The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

w. f''N
ana living conditions tina: 10
i making itseG felt Throughout.
tie country was t~ypica.ly In
evidence at the city planning exhibit
ton held Ur.o- The auspices OF tho
Iowa chap:c" Of the American Irstl-
tute " Architects, at Sioux CITY. laa,
October. Mon travelled many miles
over country rondg in Crscr II GO. n
first hard idea OF how cities can he
made hcalthful al pleasant not only
for work and business, bat home and
social life.
Subsequently tho, cyntbi; was axiom
to Minnesota and shown at Mankato
in connection with the c,nvcnt.cn OF
the state Municipal League, whe.c
great interest Vas manifested BY the
Mayors ald other town Officials In
the problem q. getting supplies O,
pure wate-. as we'll as in the methods
Il disposing of sewage so that II viii
not be n n to heath This is
only one instance II the countrywide
interest in the movement.
In contrast with the temporary halt
IN constructive work OF this kind
abroad. fresh activity in the matter
e found in American municipalities
from spokane and Atlanta TO Pitts
burg and Lowell. Mass. Who doesn't
deplore tho war in Europc?" says the
Mayor Of s.. Joseph, Mo. But Is this
any reason why our city shouldn't go
right ahead with her improvements?"
one # the most significant steps
for improved housing was that taken
by the national Government at the
time when the Presidents wife, Mrs.
Ellen Wilson. was stricken with n
fatal Illness, due in part to overwork
In behalf of social betterment. \
woman Of unusual public spirit, and
familiar through first hand study
with the housing needs in both
Princeton and Trenton. Mrs. Wilson.
soon after her husbands Inauguration
as President, in 1918, guided a party
Of Senator's and Congressman through
washington's squalid alleys, From
her point of view they were a blot on
American civilization. She urged a
clean sweep OF the entire 2s6 alleys.
and the erection Of model dwellings
IOI lllt lFsVNN ~ . "iAN
would thus be displaced.
The legislators were surprised by
what met their eyes and lost no time
In introducing the appropriate bills In
Congress, but these drifted along with
out action. The dramatic circum-
stances in which action was finally
taken are we'll known. Mrs. Wilson
lay dying. When she told the Presi-
dent that she could go more cheer
fully II the bill were passed wipine
out the capitals slums the Senate
quickly responded to her dying wish
by adopting the Johnson measure
providing for the elimination as dwell.
!nCs Of all buildings situated in the
alleys OF Washington.
The story of the Washington al
kys 10 curious. Washington was oui
first model city. Provision was made
not only for wide streets and spacious
avenues; but smaller alleyways by
which ty0desmen could drive theii
wagons to the doors OF the mansion.
without intruding on the splendid
th0ovOhSares. Unhappily the own
n o. the great houses did not live
Up to the expectations OF the found
q and learned that they could bulk
cheap shacks and tenements along tn,
narrow alleys for rental at prices civ
ing big returns IN the money.
This was the situation back in tn
sos, at the outbreak of the civil war
when the slaves deserted the planta
ions In Virginia and found refug'
and liberty across the Potomac in thu
District Of Columbia. Soon there came
q big increase In the negro popula
ton. No adequate housing was avail
able for them, o is 1t surprising tina
they constituted the bulk Of the re
cuits to the alley population OF thu
capital.
After the war the evil grew steadil.
worse, For years agitations persisted
to clean up the slums of the capital
and finally in 1897 a group OF publ,