The Washington herald., 1909-05-25

The first OF six evening talks on gen.
eral features Of city planning. IN con-
nection with the exhibit Of charts. maps,
and data relating to the subject, was
given by B. C. Marsh at the Raleigh
Hotel last evening. As previously an
nounced. the exhibit on city planning IS
open 10 visitors IN the banquet room Of
the Raleigh afternoons and evenings this
week. with Mr. Marsh in attendance 10
explain The charts. maps. and photo
graphs OF city improvements tn this and
foreign countries. Each evening It Is his
purpose TO discuss one or more topics Of
public work IN cities. using a stereopticon
20 illustrate his talks
Quite a large company greeted the
speaker last night, and listened 10 his
remarks upon dock improvement and
ltenements. After the lantern slides had
been exhibited and explained. showing
what q number OF American cities are
doing in the way OF a systematic i'm
provement Of harbor conditions. a general
discussion followed upon the tenements
; in New York, Brooklyn. and other cities
Leads In HarbOr Work.
Il appears that New York is taking the
lead in the way OF harbor improvement
without the aid OF the general govern
ment, or even asking the advice or help
Of its engineers. The cutting-in, deepen
ing. and charging Of the wharves and
docks is a municipal Improvement purely.
and il is being carried on az enormous
expense 10 the city. which It hopes 10 get
I back in future years from leasing the
docks and turning the revenue derived
I back ihto the treasury
/ Along the Hudson and East rivers the
city has purchased the necessary land %
widen the water front The docks have
/ been constructed on straight lines, and
cut inward on the land side until they
are twice as deep as formerly. and IN
many cases twice as wide. This arrange
ment enables a much larger volume Of
I shipping 20 land al the wharves than for
merly. and with the facilities provided
I for unloading and handling sea-going
/ freight the terminal facilities OF the port
/ have been advanced IN the way OF eff
/ cheney and cheapness about 80 Per cent
/ City many millions OF dollars, and has
/ practically revoIut!onized ocean trafic
/ handling az that port.
Washington Dock Improvement.
Mr.. Marsh referred 70 ;he need OF
wharf and harbor Improvement n Wash
| ington. going over some OF the sugges-
tons offered by the commission appointed
/ a year or two ago 10 investigate and
make a report on the subject 8Ir- Marsh
pointed cut how It would be possible for
/ Washington 20 make a large and effec-
/ tive use OF tsh water front for shipping
/ purposes, al comparatively small ex-
Pense- The first requisite Is the deepen
/ ing Of the Potomac channel, and IT'S
/ widening 70 admit OF the approach Of
| large vessels 10 the hsTbor.
/ This IS naturally the work OF the gen
eral government. Then comes in the
widening OF the water front, The cutting
/ IN OF the slips and wharves n much the
way suggested BY the commission. and
/ the gradual development Of a frst-class
harb0r along the lines already worked
I out elsewhere.
Audience Asks Questions.
/ IN the discussion Of the tenement prob
I lem many questions were asked by per
/ sons present, and the discussion became
/ general upon housing plans for the poor,
I especially IN New York and Brooklyn.
Reference was made 10 the crowding OF
population into small and poor houses in
Washington. Some interesting 1ects were
cited by Judge Williams H. D. Lacey. Of
the Juvenile Court. From his showing,
the crowding OF poor people into small
rooms has reached the proportions OF
an evil here az the Capital.
I MT. Marsh said the problem was much
/ larger than the mere provision Of room at
a reasonable rental He spoke OF his dis
! coveTies in New York in some OF the tsne-
ments built upon the new and improved
models. where the people who rent them
/ persistentIy and constantly violate the
I law by crOWding the rooms TO sufEoca-
/ ton
AIr Marsh said the only solution Of the
| problem lies IN much ste-ner inspection
on the part Of health departments and
! tho police than is considered appropriate
/ in American cities. He said that the
idea was 50 widespread here that every
mans house Is his castle, In which he
can Go as he may p,sase. IS responsible
I
ments. He told OF the powers exercised
by the police in the cities OF Vienna and
Berlin
Police Inspect Tenements.
In the tenements OF those cities the
police OF an inspector Of the health de-
partment armed with police authority-en-
ter the tenements at any time Of night
or day and ascertain by actual inspec-
ton whether the law Is being violated.
| Mr.. Marsh said he accompanied one OF
these officers on his rounds In Vienna
It was during one hour before and one
after midnight. The officer knocked at the
doors OF the tenements. aroused the in
mates, counted the sleepers. ana in cases
1 where more were present than the law
allows the heads OF the families were
1 haled 20 court the next day and fned
This Is the custom IN the foreign cities.
and immigrants who come to America
have been used to it in their former
homes. and he said the overcrowdine OF
/ tenements would not be overcome IN this
| country until the police Of cities were
| armed with some such powers Of enter
/ ing the houses and counting the dweIlers
/ there.
After the lecture last night the audi
ence fingered for some time looking over
| the exhibit studying the charts, and
/ listening to MT. MarSh'S explanations or