Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-15
COLD WAVE GIVES
TERRIBLE PROOF
OF HOUSING EVILS
Hydrants Frozen and Many
of the Poor Have to Beg
Even for Water-Hun-
dreds of Children Made Ill

Another tragedy in Phfladelphias tene-
msnt house problem was enacted today.
The scene was not staged by imaginative
persons. Products Of the present teno-
ment house evil were tho central figures.
Rows OF dilapidated and brlclCiess tene-
ments gave mute testimony.
Tho tragedy happened this morning
when tho Temperature fell to 10 degrees
above zero. It caused the poor of the
tenements to renew their demand on
Councils for an appropriation for the
new Division of Housing and Sanitation
authorized by the Legislature.
Frozen hydTants in the "courtyards'
and more than 20 feet away from ldtch-
ems confronted thousands OF dweners in
the tenement districts today. In some sec
lions OF the city where the old tenements
exist there was water famine.
Under the new housing laws II 10 speci-
Aed that instead OF the outside hydrants
there should be running water IN every
tenement Kitchen. To obtain water IT was
necessary for thousands of mothers 70
leave their homes today and visit stores
water.
Philadelphia's poor who live. eat and
sleep In winaowlesB, bathtubless and
dirty tenements, today endured their first
taste OF the winter Of 1914 They also
suffered the sreeh Of innproper housing
conditions. va iff7-l
The suffering was most intense among
the children who live IN cellar rooms,
where there are no stoves. The cellar
rooms are heated by gas stoves. The
suffering also was indescribahle among
the gTown-up persons who live In garrett
rooms, where the windows are broken.
Hundreds of broken windows IN South
Philadelphia today are covered up with
thick wrapping paper and cheap blankets
and pillows.
MANY HUNDREDS ILL
One OF the chief Improvements in the
new housing law which was enacted and
passed by the last Legislature and which
COuncils' Finance Committee has ignored
calls for lavatoriss in dwellings. Hun
dreds in the section where the tenement
products live are located in the rear OF
some narrow alley which is sandwiched
in between filthy fences.
Throughout the city. where these con-
ditiOns exist and where. the old tene-
ments are located, women. men and chill
dFen were stricken i'll late last night as
the cold speIl set in In many hundreds
OF "homes" poor mothers sat beside beds
keeping a vigil over sick children.
Many children of the tenements be-
come Ill as a result OF the cold wind
blowing into cellar rooms through broken |
windows. which were covered with news
papers In some houses. Many OF the |
children were removed to hospitals after
dawn
Faces Of hundreds OF poor children who |
left their flthy tenement homes for school |
told the story, Children, who never knew |
what II meant to have q real window |
from which they could look out, attend |
the school On Lombard street between |
9Th and 9th streets.
CHILD gUFFERHRs.
Among the hrst arrivals was little |
chap whose face was blue from cold. |
Around his neck was a typical mothers |
blue apron" The mother had wrapped |
the apron around her boys neck because
during the night he had caught cold
ia rather be out IN the street all night .
than home" said the boy.
t'Whyf''
''Bscauss il Il Just aa cold home as on .
rhs street" he replied as he hurried into
the yard Of the school.
Another ehliG-a giTl-had her two lit /.
tie hands wrapped up IN cheap thin cloth .
which was fastened 10 her wrists by
shoe laoes.
Ny mother tried the rags around my
hands 80 / wouldn't set frOst-bittsn," said
thu child.
Coal today was selling In the eongest-
ed sections Tor 10 cents q bucket. TO
keep q little tenement house warm It Is
necessary to purchase about six buckets
OF coal = week. Thia brings the bill Up TO
90 cents a weak or $40 a month.