Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-22
Broad Alley Legislation Needed.

!, the direction of alley reclamation
and notification in the District. certain
legislation IS necessary. This legislation
.an 60 To the end OF curing present de-
rects in the laws which bear upon the
condemnation of alley properties TOT
transformation into interior courts or
backgrounds or parks Or IL can go FUR
Their and at one stroke lay a broad
foundation for not only the corrective
hr!t the constructive work that must De
done to cure Washingtons slun disease.
n would seem better To do at once what
has 10 I've done. rather than In do one
thing now and later do another. all TO
the same end
Every one who has given the least con-
federation ia the local alley problem
knows that it consists of two factors. the
present housing of the poor and the flu
ture housing of those same poor The
present housing i undeniably bad in
many instances so bad that it affects
The morals and the health az the COM
munity In destroying the housing ia
ctlitieS that are now afforded, in the
course Of alley reclamation, pace should
he kept in the substitution of better
housing for those evicted from the unfit
dwellings. not only family for family. but
with a margin sufficient To care for
prospective increase.
This. then. is the problem. ~ rae the
sIum dwellings that HOW constitute the
capitals most serious blemish and to
build. in accordance with broad, per
manent plan. dwellings wherein families
can live in decency. comfort and econ
omy Shall these houses be built solely
nv private enterprise as in the case of
the comparatively small number of dwell
ings financed upon the maximum profit
plan or by the municipality. or by
combination OF private philanthropic bust
ness and government aid?
1t has been proposed to enact a law
which provides broadly for all future OPP
erations covering both destruction and
construction. This law, outlined, con-
sists of the following provisions:
"A certain number of the most pop
uious alleys. approximately fifty. to be
converted into minor streets within
specified time limit of FIVE or ten years.
'B-A small number. perhaps five. of
the la byrinthine courts to be made into
Fairgrounds.
"C-The remainder of the alleys to be
closed tor dwelling purposes with the
same time limit and in the same proper
toned in the first paragraph.
Dan appropriation to be made on
the half -andhalf principle To cover un-
der A the cost OF acquiring property on
the streets where the alleys would have
TO be cut through and the grading and
repairing of the minor streets; to cover
the cost of e and to compensate the
owners of dwelling houses closed under
G at one and One-half times the assessed
value of such houses.
"E-On the alleys to be converted into
minor streets new houses to be erected of
a modern sanitary type sufficient in num-
Der to house all the families formerly liv
ing In the alleys. this work to be carried
out at such a rate that as fast as ten
ants are evicted from one alley accom-
modations Will be ready for them else
where
''F-The property bordering on the al
leys to be converted into minor streets
10 be purchased by such approved nom
commercial building associations as the
Sanitary Housing Company, at one and
one-haH times the assessed value, and
new houses to be erected by them of a
specified type and at specified rental
G-The Secretary Of the Treasury to
he empowered To loan money on mort
cage security at a low rate of interest
tsay 31s per cent? and for a long term
tsay eighty years. to such non-commer-
cial associations for these purposes"
Here is a definite proposition. to which
practicable working ground for evolving
the ideal alley legislation. It provides
for the Immediate cure of evil conditions
for the permanent provision Of decent
homes for those able to pay only a low
rental and for the financing of the enter
prise without depending upon private
subscriptions. which in the circumstances
are only slightly removed from the CLASH
a.
nc treasury would be amply protected
~ the security given. with an adequate
return OF interest upon the money thus
mvsseed- Tho property would ultimately
Earn IT'D own release from Indebtedness.
TINS plan is well worth consideration
A1 he present time. when conditions are
s0oepdonAily favorable to the definite So
mton OF this vexing problem.