South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-14
HOUSING SURVEY
TO BE MADE IN CITY
DR.. Fox Promises to Under,
take Sweeping lnVeStlga-
tiCn of Conditions.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)


tore Of the local health department
who will he enlisted in the work.
and will be kept for the reference
OF the city officials That the health
department viii see to il by repeat
ed inspections and by coercion where
necessary. that the abuses found be
corrected. Will undoubtedly be a rec
Ommendation included in the report
OF the government official
According TO the explanation Of
the system offered blythe doctor. the
maps that are at present being made
showing the districts Of the city hav-
ing the highest death rate from tu-
berculosis and of children under two
years of age, will be used in determ-
ming the sections that most need the
intensive Inspections At these dis
ease centers, sections FIVE blocks
square. or of % city blocks. will be
laid out for special attention.
There viii be perhaps three and
possibly four OF these districts that
Will be thOroushly gone over Every
house viii be examined for those
abuses that are known to produce
the largest amount Of disease and
suffering. According TO the statement
Of the doctor the economic side OF
the question viii not be considered.
Extent OF Survey.
An idea OF the extent OF the sur
vey may be gained from the fol-
lowing facts that will DE ascertain
ed i'm every particular: Number of
houses on the block. size of house:
number of rooms; number OF rooms
without windows. cubic contents of
rooms in question: structural condi-
ton of house; sewer conn ectiOns. Wa
ter connections; owner of house:
tenant; agent; number of sleeping
rooms; number of roomers; number
sleeping i'm each room: condition OF
We'll; vault and its location: stable
and the provisions to prevent the
spread Of disease.
Advocacy Of improved housing
conditions as part of the city plan
ming campaign being encouraged
here 10y John E. Lathrop Of the
American city planning bureau. New
York, in most of his addresses at the
civic Centers. and the fact Of its be-
ing taken up by the civic committee
of the Chamber Cf Commerce has
evidently been accepted by the may
or and health board as indicative of
the trend Of public thought on the
subject. in consequence of which it
may have been decided TO climb into
the bandwagon. At the meeting of
the civic committee, of which the
mayor is a member. held at the
Chamber of Commerce Tuesday
night. city planning and the matter
of suitable homes for the poOper peo-
pie of the city was a leading topic,
and the announcement that the
housing survey is TO be undertaken,
so Immediately upon the heels OF this
meeting, may be indicative of its
having had some effect.
The number of vacant houses in
the city, the quality of the houses
the question of rents, and the num-
! Der of vacant houses the city should
have to care for future prospective
I population, and keep rents within
reasonable reach. is another feature
of "A housing survey TO be taken in
to serious account. this as a part OF
city planning. The survey could be
made OF incalculable value in con-
nection with the city planning move
ment, i'm addition 10 furnishing the
administration data with which Ia
work in forcing immediate improve
ments for the protection of the pub
lie morals and health. and the out
come of the administration determ-
/ ination 10 go ahead with the sur
vey seems certain TO be watched
with interest