Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-18

authorities to move out. Inc mousse has
two small, low-ceiling rooms, not more
than ten by twelve feet square. in the
cellar, ground floor and second story
each. AS many as six families Of negroes
have lived in this place at one time, and
at least half of the families included
children. The cooking, eating and sleep
ing were done in the same room and
small rear yard about the same size as
one Of the rooms was the dumping
ground for all the refuse and waste.
One Of the Worst.
"Lungers in there?" commented a po-
iceman. "Why, they were thick last
winter. Consumption and other diseases
ran from the ground to the roof. This
was one of the worst places in the alley,
and it's safe to say that never in the past
four years have there been less than five
families in the place"
Directly across the alley from a house
where several cases Of tuberculosis have
developed in the past two years is located
the gateway leading into stable yard.
At the time Of the health Office inspection
this passageway contained piles Of stable
refuse as high almost as the gate, and
was made a breeding place for millions
Of flies during the past summer. The
gate was full of the refuse. and quantities
of 1t were piled high against the stable
wall. The same condition. but not to
such an aggravated extent, existed in
the yard Of second stable at the other
end of the alley. The second stable was
almost opposite a small blind alley, where
were several shacks. each containing
from one to three families of negroes. In
one of these shacks there was a death
from tuberculosis last year and another
the year before. SO it was stated.
On the front step of fairly good
looking alley house Of brick stood
midd1e-aged negro woman while a Star
reporter was looking about him for other
likely places to visit. She seemed to be
suffering from tuberculosis and every
several minutes either cleared her throat
or emitted a hacking cough
How does it seem to have a clean al
ley now?" she was asked.
pretty good. It's gone through a
housekeeping" she replied. But 1t amt
going to stay clean"
"Movers," as a Rule.
1t was remarked the woman was cor
rect in a way. as the alley dwellers,
with few exceptions. don't stay in one
place very long and seem to have de-
sire to. be continuously on the move.
When the health department succeeds in
getting the present dwellers of the alley
thoroughly educated to cleaning up their
homes there will be moving and an
other family will occupy the vacant
living space. The good work of the past
will have to be done all over again:
marked an Official. They'll move and
move, and those who have tuberculosis
keep carrying 1t into all Of the alleys"
The white plague alley" is not the
only one in that section of the city where
tuberculosis is prevalent A visit to two
nelghboring small thoroughfares, fol-
lowed by inquiries into the number of
cases Of consumption there were IN each
during the past year. brought forth re-
plies that there were good many.
In one row of houses In one of these al
leys. it was said, there had been two
two separate houses each sheltered
case. Another house in the alley was
the home Of a noted jailbird who recently
developed tuberculosis and his death is
only matter of few months
Hes been to the penitentiary five or
six times. It's got him now. though"
remarked policeman. Hes too weak
to give us any more trouble"
Death Occurred Here.
In the other alley it was stated that
only the middle of last week there was
death from tuberculosis-a negro hack
driver. At a neighboring house there
was in almost the last stages Of the dis
ease. 1t was explained that this particu-
lar house had at different times in the
past several years sheltered a number of
tuberculosis sufferers. all Of whom died.
Ito tell the truth" the policeman said,
tives In these alleys. There are so many
of them one becomes accustomed to
them
The two houses in the last alley visited,
the policeman said, had not been given
coat of whitewash inside or out for four
performing duty in that particular part
Of his precfnct