The Washington times., 1914-12-05

SCUflELU.
ing been made even since was here
three years ago. But there 10 still
nuch that should be done. After the
alley situation Is cleared up. certain
parts OF the water front ] have no
ticed might be rebuilt to the great
improvement OF the city.
When told that the legislation already
passed by Congress In the matter o!
the alleys required that alleys snt
courts be abandoned as residence dis
tricts, Mr. Adams did not approve Of
the plan, and said:
do not agree with the plan TO
prohibit people from living in the al
shameful waste of space which could
be made perfectly habitsble and
sanitary.
In remedying insanitary residence
conditions which have gone by I'M
noticed for years. people are too apt
TO &c to extremes even in the Capital
City Of the United States.
What should be done with Washing.
toms alleys and courts is to open them
up-cut broad entrances to the city's
thoroughfares. All dwellings which nov
stand therein and which are hopelessly
old and insanitary should be condemned
and torn down. Others which might
be made sanitary by reconstruction and
renovation should undergo these proc
esses.
AS they stand at present, however,
the alley conditions Of Washington are
undeniably bad. They are not only
unfit for human habitation. but the mar
row entrances from the main streets
make them dificult Of control either by
health officials or police.
But when a city faces such a prob
lem as confronts Washington, there Is
no use IN going TO extremes. ABOUT
the only way to meet such a situation
and remedy it Is TO arrive at a mini
mum standard which II followed will
preserve the public health and make the
residences OF the working classes and
the poor sanitary and livable. Once
that II accomplished. gradual improve
ment can be instituted.
OF course. in arriving at such a mini
mum standard. we are always subject
10 and controlled by local conditions
and my comments upon Washington
are based only upon a hurried survey
and conclusions drawn from past ex-
periences.
Mr.. Adams finds that American com.
munities in general have been permit
ted to grow into cities along rural OF
small town plans and many cities both
in Europe and America-Washingtor
regard for show and ornament thar
for the comfort OF the poorer classes
Of residents who cannot build like the
rich.
Two Cardinal Principles.
Cities. he contends. instead Of conform.
Ing only 20 show ideals should be plan
ned with two principal Gestures in view
the conditions under which the people Of
the community must work, and the cen.
ditions under which they must live II,
continued:
To a large extent Washington, Edin.
burgh and Paris are expressions Of this
restricted, although important aspect {.
city planning. They represent the best
and spaciousness in regard 10 public
buildings, parks. wide streets. and mean.
of transportation. But il that were tn,
sole justification for the fame Of thes,
great capitals, they could claim no great
er distinction than that which was earn
ed in ancient times by cities like Greece
and Rome, with their broad thorough,
fares and great parks.
The two first and fundamental consid
eTaticns in an average city are industry
anC residence. Washington was an ex.
cention perhaps as its administrative side
was more pronounced than that OF any
other city
Mr. Adams holds that any replannins
or city reform should be approached
from a business standpoint, with fore.
sight and judgment. He contends that
each city presents an individual problem
and that what Europe has done in IN,
matter OF home planning cannot b,
copied in detail In America.