The Washington times., 1906-03-25
FOUL HUTS THAT
MANY CALL HOME
HovelS That Should Be
RaZedand Streets That
Should Be Cleaned.
RIIS' STATEMENTS TRUE
Claims of Building Inspec-
tor Not Borne Out.
RIIS' STATEMENTS TRUE

Ia striking contrast to the Published
statement OF Building Inspector ASH
ford that the National Capital should
not be exploited as a slum city. for no
conditions OF sufficient magnitude TO
warrant such an assertion exist within
It's borders are the conditions OF social
sQualor due 10 tumbled-ln ramshackle.
and unssnitary dwellings which exist
within ten blocks OF the Capitol. q half
square mile OF territory. lying between
z and y. First and Four-and-a-haIf
streets southwest
The picture there. in the words Of
cne familiar with that section. is one
or sordid- unwholesome. and fetid siunl
life. menaesDS pest spot. and a breed
ing place OF crime rapine and ali forms
OF social corruption
The spot stands 5 living refutation-
II Is asserted. Of another statement
made by Building Inspector Ashford &.
the effect that the Building Inspectors
Office could and would successfully. cone
with the proposition OF razing to re
ground all buildings OF structursJiv ~
, secure character Offering a menace 10
life and limb
Riis' Statement Justified
In every sense the conditions Ubirb
maintain in this locality bear out The
truth or the assertions OF Jacob Riis. Of
New York. that "the Nations Cspitai
has in certain spots far worse sIlIm
examples than exist today in New York
city which in many cases. IareIv
abolished. were regarded as the wors, or
creation.
Similar localities once earned the IN
enviable titles OF .'HeII-s kitchen and
Heifs Half Acre. which. it is point
ed out might as readily be applied in
this case without fear Of contradiction
Somnoiescent Building Inspector.
Despite he protests of Associated
Charities and others 20 bring these con-
ditions to the attention of the proper
authorities and secure their ameiiora-
ton. II is openly asserted that the Build
Ing Inspector has not acted on many
complaints. stating that with the pres
ent ineffective Law he is powerIess 10
remove unsanitary dwellings al will. He
has stated that out Of seventy com
plants received through the Police De-
/ partment perhaps seven will be of the
/ kind TO receive his attention
The neighborhOod which offers perhaps
/ the most convincing illustration Of sIum
conditions arising from neglected dwell
( ings, where noisOme want of sanitation
prevails and where decay has wrought
/ havoc and destruction is that on Van
/ street a short block between Third and
/ FouT-and-a-haf streets below NJ the
houses on which offer crude shelter TO
portion OF the colored population OF
| that section On the north side OF this
1 street are ten or a dozen shanties some
/ occupied and others recently abandoned
! because they were no longer ht. II IS
/ stated. 10 provide any form Of shelter
/ for their habitants
Only the side and rear walls and the
roofs Of the unOccupied ones are at pres
ent standing. and. to all appearances.
the first wind storm OF any violence is
likely 10 accomplish their total destrue-
ton Great creviees are 10 be seen in
I the wide walls and wide apertures To-
| be noted in the roofs. sufficient to admit
/ light and rain. while underneath the
7 flooring are standing pools of putrid.
( stagnant water a veritable breeding spot
! for germ life and disease
( Tin Cans and Filth
In the rear OF the houses is q vacant
/ lot. where masses of accumulated tin
cans and filth is strewn about. facing
the rear OF six or more tottering shan
/ ties. in principle as bad as those on Van
street. One Of these squalid houses Of
/ fers a home for an aged colored rag
picker. who any day can be seen sort
/ ing rags on the filthy. neglected prem
/ ises. presumably 10 offer them for sale
/ Yesterday afternoon the alley, street,
and the vacant LOT were alive with the
denizens OF the neighborhood; ragged
| colored urchins. ranging in age from
babyhood to fifteen years, played about.
while in the adjacent dwellings from one
| 10 four families were huddled in three
or four rooms, all seemingly unearing
/ and indifferent 10 the picture of extreme
squalor and poverty they presented.
Another Plague Spot.
Just east of Four-and-a-half street. on
! L. is another row OF ten dwellings occu-
I pied by colored families. suggesting In
I every detail just grounds for tNe ex-
| ploitation Of slum conditions, and re-
| Gently cited by an officer OF the Asso-
ciated Charities as an example OF Official
unwiliingness to destroy buildings shown
Il - - "A r,o1oo. - 4,