Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-10
MODEL TENEMENT PLAN
Chicago Woman S Novel Plan to
Reform the Ghetto.
MANY WANTS TO BE CARED FOB
Common Kitchens, Laundrics, Hospi-
tai, Kindergarten and Gymnasium
Features of the Project Proposed by
Mrs. Frances NJ. Notwithstanding To
Cover Whole City Block.


Cover Whole City Block.
Mrs. Francis NJ Norton is the latest
TO tackle the housing problem in Chi
cago with plans for model tenement
in the congested ghetto, says the Chi
cago Tribune.
In public statement issued over her
signature and fortified with a sketch
obligingly furnished by a craftsman
Mrs. Norton slipped easily over the
financial difficulties in the way OF her
philanthropic venture to revel i'll the
domestic details of a huge family bar
racks that is to usher in Utopia at the
corner of Jefferson and West Thir-
teenth streets.
A family hotel" would best describe
the scheme in its present proportions.
Only these ghetto families will have
kindergarten and hospital facilities
thrown in and some of the gymnasium
advantages for which members of the
Chicago Athletic club pay $120 year.
Mrs. Norton's general proposal to
start a public subscription looking to-
ward the erection of Il model tenement
won Il pledge of support from Presi
dent r. r. Mccormick of the sanitary
board He said he would place $780,
600 worth of stock among the wealthy
men of the city.
On the other hand. some OF the de
tails in which Mrs Norton is reveliug
at present have brought out considera-
bic criticism from settlement workers
in that district. who suggest that she
is not allowing anything for strongly
rooted racial habits in her desire 10
''uplift' the neighborhood all at once.
Mrs. Norton proposes building four
stories high. covering an entire block. |
with large court in the center. enter |
ed from the street by lane piercing |
each side. she thinks it would be nice
10 cut the courtway into four sections !
for the children of different ages |
though this, il is pointed out. would go
hard with the little mothers who |
have whole families 10 care for Stores |
will occupy the first floor
The whole of the second and third |
stories is TO he divided into apartments |
OF suitable size for the accommodation
OF good sized families the report con-
tinues. Each family is TO have only Il /
large living room and as many bed |
rooms as are needed. No individual |
kitchens or laundries will be provided. |
because all the cooking. baking and |
laundry work Will be done by experts /
on the top floor in the cookrOom. Bak-
ing and cooking will be done in far /
more economical aud satisfactory way
than could be possible by each family
in separate Kitchens.
In addition. there should he IL hoSpi-
tai. nursery, kindergarten and an
amusement auditorium. all on the top
floor Every evening there should he
an entertainment of some sort i'm the
auditorium. Resident talent could lie
developed. assisted by humanitarian
workers from the outside-somethiug
TO give recreation for the women and
keep the men from the saloons.
1T would be necessary to have rooms
for the managers family and for the
servants. these to be on the top floor
There should also be a library.
ION the ground floor should be a
gymnasium adjoining the playroomS
On each floor should he commOdiouS
and lavatories: also fire eS-
capes and stairways easily accessible
I'VE must not allow disease breeding
centers or conditions under which de
cont moral living is impossible longer
to exist in our midst. For our own pro
lection We who are prosperous must
spend our wealth in remedying evils
or the evils surely will ovcrtake us. no
matter how we hedge ourselves about
in Our fine homes and pleasant, health
full surroundings"
Mrs. Laura Dainty Pelham. for sew !
.ral years resident of the Langdon ! {
apartments. erected by the heirs OF the {
estate near the outskirts of {
the ghetto, shook her head at Mrs
NortOn's details.
''She is making no allowances for the :
'oSmopolit3nism of the people nor for .
heir fixed habits said Mrs Pelham. t