Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-25
STRIVE FOR SOLUTION
OF HOUSING PROBLEM
Speakers Tell of Results Achieved
in Baltimore and Rich
mond.
Cooperation Of Washington With
Cities Urged at Civic Fed
Grafton Meeting.

The alley and housing conditions in
Richmond and Baltimore. and the meth
DDS being used to better them, were de-
scribed in detail to the members Of the
woman's section Of the National Civic
Federation at Rauschers today. Col
ored views thrown on a screen illustrated
the conditions.
Miss Harlean James of Baltimore spoke
on 1.-THE Work of the Baltimore Woman's
Civic Club" Public interest is the great
est weapon for the accomplishment of re-
suits In city cleaning and similar cru
sades, Miss James said. and added that
her organization had studied the princi-
pies of advertisement with great benefit
to their campaign
Used Newspaper Space.
Il would advise against the use of
pamphlets, however, she said. "a very
heavy expense is incurred in printing and
distributing them, and in most cases they
are scarcely glanced at by those who re-
ceive them. Therefore, through the news
papers. We sought to educate the women
or Baltimore, counting on their influence
with their husbands for civic improve
ments.''
Miss James told of the results which
had been obtained in abolishing many of
the high board fences surrounding dirty
back yards. and the great improvement
in the condition of these yards. Women
were educated to demand clean food in
the markets. with the consequence that
the proprietors of stores were forced to
improve the quality and cleanliness of the
food they offered for sale.
This was made to apply particularly to
milk, the speaker said. Through the
nf he pi1ot NJ
which she is a member the shops were
loose milk was sold. some 1900 in
number, were inspected, and farm in
spectors. to guard the source of supply,
were appointed.
In the campaign to eliminate the high
fences around back yards. Miss James
declared, a great deal was accomplished
by interesting children in the movement.
by the organization of clean city clubs.'
Problems In Richmond.
Gustavus A. Weber Of Richmond. who
spoke on Zone Year Of Housing Activity
in Richmond" declared the chief diff
Guilty In that city was neglect on the
part of property owners and the city Of
ficials. He agreed heartily with Miss
James that advertising would bring re-
suits which no other method of cam
paigning could equal.
AS an illustration of the attitude of
many landlords in Richmond. Mr.. Weber
said that many of them opposed extend
ing the sewerage system of the city to
the streets on which they owned houses
on account of the expense incurred by in
stalling house connections.
In the colored section Of Richmond,
Mr.. Weber said, at one time five or six
families would use one room for sleep
ing. while seldom did the accommoda-
tons for one family exceed two or
three rooms. No serious alley problem
exists there as yet. Mr.. Weber asserted
but said that the conditions Of the
back yards when he went to Richmond
year ago were the worst he had ever
seen anywhere.
High Fences a Menace.
After several unsuccessful attempts,
he said, the city council and aldermen
finally passed the proposed measure,
which, with other things, entirely did
away with all dumps within the city
limits, which had been one Of the worst
eyesores In the city. In speaking of
the htgh-fence danger. Mr. Weber said
there was no other one factor which
contributed so greatly to the general
unclean1iness of a city.
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins presided at the
and introduced the speakers. She
them at the conclusion of their
and urged the cooperation Of
with Baltimore and Rich
mond. declaring their civic problems to
be identical. Mrs. Hopkins announced
that today's meeting would be the last
one until the passage of the alley bill,
now pending in committee.