The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-27
Mrs. Woodro7u Wilson's Work
 For Better Washington
Fly GRACE P. BrCkNELL

(Exelusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau.)
 (AIrs. Bicknell is the wife of Ernest P. Bicknel. national director of the Amer ican Red Cross. who went on the cruiser Tennessee to the relief of stranded Amer teams in EuropeD
 When Mrs Wilson came 10 Washington to take up the new and trying duties of mistress of the White House, she was not deceived by the outer beauty of the city, but felt sure that Improvements were needed here as elsewhere. When she an- nounced her Intention of seeing condi- tions for herself and of helping in the work of improvement. new hope and in- spiration came to the social workers of Washington.
 Mrs. Archibald Hopkins was chairman of the Washington section, woman's de- partment, National Civic Federation. and l was chairman of the committee on hous- ing. We had been working on many prob ems together. but our chief interest was and still is. in the alleys. For this reason We wished to show these 70 Mrs. Wilson first, believing that if we could arouse her interest it might mean their final aboli- ton as places of hahitation.
 Visits to Alley
 So We drove through alley after alley, explaining that the death rate was twice as high as on the street; that one out of every two children born in the alleys is illegitimate; that drunkenness and crime are fostered by such secusion.
 Among the alleys visited that day was Goat alley, where 200 people live entirely shut off from the public view. a law unto themselves. The houses here are mostly frame. and we hope some day that these houses will be torn down, wide openings made through to at least two of the four surrounding streets and splendid muni- cipal playground given to this very con- gested district.
 We went also to Logan's court one of the most congested. picturesque, vice and disease-producing alleys in the city; also one where net profits on rentals have amounted to as high as 20 per cent.
 Then on to the famous Willow Tree al- ley. where between 300 and 400 people, ne- groes and Italians, lived within three blocks of the capitol under most shock ing conditions. After much discussion and five presidential messages. Congress finally appropriated S7S,000 for the condemnation of the property in this alley When we were there the houses were nearly all torn down, leaving a clear space within tho block of between four and five acres Mrs Wilson immediately thought that 1t would be an excellent thing for the neigh borhood if a municipal washhouse could be located at one corner of this square. She afterward talked of this hope to number of officials. but her dream is as yet unrealized.
 Providing Playground
 After all the expense of condemnation had been paid, there remained an unex- pended balance of $17.009 This has since been used for improvement. Willow Tree alley has been converted into a combina- tien playground and park, but it remains inclosed in the same way that the old al- ley was. and unless most carefully super vised it may be just harmful in its in- fiuence. It is hoped that later Congress will make an appropriation for buying the property on the four surrounding sides so that this can be made into a splendid open playground.