Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-04
TO GAIN BETTER
HOUSING SYSTEM
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT Is
SCHEME OF COMMISSION
CITY BODY DESIRES THOROUGH
SANITATION
Expert In City Advancement Makes
Report of What She Considers
Will Be Beneficial to
Los Angeles

! The Los Angeles housing commission
is taking the lead in a fundamentally
important field of municipal better
ment, that of bringing about better
housing conditions and better SANTA
/ ton in crowded districts.
The current report of the commits
sion is a document of the utmost i'm
portance in its bearing on the new as
pirations of the city in working toward
its ideals of municipal improvement.
The commission engaged the SER
vices of Mrs. Johanna Won Wagner, an
expert of long experience in eastern
cities in the study of municipal prob
lens, who made a thorough investiga-
tion of Los Angeles conditions.
| Her report in part follows;
! After few months of inspection
in this large but young city, l was
amazed at the extent of the housing
problem and the peculiar difficulties to
! be overcome.
Bringing to this new field the ex-
/ perence gathered in the east, l hope
that l may have the privilege of help
ing to solve the new phases presented
by a mild climate which allows of
primitive form of life not possible in
colder climates, but as Objectionable in
many aspects as the tenements.
1.-THE commission desires to call es-
pecial attention to the necessity of
compelling landlords and property
owners to bring their premises up to
the required standards.
Uplft in Moral Tone
"a great uplift in the moral tone
would be wrought as well as a decrease
in disease and crime, by providing
proper housing conditions for the
working classes. Overcrowding should
be absolutely prohibited, even at the
expense and necessity of establishing
police officers in the various large
house courts at, night. The addition
of arc lights in many of these courts
would be of value, as crime and I'M
morality thrive in the darkness.
1.-THE commission also feels that pub
lie spirited citizens who wish to in
vest small sums should form stock
company for the purpose Of building
and maintaining house courts. Such a
company could lease property ana Dulld
properly constructed homes for the
working classes, provide the necessary
sanitary conveniences, plenty Of light
and fresh air and maintaip> such courts
in a proper manner. They could take
over the management of other proper
ties and see that they were properly
cared for. Such plan is absolutely
feasible, and should return net proht
of from to per cent on the money
invested. This idea has been operated
TO advantage III Cel7NNAi ~ NtNANN
could be very well taken up mere.
Suggests Association
1--WE suggest the organization of
company based upon the plan of the
Octayia, Hill association of Philadel-
phia. The company should be capi-
talized for from 1000 to 100000. and
the stock sold in small blocks at so
much per share as new properties are
acquired. It should be offered by pub
lic-minded men and women who would
be willing to invest their funds in a
trustworthy business organization with
the prospect of reasonable returns. NO
member of the housing commission
should be an officer of the company
Such a company would take over the
mana cement of rental property and
maintain it in a sanitary condition,
charging a necessary commission Tor
the collection of rentals and the man
agement of the property for the land
lord. 1t would also buy or lease va
cant property and establish thereon
homes of cheap but proper and sani-
tary construction. New York city,
with It's crowded spaces and high
values of property, gives her wage
earners better living accommodations
at less rents than does Los Angeles to-
day.
1.-THE whole idea is to procure homes
Tor the ldDOIlnB CldSSGS VIII arc lOO
poor to secure homes for themselves,
and to do away with the overcrowding
of tenement houses. The trend of
housing conditions throughout the
world today is that of the establish
ment of individual home life and the
abolishment of the overcroWded and
unsanitary conditions in the tenement
mode of life.
investigators have found that the
| establishment of small homes, or the
improvement of old residence property
so that two or three families may be
| properly housed, gives more privacy to
such families and develops a more
sanitary, healthful and moral mode of
| life than is to be found in dark, lily
ventilated poorly lighted and improp-
erly constructed tenement houses. The
! formation of such a company, vigor-
ously and intelligently managed, would
be the greatest boon to our city and
| would meet a requirement of which
there is a sad need at present.
Hardship on Inhabitants
1.-THE commission feels that a great
hardship is worked upon the inhabi-
tants of these courts when they are
ordered abolished and no adequate
houses are provided for the reception
of the vacating tenants.
LOS Angeles housing conditions are
! improving slowly, but much is yet TO
! be accomplished. One of our most seri-
! Gus difficulties is the oVercrowding of
the bedrooms among the Russians and
| SlaVs, especially the men working in
| the streets From six to eight will
crowd into a small room scarcely large
enough for two in which to sleep
hygienically. On account of uncleanly
| habits, beds, floors, walls and bedding
become indescribably filthy. 1t should
be made the plain duty of the landlord
| of tenements to provide facilities for
decent living and maintain cleanliness.
Men cannot live like pigs and vote
like men,
1.-THE home is the fundamental factor
| in determining how a man shall live,
In our city are at least 10000 people
who cannot protect themselves from the
/ Ignorance or the aVarice of the strong.
! The civic conscience of Los Angeles has
determined that no home shall sink
below a certain physical standard. The
| housing commission investigates hous-
! ing conditions in which moral and civic
development are impossible because air,
light, cleanliness and privacy are de-
MED. 1t has compelled compliance with
the law when that has been necessary.
Some habitations which were too bad
to be rebuilt have been condemned, but
the large part of the work of its paid
inspectors and the voluntary service OF
| the commissioners has been in persuad-
ing the careless or ignorant landlords