The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-10
mas increased from 1901 In 1890 to
203f4 or ~ per cent.


what the relations between these
figures are In any particular part OF
Richmond cannot be ascertained be-
cause the boundaries of the city wards
were changed during this decade AND
the available figures by wards are not
srer. that the increase In this fitifsl-
Der or dwellings has been mainly IN
the sections OF the city where the
wealthy people and those OF moderate
means live, namely. those whose an
nual family means are above $l.2o0
per year. In the sections which came
within the scope OF the Investigation,
thirty five were reported as being new,
that IL, houses apparently built within
the past ten years. OF EAT houses, OF
which the condition of repairs was re-
ported. 1876 or % per cent needed no
repairs whatever, 2S5 or 46 ID per
cent needed some repairs. while 126
OF % Ia per cent were In such a con-
dition Of repair as to be almost unfit
for habitation in their present condi-
ton.
According to the records of the
building inspector, OF the 22.082
dwelling houses in Richmond on De-
cember 81, 1912, 1888 or over so
per cent are frame.
Greatest Need.
The greatest need of Richmond at
the prosen. time is the building of
modern dwellings to replace the thou
sands OF ramshackle houses that are
UNIT to live In. What Is needed most
of all, both by the white and colored
population, are dwellings renting
from IS 20 $12 per month, although
there appears also to be great de-
mand for dwellings renting for from
$12 to SIS per month. If new houses
were built In sufficient numbers, and
IL many Of the old houses were re-
paired and properly managed. the
| worst of the present housing evils
| in Richmond would be eliminated.
There are, however. other serious
housing evils in Richmond. some of
which are now felt and others which
will become more and more apparent
as the city grows larger. bat which
must be dealt with before 1t is too
late to prevent serious danger in the
future.
There are no regulations concerning
land crowding. An apartment or
tenement house may cover every
square foot of the lot on which II is
built, leaving no yard or court for
light or ventilation, and 1t may be
built to any height. There are no
restrictions concerning the size OF
rooms in such houses, no provision
for lighting and ventilating halls. or
for adequacy Of the water supply. and
of water closet accommodations.
In dwelling houses OF three or less
families there are NOS requirements
whatever concerning light or ventila-
ton, and a landlord may provide as
many dark rooms as he chooses.
Should Have Housing Law.
A housing law should be enacted
which will limit the lot space that
Z L. 81 ~
for ample light, ventilation, water
and toilet facilities. prevent over
| crowding and secure privacy for the
tenants. It should apply not only to
! new houses, but also to old houses
! when altered, and to such an extent
to existing houses as will not involve
| too great a hardship upon the own
! ers.
Nothing is so essential to the eff
| fciency ard the healthy physical de-
velopment Of the people as a plenti-
full supply of fresh air and sunshine.
Overcrowding Of rooms at night is
not only detrimental physically, but
| 1t frequently involves the promiscu-
GUS mixing of sexes with its conse-
! quent incentive to vice. Privacy is
merely a requirement Of civfifsauon,
An absence Of it Is barbarism. Furth
erTmore. we cannot expect people to
/ Keep lnciA pOulCS diid tuCif iioHbSS
| clean II they must expend the greater
| part of their energies carrying water
| from a neighboring yard or a street
pump a block away and then up q
| flight OF stairs We must install the
city water in every house and IL pos
sihle in the apartment where 1t Is
| used. There are places in Richmond
where people must carry water a
distance o. a block or more from
well or spring.
Mere Shelters Are UNIT.
| AS stated above, perhaps the most
difficult housing problem in Rich
mond Is the presence of ramshackle
| wooden houses that are mere shelters
unfit to live In. Richmond has many.
one may say. thousands Of these
houses. Several hundreds OF such
houses were condemned in the last
few years by the building inspector
because they we're structurally un-
safe. However, houses may be re-
garded structurally safe and yet may
be unfit for habitation on account OF
their decay. bad repair and general
unsa nitary condition. These also
should be condemned and destroyed.
Unless they are condemned as unfit
for habitation. they will not only con-
tinue to be = menace to health. but
| 1t will be dificult to replace them by
| present rental value Ia too high to
| permit their purchase, destruction
and replacement on = paying basis.
| Destroy Unfit Property.
| All houses unit to live in should
be either repaired or destroyed, as
such vacant houses become convent
ent lodging places for tramps. deposi-
tories for nuisances and hiding places
for the practice Of vice.
| The condition Of back yards. lots
alleys and streets In the neglected Sec
tons constitutes q very conspicuous
/ feature OF the housing problem In
Richmond. There is no doubt that
the forces OF the health and street
cleaning departments are insufficient
to deal with it. They should be ma
terially increased. But the evil fs
not only a matter OF inadequate in
spection. Ignorance and carelessness
on the part of the householders and
business men are largely responsi-
bic. When the poorer people are un-
tidy 1t ID usually because they do not
have adequate time and facilities for
keeping clean. or because they know
no better and need education. The
| n%AAro opn r~&i1x, ha,onoa fbav ore