The Washington times., 1910-08-28
Board Plans Abolition of.
Disease and Crime Breed
ing Quarters
GROUND TO BE USED
FOR PASTIME PLOTS
First Appropriation for Cleaning
Up Notorious Plague Spots TO
Be Asked in December.

Il Congress gives its sanction 10 plan
which viii be presented at the coming
session ia December, the abolition %
NVashington-s alley streets and the con-
version Of their sites into parks, play
grounds. recreation plazas and. TO use a
title which has been suggested TO the
board having the project in charge.
pas line plots viii become merely
question Of a few years
The board for the condemnation Of in
sanitary buildings is now at work ON q
plan which contempiates the acquire
meut by The District Of all the alley
streets and courts lying within the
boundaries Of Jhc city proper-yrIJh the
exception Of q few such streets and
courts which are 90 be eliminated by the
carrying out Of the Mall project-and the
esta Adjustment IN their stead OF breath
ing spaces, which may be parks. chill
dren-s Fairgrounds. or whatever seems
best adapted TO uGiEhbOrhOCd require
meuJs-
The Board for the Condemnation Of In
sanitary Buildings is composed Of the
Assistant Engineer Commissioner. Cap
tain Narkham7 Dr. woodward Health
Officer, and Morris Hacker Building In
spector Surveys OF d number OF the
alley streets and courts have already
Jeeu made. enlarged plats have been
prepared, and the information which Is
20 be placed N the hands Of Congress
is rapidly being put into shape. 50 that
a bill covering the project may be ready
for introduction, Il is hoped early in
December-
Capitals Alleys Notorious
Washington has Ionz been most I'M
favoraaTv noted for its alley streets,
and sanitary uissions-visitors from
other cites Of the United states. -
sreU rs from other contradictions
number. have -one through the alley
street. declared them q disgrace ana a
r-enace 10 the health and morality Of
the entire District and have gone away
without putting forward a1v tangible
plan for their elimination Never until
The present project bean 10 take form
IN the minds Of tEose who now have
II in charge has practicable plan for
TOfuC away WIrI willow Tree Alley and
others Of IFS kind Eeen advanced
The board within the last :ew days
has 0--t a force of men at work with
fUlI authority TO prepare DieL~- eSJl-
mates etc showing the true conditions
Of Willow Tree Alley- and others OF The
r7-v-s unS7uira7-v- 1IuSiS IItIF. disease and
crime breeding plague SPOTS and me eN-
act cost OF acquiring the land, huiioinGs-
etc tearing cut The buildings and con
vertir- TIE alleys into open parks or
playground
Willow Tree Alley is ueTrarE the rzs-
advertised &C the present alley streets
Of Washington 1uS- as Cottage KOS.
was a few years age The latter alley
tgcated as It was within q short stone $
row of the British embassy and JUS
s.5 CouDertLCEt Avenue was known FAR
and wide as enc Of the citv's disCraceS.
Tt has been entirely eliminated since
1906. and not a shack EgU stands on The
site
Race Suicide Prevalent
The police Census shows that Willow
Tree -AUrv has population of 40. OF
whom 1I1 are wliteS-DTInciDafly Ital-
iars-the p1mainine 20 being negroes
Of the entire population there are only
thirty-seven under five years OF age.
r7ce suicide. seemingly heinc no crime
In the ewes Of the alley denLzcns- The
entire poBulat55a IS housed in sizty-fcUr
houses tho average rental OF TIE -strlfC-
lures being $50 uer month
The alley is located between Third
and Fcgr-and-a-laIf and and @
streets southwest. II being square 50 in
-1e p1af book Police reports show thaS
an avera.e Of rs arrests are made daily
in Tire alley the 1ffeu=eS ranging from
drunkenness and diSorGcriy conduct TO
muTde-oUs assault
The accom- a-ElDE photograph OF the
alley. showing the dome Of the Capitol
in the BACKGROUND with the dome Of