South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-28
CONTINUED cRoM PAGE ONE

ton on all sides: therefore, from
the standpoint Of health, block con-
gestiOn does rot exist, although as
"a fire risk the danger is imminent
Instances Of inside rooms are rare
and tenment houses are uncommon.
There are a few houses which are
to all intents and purposes tene-
ments. but which. by reason OF the
limitation OF the state housing law
can not be brought under that class
Houses in which two families live
and which We're planned for only
one are frequently encountered In
stances are also observed where
houses have been erected or moved
house. In a few instances private
courts have been opened on which
have been built houses of inferior
type. on one Of these courts was
an example Of an inside room i'm
two of four small one-story houses
with common partition walls and
without modern plumb bling. In
stances Of houses in a dilapidated
condition and being used as res
licences are to be seen. Examples
Of inside sleeping rooms were OBJ
served in two lodging houses.
1T will be noticed from the tabu-
latiOn that the average number of
persons per house in the districts in
vestigated was six in ward six and
40 i'm ward three The former fig
ure is above the usual average.
Both wards are populated largely
by foreigners. However, in ward
three there are a greater number of
houses occupied by the better class
and there are a greater number Of
American families The average
number of persons per sleeping
room was pa in ward six and Is
in ward three. showing the greater
tendency in the former case to
crowd into one room. Similar fig
ures computed on the basis Of a
given number of houses per block
do not show such a marked discrep-
ancy because the block used in ward
three did not happen TO contain
houses OF the better class. Prac-
tically every bedroom had one or
more windows which, if kept open,
would tend 70 nullify the evil effects
OF overcrowding. but unfortunately
because of ignorance the windows
are usually tightly closed.
Conditions Need Remedy.
1T is not the intention 70 enter
into a discussion relative 10 the ef-
feet Of poor housing conditions on
health or morals. The bad inhu-
ence is too well known 10 need rep
etition Suffice it TO say that better
housing conditions should be pro-
vided for those residents in South
Bend who are in poor circumstances.
Here It would not be out Of
place to point out that in building
dwellings 10 rent to the poor who
can afford TO pay only Sc TO IS per
month, the element of profits should
be given but minor consideration.
The housing problem under such
circumstances becomes either
governmental one, as it is in Eng
land. or one Of private philan-
thropy. where the owner is satisfied
with a very small return on money
invested. 1t is only when an owner
refuses TO do anything 10 maintain
a dwelling in a condition fit for
human habitation that larger
profits may be made from property
erected to rent at a low figure.
Such property soon becomes out of
repair. but nevertheless is rented
and occupied by someone, even TO
the point where total destruction by
fire or condemnation and vacation
offer the only hope of replacing it
with something better
In discussing the first OF the rec
concentrations resulting from his
survey OF the health organization
and administration OF the city DR..
Fox says:
LAS a result of the study IF health
organization and administration II
is evident that the city should pro
vide itself as soon as possitle with
a full-time health officer. II is quite
impossible for q health officer who is
also a practicing physician and who
must depend upon his practic for a
livelihood 10 devote the time neces-
sarv 10 properly administer his de
partment or 70 plan ana carry on
the nun erous activities required. \
fuH-time health officer in city the
size Of South Bend should be aOle 10
perform the administrative duties as
we'll as those required of an cpl
deniologist. and should be able TO
act in "A professional capacity at
those public-health dispensaries
which every tc1lth department
should maintain--a mely, an anti
tuberculosis and a child welfare dis
pensary. The salary which such an
official is entitled 20 is not less than
$4,000 per am nm.
AT present The state law does not
permit the employment OF full
time health officer. but there is now
a bill before the legislature making
provision for such a position. and II
behooves all citizens interested in
public health 10 lend their assist
ance 10 make that bill become a law.
After the health officer has been
appointed on n full-time basis there
should be added 20 the personnel OF
the health department n corps Of
FIVE public-health nurses. who would
be required 10 visit the homes Of in
dividuals TO supervise the prophy-
Tactic measures taken in the case OF
certain communicable diseases. more