Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-15
UNITED EFFORT
TOBETTER CITY
HOUSING SOON
c. of c., Associated Aids,
Health Dept. and Others
to Confer

Housing conditions in Harrisburg
have become such that virtually every
civic and charitable organization in
the city to-day has agreed to respond
to the call of DR.. John M. j. Raunick,
city health officer, for cooperation in
meeting the condition.
DIR. Raunick to-day said that he
could not be too emphatic in support
ing the position he took before Coun-
Gil on Tuesday in which he pointed out
that local legislation is badly needed.
The time for conference at which in
formation will be put in shape for con-
sideration of Council probably will be
liked within short time.
Willing to cooperate with the city
health bureau is the Harrisburg
Chamber of Commerce, the Associated
Aid Societies, the Civic Club and the
Municipal League. 1t was agreed that
any code to be considered by Coun-
Gil should so further than was first
proposed at the time the city commits
Sioners promised to revise merely the
building operations.
United Effort
Edward l.. McColgin, secretary of
the Commerce Chamber, to-day said
that the organization has been vitality
interested in the move for long time
and stands willing to aid in any move
ment to better conditions. The same
was said by John Yates, secretary of
the Aid Societies; Mrs. William Hen
derson, of the Civic Club, and J. Hor-
ace Mcfarland, president of the AM
erican Civic Association and one of
the prime movers in the Municipal
League.
Action Needed
DR.. Raunick and Mr.. Yates, who are
possibly in the best positions to realize
the danger to the community from
present conditions, said this after
noon, that immediate remedial legis-
lation is necessary. DR.. Raunick eX-
planned his position from the point
which effects the public health while
Mr.. Yates dealt with the demands
made on charity because of condi-
THE greatest need the city faces
just now" said Mr.. Yates. ''is the
small house which rents at a moder-
ate figure. AS the situation now
stands we find families in tumble
tary condition. And we cannot move
them to better quarters because there
is no place to put them"
Abandon Houses
Mr.. Yates added that possibly one of
the first things to be considered was
action by Council that would force
owners to abandon a large number of
unsanitary dwellings, which are in
such a condition that it is impossible
to clean them up. There are large
numbers of these houses in the lower
end of the city and in North Cameron
street." said he.
'If houses were renting from $S
to $40 this condition could be correct
ed. But we constantly run up against
the attitude of realty men who say
that the cost of building materials
makes it impracticable to erect such
dwellings.
'As a consequence 1t is common to
find four persons cooking, eating and
sleeping in one room. The walls often
are so vermn-infested that it is i'm
possible to clean the place without
tearing out the plastering.
Many of these people cannot move
out of the districts no matter how
much they want to. Those who do
are forced to pay higher rentals than
they can afford and sometimes car
fare. This leaves them unable to save
cent and demands are made on
charity the first time one of the family
become sick"
Ventilation, light, aid and floor
space details in new construction
would do much to overcome the evils
resulting from windowless rooms and
are poorly ventilated halls and stair
ways" is the way DIR. Raunick sums
up the situation. He adds that it is
even more important to the future in
habitants of the home than the fire
and other safety-frst restrictions pro-
vided in the ordinary building codes.
Careless landlords, ignorant ten
ants and inadequate laws is in Dr.
Raunick's belief the cause of much of
the disease and crime in the city's
poor sections.