The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-19
REMOVE PLAGUE
SPOT OF PARIS
Island of tuberculosis Being
Torn Down
HAUNT OF RAGPICKERS
Filthy Hovels Will Be Replaced by
Modern Tenements to Cost Forty
Million Dollars-To Bring
Down Death Rate
HAUNT OF RAGPICKERS

Paris, January 1s.--(Special "A
start has been made In the work of
demolishing one of the worst plague
spots in Europe-the infamous "Hilot
Tuberculeuse.' or Island of Tubercu-
losis. of Paris. On the sites of the dark.
narrow alleys and tortuous turns. the
old disease breeding dwellings in which
the population now live in the last de-
grees of poverty and filth, soon will
rise the model tenements with which
the city fathers hope to solve couple
of their most pressing problems. First,
the demolition of the old and the sub
stitution of the new buildings are ex-
pected to bring down the alarming
death rate of this section OF Paris; and,
second, they will provide cheap and
healthy accommodations for large
population which is too poor to live in
any healthy section of the heart of
Paris under present conditions and yet
which would be thrown out of en-
ployment If compelled to move beyond
the Notifications"
Some months ago the sum of $40, ,000
600 was voted for this and other efforts
to provide for the poor, especially the
poor with large families. In addition
to the work now being done to the
east of Les Hallss'-the public mar
kets of Paris-a similar district In the
neighborhood of the Hotel Dieu and the
rue Savarin, will be razed. With the
exception of these two spots, however.
the rest of Paris Will be left to the
avaricious landlords who are jumping
rents so rapidly that all except the
rich and the middle classes are being
driven outside What money is left
after the work about Les Halles' and
the Hotel Dieu is completed will be
expended on model workingmens
dwellings beyond the Notifications"
The old streets which are thus TO
disappear have no links with the his-
tory of Paris. Much of the land about
Lies Halles" belongs to the Rothschild
family, who have in the past given gem
erously to the improvement of the con-
ditions of the inhabitants. Years ago
they built what were then considered
model tenements out which are today
consumption breeding traps.
This deplorable condition is largely due
to the class of people who live there.
Curiously enough, the majority of them
are engaged in one trade-that of rag
picking. Those who have visited Paris
will be familiar with the type. for both
men and women in thousands are to be
seen about the streets in the early morn
ing picking over and sorting the refuse
of the city before it is removed from
the pals and barrels in front of the
houses.
1t is this indescribably dirty class of
men and women who have made the is
land of tuberculosis a district that can
be compared only to the worst and most
filthy sections of Naples, the dirtiest city
in Europe. Leaving Les Halles'' and
travelling east. one Is Immediately as
sailed by an overpowcring odor that sue
cessfully keeps the district free of even
the most enthusiastic Summers" Some
of the streets are little more than crew
ices between adjoining rows of old build
ings. The rue Truncampoix seldom sees
a ray of light, even during the bright
est days, and the rue Vense is not much
more fortunate. The buildings have no
running water and boast no sanitary ap-
plances
In the place of these consumption
breeding quarters are to be built four
and five story buildings with all the
modern conveniences. The streets will
be widened and courts will be provided
in the center of every block of dwell
ings The owners of the land are be-
ing asked to provide the ground and the
city erect the new houses. When COM
pleted the apartments will rent at from
$50 to $100 a year and preference will
be given to worlxmen and small employ
ers who are burdened with large fam
lilies.
1t was at first urged that $4,000. 900
was not enough money to do all the
work necessary and it was even claimed
by the most enthusiastic that 100000. 600
would be nearer the mark. At the pres
ent moment. however, the disposition is
to limit the expenditure to the former
amount.