The Washington times., 1909-05-22

any sunlight THIS means IndL Ibiiy
half of the number of rooms occupied
by tenement house DIV ellers have no
sunlight at any time of the year,
Mr.. Ford advocated the construction
OF houses, tenement houses. on streets
running north and south as best adapt
ed TO secure a maximum of sunlight
during the most of the day. East and
west streets, he argued. do not have the
benefit of sunlight except at early
periods of the day.
The rear of the tenements should be
fitted with Fairgrounds, and Mr.. Ford
said the ideal building would be two
rooms deep In following this plan the
streets could be made narrower without
decreasing the amount of light and
air, while the east and west streets
could be made broader and the principle
thorOughfares for heavy traffic.
Formally Opened
The conference was formally opened
last evening ar the Masonic Temple.
President Taft, who was expected to
make an address. was unable TO be pres
ent owing to the pressure Of official
business, but sent a letter expressing
his entire sympathy with the movement
and sincere wish to aid in every way
possible in the success Of the work that
is ABOUT TO be undertaken.
Representative j. Van Nechten Olcott
Of New York presided and addresses
were made by Commissioner MscIar-
land, Henry Morgenthau ana Benjamin
{. Marsh, OF the committee on cOnSes-
ton OF the population in New YORK, and
Gen. George NJ Sternberg. The meeting
was attended by a majority OF the dele
gates to the conference who had arrived
in the city and by many Of the local
enthusiasts on civic improvement.
Topics Discussed.
The formation of some national plan
for the advancement Of cities, the spread
OF propaganda for this purpose and the
awakening OF interest among the citi-
zens with view to the abolition Of the
sore spots on the civic body. as well as
tbs fuFtherance of the plans for ma
terial Improvement, formed the topics
of discussion last evening.
Commissioner Macfarland's address
was in the nature Of a welcome TO the
District and a review Of what has been
done here toward the betterment OF out
ward conditions as well as the improve
ment of the city as q whole. Nj Mac
farland pointed out that Washington has
secured series of good laws to aid in
the campaign against the Sums I'D
insanitary surroundings, and that sislce
the enactment of the laws especially
that regarding dilapidated buildings,
much had been done TO do away with
these structures. The abolition Of the
alleys has received a setback through
a courts decision, he said, but the Cone-
unissiOners hope to secure the enact
the courts at the coming session Of Con-
gress-
Mr. Morgenthau made plain his desire
for the adoption of a plan for improve
ment that would extend over fifty years.
He said the great difficulty in most
cities is 70 secure uniformity in the
method of public and private improve
uent L the conference could suggest
hot ~ -
plan of oetteTment that would be ac
cepted By all cities, 10 cover space of
the half a century of tImes he thought
a habit Of steady and harmonious i'm
pTOvement cca,d be formed that would
make united action during longer
period unnecessary, although II would
not do for future city planners to let
up in their urging of reform The press
ing Of one plan of reform will suggest
another, he said
Two Features
The speaker said he had two impor-
tant features OF civic betterment that
he desired TO press First and fore
most was the matter Of tenements. He
believes that the adoption Of straight
regulations in every city win eliminate
much of tie misery and suffering
among the jewellers in the tenements
and that the adoption OF strict tene-
ment house reguIa lions would form one
Of the big features OF his hfty-year
plan.
Second, he desired TO see the estab-
lishment Of a factOI-r zone in each OF
the large cities where the work Of
manufacturing could be confined in
such manner that il would not disturb
the general plan OF beautifying the
remainder Of the city, nor enCrOaC h
on the residence sections
Mr. MOrgenthau is one of the most
prominent members of the New York
committee for TIE prevention of con-
gestiOn IN the New York tenements and
is regarded as one of the hest authori-
ties in the country on tenement house
conditions MI Marsh, who IS execu-
tive secretary of the same committee,
spoke along the same lines as Mr.. Nor
ganthau. dwelling particularly on the
tenement house propositions.
For Surplus Wealth.
General Sterni,erg declared during the
course Of his remarks that he could
ind a much Better way Of spending
surplus wealth than endowing uuiver-
stiles for higher education or con-
structing Libraries Ten or fifteen mill
lions invested In hygienic homes for
the poorer class Of the population of
the larger cities Would work wonders
in improving not only the general an
pearance Of the city and its surround
ings but the health of the people OF
One Of the greet recommendations Of
a city. he declared. Is a healthy popu-
lation living in comfortable homes The
opportunity for this form of improve
ment is presented To philanthropicaI
miilionaires in every section of the
country, in every large city. And no.
where, said General Sternberg, Is there
greater need for Improvement along
these lines than in Washington.
General Sternberg was chairman of
Il he Presidents homes commission and
made a careful study Of the housing
II
numerous photographs during the
course of his investigation which he
had made into lantern slides and dis
housing conditions ia the District,