The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-19
HOUSE CLEANING
DAY FOR RICHMOND
SECRETARY WEBER OUTLINES
UNIQUE PLAN TO THE AD-
mNIsTRATIvE BOARD.
CONDITIONS ARE BAD
EXPERT HEAD OF SOCIETY FOR
RETIREMENT OF HOUSING
AND LIVING CONDITIONS
BEGINS WORK.

Gustavus A. Weber. secretary of
the Society for the Betterment of
Housing and Living Conditions in
Richmond, addressed the administra-
| tive board yesterday morning on the
subject of House Cleaning Day" BY
way of introduction he outlined the
purpose of his organization and then
spoke of the Importance of house
cleaning day not only on account of
what is accomplished on that day, but
largely on account of its permanent
educational value. Mr.. Weber said
that the condition Of the back yards,
lots. alleys and streets constitute a
very conspicuous feature of the hous-
ing problem in Richmond. There is
no doubt that the inspection forces
of the city department of health and
the working force of the street clean
ing department are inadequate for a
city the size of Richmond. They
should be very materially increased.
Ignorance and Indifference on the
part of householders and business
men are in a large measure response
BILE. The poorer people, II they are
untidy. are mostly so because they
either know no better. or because they
have neither the time nor the facili-
ties to keep clean. They need en-
enlargement and education. The
others. and they include the wealthy
househo lders and business men. are
often extremely indifferent, and give
no thought to the condition Of their
premises outside of their immediate
personal or business environment.
Filthy. rubbish Uttered cellars and
back yards are by no means confined
to the habitations of the poorer peo-
pie. They are not uncommon along
our most fashionable streets.
! The employees of many business
houses litter the streets, alleys and
vacant spaces In their vicinity with
paper and other rubbish. and while
the owners of the establishments have
to stop or stumble over the rubbish
on their way to their offices they do
not think of putting a stop to such
carelessness.
Householders permit their servants
to neglect to put out their garbage
and ashes where they can be collect
ed and then wonder why the coiiec-
tors do not carry them away. and
perhaps lodge complaints with the
street cleaning department.
The chief value of cleaning day in
a city is the opportunity it affords
for education. 1t stirs up civic pride
and brings together all the social
forces Of the city for the ore purpose
OF cleaning up. II brings into close
personal touch the citizens who strive
for cleaner city and the municipal
authorities whose business 1t Is TO
keep a city clean.
II gives one great opportunity each
year for all classes of citizens, from
/ the richest to the poorest. TO work
| together for that one common end. 1t
affords an opportunity for calling the
| business mans attention TO the neces-
/ sity Of seeing to it that his employees
keep his business house clean, and
the sidewalk, street and alley in the
vicinity free from rubbish and I'M
/ slightly objects. 1t is an incentive
to the housewife to look into her
kitchen. her cellar, and her back yard
and see whether or not her servants
are keeping them clean and free from
rubbish. 1t affords an opportunity To
interest the boys and girls in the
cleanliness and tidiness of their houses
and yards and the vacant lots in their
vicinity.
/ Such seed. even If sown only on a
single day each year. is bound to
spring up and yield abundant fruit
age.
/ MIR. Weber proposed a tentative
plan of organization on the part OF
/ the citizen. and expressed a willing
ness 10 organize the forces to carry
/ it out as far as 1t may be found to
/ be practicable.