The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-09-23
HOW HAMMOND GROWS.
Tenement Rents Often Blood
Money, Says Housing Expert
Author Of Indiana Building Law Shows How Houses
Stay and Corrupt.

were intended for the occupancy of a
few people and only sufficient provis
ions were made for that number. With
the inroads of the poor in larger num-
bers, ventilation, drainage and hy-
giene becomes serious problems, which
too frequently are neglected.
1t is declared a misconception that
only the larger cities, such as London,
Berlin and New York have slums.
Even in our villages we often find
types of slums which would be dis
grace to a crowded city," said Mrs.
Bacon on this point. 1t is not neces-
sary that the slum district should oc-
cupy much space. even one house can
be a slum of the most vicious type. con-
gestion in this case only makes slums
more dangerous and harder to fight"
| The conditions which make a slum.
| those which are generally included IN
| the term bad housing" are to be found
| in the expensive flats OF the city and
| in the little shack of the village, says
| the same authority. They vary in de-
gree only. The fat may be and often is
insanitary, while in the case of the
dwellings, of the poor. they all too fire.
| quently lack what is generally regard
| ed an absolute necessity to the
civilized being-clean water and plenty
| OF 1t.
1t Is pointed out. while there is city
water in Indianapolis. a great many of
] the houses draw their supply from els
! terms which become polluted with the
! filth of the yard and in some cases the
seepings from vaults. This is one of
the most frequent causes of typhoid
fever and other malignant diseases.
The rear tenement on the alley is one
of the worst eViIS bacanSa STABLES and
/ vaults are also on the alley and are Of
ten full of filthy refuse. says the author.
In some of these dwellings cesspools
are under the floors of the houses garb-
age cans against the windows, and in
some cases even built against the yard
closets of the front buildings. These
conditions compel the tenant to keer
the windows and doors closed and the
light and air that is so necessary are
thus shut off. Some families have beer
found sharing a stable with a horse oil
, a mule.
/; In regard to the results of the tene
. ments upon the occupants, Mrs. Bacor
| points out consumption. typhoid fevel
, and chills. A chart prepared, showing
. the children Of the congested districts
as compared with those of more ia
, yorable difference in the growth.
Two-thirds of the delinquent children
come from the homes OF the dirty, IL
ventilated homes, it is declared Two
thirds of the physically i'll childrel
come from the same class of homes
= and the same applies 10 the desertinl
fathers. The moral side of the hous
ing question is touched upon by Mrs
I Bason. who says:
When a family of ten, living i
$ three rooms, takes in boarders, modest
Y and morality are apt to be crowde
out" The tenement houses havin
s common closets, halls and stairs, es
Y pecially where the halls are dark, ar
= BREEDERS of vice. The vicfousness of tn
: one house is not confined, but soon per
f vades the neighborhood. which soon be
h comes infamous. This influence is fel
q in civic life, for 1t is from this class c
a dwellings, that the ballot box stuffe
9 comes. 1t is here that the foaters ar
= housed during the weeks precedin
elections and in a measure it is TIL
:, class of people who select the officials
1t is this last element that has a
ways created strong opposition to an
proposed legislation that would d
away with these conditions. In til
= large cities, where corrupt politics
L. s1um for his support. He is not willin
- to increase the cost of housing.
Europe these questions are handle
n | differently; the tenant knows to VIII;
e he is entitled and demands it. The la
Y sees to it that he does get IT.