Evening star., 1909-05-22
and see to 1t by strict laws that present
conditions cannot be duplicated. Fortu-

naaely the supreme court Of Massa-
chusetts has shown us the legality Of 1t:
There is no limit to which the police and
health powers cannot be extended.
Third Proper transit facilities The way
the various large cities franchises have
been given away and misused Is shame
and a crime. The manipulatorS OF the trac-
ton stock have cr1minally enriched them
increased the burdens and fixed charges
on the roads to such an extent that 1t Is
for the time being leaving many cities
without the need Of facility and binding
the issue. Yet 1t has been demonstrated
that passengers can profitably be carried
fifteen miles through we'll populated dis
tricts for cents. There are no cities
whose present population will not be
larger In many years to come. Let the
cities authorities study the problem and
do we think Of an architect planning q
twenty-story building on 10000 feet OF
land and only providing two elevators In
stead Of ten or twelve. And that Is the
Of America Let the city build its own
subways and elevated roads; or permit
private capital that Is content with
moderate income on its actual invest
ment to do SO. Make the outlying dis
Fourth. Restrict certain large sections
to one and two family houses; SO tnat
the poor can have homes and all the ad-
vantages and none Of the drawbacks OF
city life. Today there are many thou
reach Of the heart of New York that can
be bought for 81. 500 an acre and less. 1t
costs about $1,000 or 5000 on an acre,
according to the condition of the soil. to
sewer, grade, sidewalk and curb them
properly. AS there are twelve lots to
each acre the cost per lot will not be un-
der $500. A family home can be secured
for $1,000; the interest on the investment
at 8 per cent will be $40 and the taxes
not exceed s12. The people that live
this way will be SO much more efficient
as workers that the factorieA will follow
them and. the problem will be nearing its
solution"
Tells Of Washington Slums.
Gen. George NJ. sternberg gave an IL
lustrated talk on experiences gained while
a member Of the Presidents homes COM
missions. The illustrations showed some
bad conditions he found in Washington
alleys, which the District government is
endeavoring to better. He said there is q
lack Of good houses for those who can
pay only 50 to $12 a month rent. while
the houses that rent for $25 or $50 are
being built rapidly.
.'The city Of Washington is well known
as a most beautiful and most desirable
residence city. But 1t Is not SO well known
even by our own citizens. that in certain
parts Of the city we have hidden siums
where the poorer classes Of the population
live in overcrowded houses, many Of which
are not provided with sewer connections.
and that az result OF their insanitary
surroundings, the mortality rates are ex-
cessive among these unfortunate citizens
of the National Capital. The researches
OF the Presidents homes commission show
that the supply of houses for clerks.
skilled mechanics and others whose In
come justifies them in paying rental OF
$25 or $50 month is keeping pace with
houses that can be rented to day laborers
at SO or $12 month Is extremely limited,
and as a result our unskilled laborers are.
as q rule, obliged to live in alley houses
or In dilapidated frame houses built
many years ago, which, as rule. have
no ventilation under the first moor and
frequently are without water supply or
sewer connections.
eliminated in this city by condemnation
and decay. Unless new houses are built
to take their places there will be tend
ency toward overcrowding and all the
accompanying physical and moral evils
invest $1OOOO.O 600 in the construction OF
model houses for the poor of Washington.
placing their trust In competent hands
and devoting the returns received from
rent to the construction of additional
buildings. the situation would soon be re-
lieved. I venture to say that the result
ing benefit to wage-earners and to the
community generally would be far greater
than could be obtained from the same
amount of money invested in libraries or
hospitals" :.
Development Of Cities.
Benjamin c.. Marsh. executive secretary
of the committee in charge Of the exhibit
and conferences, emphasized certain es-
sential facts in the proper development
OF cities. The four main things to be
borne in mind, said Mr.. Marsh, were as
follows:
"Cities must learn their own conditions
These conditions must be impressed deep
ly upon the citizens. The most success
full methods OF remedying existing evils
and preventing their recurrence and of
planning the city beautiful and healthful
must be studied and explained. Each
city must apply to its own conditions
the principles proven successful any
where in securing normal development
and healthful citizenship"
The exhibit of charts and models IL
Illustrative Of what other cities are doing
in the way of planning for the future
and what results have followed the ex-
ercise of forethought and the lack Of
forethought in building communities was
opened yesterday afternoon In the ban
quet room of the Raleigh Hotel.
The exhibit Is open TO the public each
day next week. There will be talks every
evening by social workers and experts IN
the city planning work.