The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15

sons and climatic conditions, although to q lesser degree.
 Yet in ignorance of these drawbacks hundreds arrive monthly to seek employ ment The few fortunate ones drift about from one lodging house to another until some temporary work is at last found; the many unfortunate finally become stranded and appeal to charity for trans portation back home.
 When the city first commenced its de- velopment, no thought for the housing of the serving class was given Huddled at the back of the luxurious hostelries, the present living quarters of the poor man IS precisely the outcome of what such planless plan should be-two-roo shacks. worn out homesteads. Reconstructed houses, all cellarless and few sanitary, situated with no regard for established thoroughfares or other buildings, their ac- cesees from a labyrinth of alleys, lanes and streets. Within the last few years rows of six-room brick houses are grad ualy taking the place of the wooden shanties. The rents for these are high and are raised in the summer. Still the tenant with that understanding in view always hopes to make up the deficiency by renting rooms with the privilege of the kitchen" throughout the open seasons. The worst living conditions are found among the families of the bay fishermen.
  boats hauled up on the marshy islands of | the inlet. For the most part these boats | are neither sanitary nor weather proof | Many are so low that it is impossible to stand upright in them. Others are so
 narrow that one has to squeeze between | the pieces of furniture. The parents and | any number of children sieep Tn one
 bed while during the winter ventilation is
 unknown. In one houseboat 1G feet long and four feet wide. lived family of six. , A bed occupied precisely half of the in- terior, and oil stove and wooden bench the other half. What dishes and provisions 1 there were got thrown together in a pocket-lilIe cupboard under ihe fore rart l of the boat. In order to wash. to cool,
 or to comb her hair, the woman was | obliged to kneel. should it happen that
 during the night the father rolled unre- | gardedly, one or two children tufhbled over the edge of the bed.
 l small body of philanthroTic persons | maintain such institutions for relief as | there are The county al'ishouse IS 1 neither large enough, nor Is 1t connected
 with a hospital. one supported by annual
 contributors, and the other minieipaD | treat for acute illnesses only. The or ganized charities. founded in 1909, does the 1 greater part of the relief work. Ire last l two years it has handled the city arpro- | priation fund. The Salvation army con ducts an industrial home and tine Vo'un- ! teers of America a transient lodging | house for men and women. One day nursery does excellent work, but is far , from sufficient.
 With the large colored popu'ation n near ly two-nfths of the whole, the lack ol proper facilities for combating tuberculo sis is a serious question. Absolutely nc provisions is made by either city oi county However. the city holds the low est record for infant mortality in Ne"
 Jersey.
 | A city which is host to more pubic veal conventions than any other in ths
 United States should adopt .he motto
 Charity Begins at Home. New Jersey distinguished governor has recently urged Atlantic City to cultivate d rlcral spirit
 and laid the corner stone of N M IC A building erected for thar purpose A sanitary spirit is necessary too. Op
 rortunity invites somebody to lay th' corner stone of an institution foundel '
 study and solve Atlantic City's uniqu
 problem of poverty.