The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-08-31
/ note$ and new$
Of Interest
**** By m. +. ".


John Ihlder, field secretary Of the
National Housing Association, writes
a forceful article on Washington s
alley Sums The opening line asks
what do you know about Goat Al
| ley, Washington, d. c., and then
goes Oh to say that only few OF
the people OF Washington are aware
| tina! there is in the clty's inhabited
alleys menace to the public
health morals and police records.
| The requests and demands Of So
ciaI workers and Of citizens with a
social conscience, but without d
vote, fell an ears that We're hard OF
hearing. Only from President Roose-
welt did they get any hearing. His
Presidents Home Commission made
a study Of alley dwellings and pub
lished a report with recommends
tons. Its only tangible result has
been the beginning Of the CONVEX
sion Of Willow Tree alley into an
interior park. That is something
though many of the workers believe
that such an interior park will be
almost as great menace as the in
habited alley. Washington City has
some 275 inhabited alleys.
There has been some legislation
that has improved conditions. The
board for the condemnation Of in
sanitary buildings has been created.
Up to May Of this year it had de-
molished 1892 of the worst shacks
and caused 1856 to be repaired.
There is law prohibiting the
erection Of new houses on alleys
less than forty feet wide.
There is a law providing for the
conversion Of alleys into minor
streets, but like some other laws
which mean we'll, it does not work.
50 Washington has made very little
progress in its alley problems.
The ''voteless citizens Of the cap
ital did more than ask Congress to
do something for them They stud
led their problem and published
books and reports just as citizens
with votes in other cities do. They |
brought in men like Jacob a. RlIs
to arouse general interest. They Or
ganized two housing campaigns on
a5 per cent and a 4 per cent basis
TO provide good housing in compe- i,
titi0n with bad. Last winter the
general public began to take inter
est. Two more pamphlets We're IS
sued, one by the Monday Evening
Club and the other by the Women>5
Welfare Department. The ministers
Of the National Civic Federation
preached about bad alleys, and Mrs.
Wilson joined the ranks.
The Committee of Fifty outlined
a plan Of campaign. It was proposed
to ask Congress for an amendment;
% the law for the conversion Of al !
eys into minor streets, and that
Congress be asked to finance COM
mission created to study the whole
alley question and to make recon-
for converting the al
eys into a system Of minor streets
within definite number Of years.
This would not only solve the al
ey problem, but would give Wash
ngton what it and every other city
leeds-a system Of minor streets
sites for inexpensive small
Houses.
All this is encouraging as showing
hat the present agitation has
tirred Washington's population
rom top to bottom
Washington has enjoyed the rep
ltation Of being the best planned
;ity in America. Only recently has
t been realized that from the be-
ching this plan has been inconl-
)lete. The magnificent wide avenues
designed by Major L'Enfant bof- :
Tered along a great part Of their
distance by very deep lots, LED III
to the construction Ct
branching alleys and the
erection of hidden houses. which
lad no place ia the original plan
md are a menace to the city.
Earnest Needle Workers.
The ice cream supper given Tues
lay evening on the lawn Of Queens
borough Methodist church was So
;ial and financial success. Music was
furnished by ToWnsend's band, and
he merry groups on the pretty
green lawn made very inviting
picture. a purse Of sl5 was Melted
from the sale Of votes for the most
popular young lady, who proved to
be Miss Fannie Poythress, and III