The San Francisco call., 1906-06-02
PLAN TO HOUSE !.
THE HOMELESS
Major General Greely
" Submits an Outline.
to Mayor.
Proposes Barracks to |Ac-
commodate Several
thousands.
Mayor schmitz. received yesterday a.

Mayor Schmitz received yesterday a
communication and report from. Major
General Greedy. on. the matter of hous-
ing the homeless. The Ietter reads
l send you for your information an
advance report on the subject of hous-
ing. This report has also been sent to
DR.. E. T. Devine. l hope to give some
exact data on the subject next week.
viii not DE permitted to occupy choice
spaces in the city. parks to the detri-
ment of the people in general.
The report is as follows:
l have as yet found 1t impossible to
obtain data on which to make satisfac-
tory recommends tions regarding the
housing OF people of San Francisco be-
fore November l, when the wet season
begins.
very briefly set forth scant outlines of
schemes which think should be adopt
ed:
First-while there Will probably be
large reductions in the number Of
houses required the coming year, owing
to removals from. San Francisco, from
doubling up which always follows rfe-
ductions in incomes and limited accom-
modations, yet it is believed that
housing accommodation must. be pro
videG for about 5000 people.
Second-It is believed THAT ii will be
to the best interests of the working
people and those OF small incomes if
there should be constructed a large
number of small houses by building as
socia tions or under the direct auspices
of the Red Cross. Such houses should
be. of several different types and sizes
to avoid that extreme uniformity and
ugliness which are often ltoted in the
houses of people OF very limited means.
BY providing also all different sizes, the
benefits res Llting from. such services
would be greatly Increased as families
of different incomes could avail them
selves of such advantages. 1t is nat
ural to say that the rent for such
buildings should be as low as possible
cons .stent with return of fair
amount of interest. say~4 per cent an
nually on the capital investment.
1t is believed that. there will be con-
siderable difficulty in purchasing at
particularly with reference to. their
convenient nearness to street railways,
matter OF special Importance :: to
workmen. 1t is not assumed that more
than $4,000 people can be THUS cared
Cor within the next six months,
Third-1t is believed that there should
be erected on ground belonging to the
city barracks for the accommoda ton of.
sag. 10000 people. These. buildings
should be the plainest possible in con
atruetion, consistent with their being
Each house should provide. for four or
eight families. with three rooms for
each family. Latrines and possibly
small common cooking houses should
be provided for each set of quarters.
The. location should be on. the city
J parks. and at points where water is
convenient and complete santa ton
possible. and withal where the parties
occupying the houses shall have con-
venieHt access to street railroads.. AS
soon as data is obtained reports will
1'be made on the cost of such houses and
as to their definite locations, which
data has already been gathered, but it
is not fully. compiled.
Fourth4Including Jefferson square
and Lafayette square, taken over: by
the army, there are more than $4,000
persons in camps under military super.
vision. There are about $4,000 people,
San Franctscans, in Oakland and Sau-
safito districts. which, with those iiy-
ing in scattered camps, Easements sta
bles, outhouses, etc. will about make
up 10000 people, for whom these semi
permanent barracks are to be provided.
These barracks should be rented at
| a very low rate, say from SO to IS per
month, according to desira biifty of the
| rooms and their convenient ioca ton.
Full recommendations will be made
az az early date, Very respectfully,
4. w GREELY
I Major General Commanding.