The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-26
MI SEE WITH
THEIR OyVN EYES
'psnrcslsAny connrrrEE PLANS
10 Make INSPECTION TOUR
o. JACKSON WARD.
MUCH LIGHT is SHE'D
COLONIES REsIDESTs ASK I'M
rH0vENENr OF HOUSING CON-
DITIoNs BEFoRE MORE AREA
Is ACQUIRED.
MUCH LIGHT IS SHED

d
/ How to alleviate congested condi-
tons In jackson Ward occupied the
attention OF the Council Domiciliary
Committee last night for two hours
I The committee finally decided to
make a personal tour Of the congest-
ed area to see things with their own
eyes" The committee Is composed OF
Mezrs. vonderlehr. Kain. Mitchell,
Pollock and Richards. The latter two
were absent last night.
4 Quite a representative delegation
OF oolOred folks were on hand, with
facts and figures. to show that Jack
son Ward. In which the major part
OF their number In Richmond reside.
is sa11iy IN need Of better streets. bet
ter housing conditions. more water.
sewerage and other facilities neces-
sary to comfort and the Improvement
OF sanitary conditions generally. These
improvements are needed first. they
insisted. Afterward additional terri
tory for the colored people may be
annexed. II the city sees fit to do SO.
1 Streets unswept.
4 Ben jackson, member OF the City
Council In Recommendation days. who
looks ~ wise as Solomon himself
told the committee that some OF the
streets In jackson Ward had not been
swept In four or five months. Others
told Of neglected cutters. of mud an
kle deep along the sidewalks. And
still others cried out against the sa-
loon evil. the bane Of their race. 8.
Is. Stewart weii-to-do merchant,
said there are twenty-five barrooms
in his section OF the city In con-
trast. he pointed out. that only two
salons are permitted in the extensive
q 49,
pie in the West End.
IF the saloons are a nuisance, why
don't you protest against them ?" ask
ed Chairman yonderlehr.
I'VE have protested. but It did no
good" answered W. A. Jordan. y
leader OF his race. We have wearied
Of protesting"
The Rev. Daniel Webster Davis,
who also carries the title Of profess
sor. came loaded down with figures
and statistics, which he promised TO
let the committee have In properly
compiled form before It goes forth on
its inspection tour.
Mrs B. b. Munford and Miss Eliza
beth Cooke. who are deeply interest
ed In settlement work and especially
in the uplift OF the negro In Rich
mond, also promised to supply the
1 formation Both addressed the conn
mittee at some length. Mrs. Munford
/ particularly laying stress on the un-
sanitary housing conditions that need
attention In the colOred area She
said this country h far behind Eng
land. France and Germany and other
European countries In such matters
She believed the committee had q
/ great opportunity before 1t and she
III n -
beacon light for movements of q
similar character.
Il Rcmedy Beyond Council.
II The, committee admitted that con-
II ditions were bad. but claimed 1t was
rather up to the property owners to
place the homes In proper repairs.
4 Council. It maintained, had no au-
thority to that extent.
H Committeeman MjtehelL who lives
\ in Clay ward. suggested that some Of
the residents Of the congested colored
area be established In the outlying
sections Of his ward. but this was ad-
nlitted to be imprActtcablo.
An one OF the coinred speakers said:
The car fare would be too heavy q
burden on rs II We lived ont there.
We want to be nearer the center OF
tho town. where we won't have to
i travel 30 far to our work
! 1 s ~H6IIW0u SVuQ9EA04T 04AQ W&tGSp
gus and sewerage would be provided
In any new area annexed for the
colored people. but. this did NOT prove
very aliuring. They sfili insisted that
the city shoulG flrst guarantee more
improvements In the section already
occupied by them.
I WOuld Widen Area.
i One Of the speakers pleaded that
the segregation line b extended 20
that tho negroes might occupy resi-
/, dences ~ far southwark a Broad
street. They believed this would 20
long way toward remedying mat
/ tiers.
MrA Munford. IN the course Of her
/ talk. laid much emphasis ON the
i necessity OF reducing the death rate
In Richmond. This. she said. could
not b. effected to any extent until
Il the housing cordition Of the colorsd
popuiGxiOn u improved M VIII u
City Attorney. Pollard sat with thu
committee throughout IT. session. He
heartily approved the suggestion Of I
personal inspection tour. Meanwhile.
i the committee Will take no ataps to-
ward recommending tAs aequisttion OF
j more territory Tor the negrceA No
j particular date FOR the tour was dxod,
a. q t.Afva lSffA - H. - = a1Sss = -