-r ~.-u.s...
their families. so that the sanitary welfare
OF the tenants will be guarded according
70 the dictates OF modern sanitary science
Ii Is the idea for the governm ent to lease
the land to builders. advance reasonable
loans at low rate of interest to assist
In construction. and by contract regulate
the construction of the buildings and the
rents to be charged tenants
The condition of the lower class In Mex-
leo City at present is bad beyond belief
Earning on the average only about 70
cents silver day, or about Is cents
United States currency the peon Is unabie
TO pay even what would In the limited
States be considered extremely moderate
rent for home. The people of the Iower
classes, II they nave a home, live In filthy
and unhealthy viviendas or flats in cases
dc Vecindad. or tenement houses If they
have no homes they live. or rather sleen
In not less filthy and unhealthy mesones
or lodging houses.
with but few exceptions. the casas de
vecindad are large old buildings subdiyided
into many small viviendas These viviendas.
which rent for from 81 to $12 month. ac-
cording to location. are usually dark
damp and poorly ventilated. They are ar
ranged around patio or central court In
the center of which is large water basin
for general supply and use. Each vivienda
comprises one or two living rooms. small
"azotehuela," or open space, and kitchen
The center of life In casa de Yecindad
Is around the great water basin In the CEN
ter of the patio. Ranged about 1t are
stones where women wash and gossip,
while the children-and there are ALWAYS
swarms-play about them with the dogs
pigs, chickens and other animals which
the tenants may keep in their homes
Sanitary arrangements are unknown and
waste of all kinds is thrown into the
streets.
There are many kinds of mesones in
Mexico City. and the charge for a nights
lodging ranges from 8 to % cents silver
The mesones which charge cents for a
nights lodging are those having the largest
patronage. Before railroad facilities ex-
listed the mesones were patronized by
freighters. AS then arranged, there were
several rooms for the drivers five or six
stables for the horses and burros, besides
special rooms for freight. After the rail-
road drove the freighters out of business
the mesones became lodging houses Floor
ing was laid in the stables and they were
converted into dormitories
In the mesones there are no accommoda-
lions as in a lodging house in any Ameri-
can city. Each person as he enters the
mesone pays cents and Is given a petate
or mat made of palm leaves. He then
goes into one Of the '.galerias." or dormi-
tories, selects vacant place and lays
down on the petate Beds or bed clothing
are unknown, the petates constituting the
beds for the poor people.
Without question, the worst feature of
mesone is the fact that no division OF sexes
II made. Men. women and children sleep