Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-14
LEGAL SAFEGUARDS
VERY INADEQUATE
Housing Code Much Needed in Burlington, Whc1
Has Windowless Bedrooms and Unwhoesom
Cellar Dwellings, Says Investigator for Com
nittee on Social Survey.

of house being the two-family house.
The third district included BIgI
street. First street and the west side
Winooski avenue between these stree J
Interval avenue from First street
North Bend and about one-half Of ~.
Bend. OF the 81 houses visited here on
eight we're multiple dwellings "a DWELL
occupied or arranged to be occupied
three or more families, including "apa
ments," tenement blocks" flats" al
dwellings over store If three or md
families have accommodations therein
The investigator speaks Of the decidI
tendency in the city to increase Il
number of multiple dwellings. both
now buildings and by converting 4
one family houses into multiple Cwellin
And she saws il bodies I'll for the futu
These dwellings are weakness in
community at best. and unless their cd
struction and maintenance are ri
regulated they are often unsanitarv Il
traps Every effort should be made
cNcck this tendency toward congregd
dwellings and foster the building Of srn|
houses"
DARK AND GLOOMY ROOMS FOUN
Other conditions mentioned under |
heading Of Bad Conditions" include DID
and gloomy rooms such as are now II
nibited even IN our most overcrowCj
cities. These. she says, are found
Burlington and are being built at
present time. She found several ID
tn, g,L
windows to the outside air. inoonceiva|
as 1t is for any one to construct a hot
| in such a way.
Cellars and poorly lighted haseme{
are used for dwellings. These are tota|
unfit for human habitat'on.
"Antiquated enclosed sinks, and hopj
| closets are frequent. as are also dark l
ventilated water closet compartment
Prvies and waste pipes unconnected v1
sewers persist where sewer connecti(
are possible These are unsanitarv Il
dltions which cannot he tolerated in
city which Is ambitious for high deg|
of public health
| The unsvst eiuatiC collection Of 4
bage. the filthy accommodations of -rlbrl
in the various depressons in the Il
the lack of collections Of ashes paper l
other refuse. together with the unre|
lated dmping. may he considered as
problem. It IS problem which is in nj
Of a thorough solution
SOME GOOD CONDITIONS
The most far-rea ching good condid
in Burlington is the water supply. VIII
Is Of good quality. says the investigd
In her report. 1T Is widely distribu
and accessible within nearly every ap1
ment." Other good conditions she al
are:
The systematic inspection for accu1
lations of combustible material in
near buildings, together with the incr9
ing use of non-burninG shingles d
much to minimize the fire hazard
| THE large proportion of detached ID
lings which provide ample light and al
to be commended.
l fortunately for the city there ara
rear dwellings. But the good condiI
, now existing is already threatened
must he safeguarded if Burlington is
to suffer from the evils resulting vi
dwellings are erected on the secluded
often unlighted ends of lots.
There are al present few overcrowI
areas in the city
, REMEDIES GGESTED.
q In speaking of the outlook, she 81
l For a city Of some l.00O people. 4
l lington has a housing problem Of
l usual significance Unless precaut|
! l.. II
: Of the city, the situation becomes
I ious, As this growth promises I'd
I steady and regular rather than spasmd
I the situation can be handled so al
control the tendencies toward unwlI
some Developments, embody good
; toms in law, and eradicate the evils|
: ready prevalent In the city.
The few laws and ordinances now
force which effect the situation shI
be brought UP to date. The close con
? ton between the State and local loI
of health in Vermont together With
: fact that multiple dwellings more
1 two stories high are already under
, control of the state IN certain pal
ulars. seem to indicate that EVENT.
! housing conditions will be regulated
the State as school house condt!OnsI
= now Considering that school condi1
; affect only a small part of the DOlt
n ton for a small part Of the day dtj
s n part of the year. while housing 81
= tons affect the entire population n
d great part of every - hours, Il Is
policy for the STATE to regulate hol{
d conditions in the interests OF the he}
q safety and morality of the communiI
h But If the State is slow in assur
d this responsibility Burlington should
e such measures as IT can for its
r. tior -