The Washington herald., 1912-10-07
JOIN To ABOLISH
CAPITAL S SLUus
Charitable Organization ID Ask
Congress to Investigate Alley
Conditions Hero.
MORTALITY RATE
SHOWN TO BE HIGH
Purchase of Property by Govern.
ment Said to Be the Only
Solution.

In a determined effort to abolish the
slums Of Washington. which. 1t is claim
ed. increase the annual death rate OF. the
city by many per cent. and tend to in
crease immortality in the Capital. three
welfare societies have Joined. and pro-
pose to urge Congressional legislation
toward cleaning up these pest spots.
The Monday Evening Club. Associated
Charities. and Women's Welfare Depart
ment OF the National Civic Federation
plan to appoint a Joint committee. which
will urge upon Congress the investiga-
tion of the slums OF this city in an ef-
fort to have the Federal government
turn the alleys into minor streets. or
abolish them altogether.
According to statistics compiled by
these organizations. there are 275 alleys
in Washington. 16l OF which are In the
Northwest. There are 1887 houses in
these alleys and an estimated population
of 1900. The alleys. Of course, princi-
pally are populated by colored people.
but a large number Of foreigners live In
them.
An alley directory OF Washington. the
first ever compiled, recently has been
published by three women members OF
the Monday Evening Club at their own
expense. They are Mrs. Medill McCor-
mick. Mrs. William Belden Noble. and
Mrs. John Van Schaick. jr., wife Of the
pastor Of the Church of Our Father. The
directory was compiled under the su-
pervision of DR.. Thomas Jesse Jones.
Infant Death Rate.
In 1t are listed all the pest spots Of the
city. The figures given are astounding.
Statistics obtained from the District
health report for last year by DR.. Van
Schaick show that the death rate for
infants under one year of age in the
Washington slums are 100 per cent
greater than in the streets. For adults
the death rate is 80 per cent greater.
1t is in these slums. composed princi-
pally Of the alleys. and under the very
dome of the Capitol. that many Of the
diseases against which the health au-
thorities are constantly crusadng orig
mate. 1t Is these spots that give WASH
inSton 4 bad name among cities, from
moral standpoint. Some Of the slums
of Washington. according to investiga-
tors. are worse even than those of New
York.
Several members Of the House District
Committee at the beginning of the Six
ey-second Congress made a casual in
vestigation Of the Washington slums, as
the result of which a bill was introduced
in Congress by Representative Berser.
of Wisconsin. providing for government
purchase of large amount of this
property. Owing to the failure Of the
committee, to get a quorum during the
greater part of the last session, the
measure was piseonholed and nothing
came OF it. 1t is the intention Of the
joint committee TO have members of
Congress make a thorough investigation
of conditions obtaining in the poorer
quarters Of this city. and to urge definite
action by Congress towards a "clean-
up"
A law is in effect which permits the
changing of alleys into minor streets by
condemnation. and the assessment of
benefit of adjoining property. Whenever
an effort Is made to put this measure in
effect by condemninG some other worse
alleys in the city, however. surrounding
property holders make such a protest
against paying the benefits, even going
TO the length of carrying the matter into
the higher courts. that the measure is
practically a dead letter.
PurchnsinE Property solution.
The purchase OF this property by the
Federal government is the solution pro-
posed by DR.. Van Schaick. ALLEY prop
erty in Washington is cheap at present.
as is the slum property in number of
smaller streets. The purchase of this
property, the abolishment of the alley
houses. and the turning of the alleys
into minor streets would abolish once and
for all these pest holes of the National
Capital. and make 1t in reality the most
beautiful and model city of the country.
THE death rate of white people from
tuberculosis in Washington alleys per
10000 population is 1865. while the street
percentage of whites is 117.9. For colored
the alley death rate from this disease is
i32.S: street. ISL
The most notorious alleys of the city,
Willow Tree. Goat. Hog. Brewery
Court, Blagden, A. B. c. Alley. Ambush
Court. Barefoot Alley, Crabtree Alley,
Gun Alley. Hope Avenue. Katie's Al
ley, Cow Alley. Moonshine Alley, Nells
Court. Pig Alley. Three-and-h Street
Alley, Christian Alley, Majors Alley,
Rovers Court, Pony Alley. Porksteak
Alley, and Shows Court. are at present
among the most notorious slums Of the
city, and the ones which the welfare
workers would have abolished. although
and Southwest which are fully as bad
as these.
The Alliance OF Jewish Women also
has entered into the welfare work, and
is extending all help possible to the
inning! ants who settle in this city, and
who are forced through poverty to live
in the poorer sections. Mrs. Alexander
Wolf one Of the leaders Of this organ
ization. said:
Many people have the idea that the
slums Of New York are the only ones
that are in need of social workers. How
few are those who know, or stop to think
that there are immigrants arriving in
our Capital. unable to speak English.
and without means of support: that We
have alleys in which overcrowded fam
lilies dwell in poverty.
How many know Of the poor girls who
from lack Of love and comfort fall into
evil ways?
ITO these poor immigrants. to these un-
fortunate girls. the Alliance of Jewish
Women lends help and sympathy. Homes
are visited, and aid, not charity. is
given where needed. Night schools are
provided for those who want to learn
English. and Sabbath school for the
children. There are special committees
for the visiting Of hospitals and Juvenile
Court.
DEATH RECORD.
George 7. French, 6 years l4E n ST. r.
MillzYd 0rren I