South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-28

Washington Monday.
OvercrOwded conditions in MANY
instances. the insanitary privy and
unscreened cesspool the shallow
well, the absence Of a garbage tin.
the accumulation OF rubbish and
garbage. the insanitary stable and
the presence Of chickens-these are
characteristic Of a large portion OF
the city.
Such conditions have no place
in a properly organized municipal
ity." says DR.. Fox is discussing the
revelations.
For failure OF officials TO insist
upon sewer connections and a
Joker" In the ordinance which al
lows a cesspOol already constructed
TO be maintained il it is so feet
from the dwelling are two causes OF
serious insanitary conditions, the
surgeon points out
The report reveals that the over
crowding is largely in the sixth ward
and that while most sleeping rooms
have at least one window which
would provide air 20 nuuify some OF
the evil effects Of OyeTcrOwding
these windows are usually tightly
closed.
The bad influence Of poor housing
conditions is too we'll known to
need repetition. DR.. Fox says. In
improving conditions ne points out
the element OF profits TO the land
lord must be given but minor con
sideration. The problem, therefore,
is a governmental one or "one of
private philanthropy where the
owner is satisfied with a small re-
turn on money invested" he asserts.
Or. Fox points out that winter
snow and ice covered many of the
evil conditions which an adequate
housing survey at a more prOpitiOus
season would have revealed. Thus
had the housing survey been made
in the spring or summer the surgeon
does not doubt that admittedly bad
conditions would have been found 70
he much worse.
The Housing Problem.
The surgeons report on housing
conditions here follows.
con account Of the interest taken
i'm the housing problem by certain
citizens of the community Of South
Rend il was decided TO investigate
this subject more intensively than is
customary. After a study Of the
spot maps showing the location OF
deaths from tuberculosis and deaths
i'm children under one year of age
il was decided to secure the neces-
sary data from a district in each
OF wards three and six
a study was made Of 40 houses
located in these districts as we'll as
houses en- other parts Of the city. IT
addition there were a number OF
premises Inspected where for on,
reason or another il was imprac
tfcable to secure admission 90 the
house II was at first intended q
secure information on greatei
number OF houses. but as the worl
progressed il was found that addi
tionaI data merely served 20 EN-
phasize results already obtained
The weather was not entirely suited
ro housing survey. as much of tn
time the ground was frozen an'
snow covered. and no doubt SOM
of the conditions which viii prov,
Objectionable i'm the spring wer
overlooked The survey has dis
closed some interesting things which
r. would be advisable for the city q
take hold or Immediately, not onl,
TO correct but 90 prevent a recur
renee Of in the future
Conditions found on the prem
fses compel one 90 state that al
unnecessarily large portion OF Soutl
BEND Is rural in character Tn
small frame house the insanitar
urivv in the shape OF an unscreen
Cd cesspou the shallow we'll tn
absence OF a garbage tin. the accu
mutation IL rubbish and garbage
the small insanitary stable and tn
presence Of chickens are character
fstic OF rural rather than urba
communities. such conditions hav
no place in a properly organize
municipality Most OF the streets al
which the cesspools and wells wer
found are provided with sewers an
with city water. but connection
with the same have not been in
sisted upon.
The ordinances relating 20 cess
pools and sewer connections Will
saeuinglv thorough. are in reaht
Inadequate. as a provision makes
lawful 20 maintain an already con
structed cesspoll where 10 Is mo
within so feet OF DWELLING Tn
hest the health department can d
in such cases is 20 order n cleane
when full or Objectionable
TTrr Danger Great
There are great numbers