The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-29

To drive the slums out OF the ma
tional capital and so shape condi-
tions that they may be kept out is the
work which, inspired by the wife OF
the nations chief executive, has been
undertaken by group OF senators,
representatives and prominent women
OF Washington.
Mrs Wilson. who has long been in
terested in work for social welfare.
early expressed an interest in what
was being done for the Improvement
Of conditions I'M Washington. Under
the guidance Of Mrs. Archibald Hop
kins, president OF the woman's well
fare department OF the National Civic
federation, an organization which has
been Investigating conditions in the
alleys OF the capital for several years.
Mrs. Wilson visited several Of the
typical alley slums. She became so
interested in the conditions which she
found to exist and so deeply impress
ed with the necessity fer lettering
them that she has devoted time and
thought to the problem thus pre-
scented.
The active part taken by Mrs. Will
son has awakened greater interest
in the movement than has ever before
been shown. Each day the number Of
those at work in the movement Is
Increased by additions from among
social workers and prominent women
of the capital. Leaders Of the move
ment have taken parties of senators
and representatives into a number OF
the alley slurns. and have Interested
them In the movement TO eliminate
y the uuwhoiesome conditions found
there. Alreadys bills have been intro
duced In the house by Representative
Kahn. of California. and in the senate
by Senator Pomerence. Of ohio, Oh
recting the condemnation of the prop
erty bordering on certain Of the alleys
and its conversion into interior parks.
More important still is the BILL re-
Gently introduced by Representative
BorIand, of Missouri. granting to the
district commissioners power TO con-
denim the necessary 'al3ey property
without recourse to congress in each
Instance. as is now necessary
The Washington Sums are OF pc
culiar type. A block or decent ap-
pearance on the outside may harbor
Ia its center an alley OF undesirable
n character One of the worst features
Or the situation is the diffusion 81
these slums. They are not confined
4 10 any one locality, but are scattered
lever sfsuttf of tire teFFit esEss-
For a generation there has been a
movement In progress TO make WASH
ington one of the most beautiful cities
4 toward this end. but most of the beau
flying has been in the form of broad
{ avenues, parks, monuments and pun
He buildings. and has been conhnec
largely to a particular division or the
city. In tortuous alleys within biocks
Of respectable outward appearance
4 tenement populations have found
4 more and more congested lodgings
4 and dirt and squalor have increased
& Some OF the alleys. such AS WHO"
Tree alley and the notorious Goat al,
tey and snow Court, have figured
4 pr0msne nifty In the annals of the Po'
U 6ce court.
Other Of the alley ciums have be
N&0me known through the sanitary de'
M 4ArfnNut. for IL has been found ina
Sg ~ death rate among the alley dwell
E$t1 d abeut double the death rate
|Es nx The whole city. Comprehensive
kdies Ok social conditions IN the all
have be3n made IL the past feN