The Washington times., 1917-12-12

tartan interest in alley dwellers, and
resulted In prompt consideration as
tribute to her memory.
The law prohibited the construction
OF any dwelling in any alley OF wash
ington less than thirty feet in width
and not supplied with sewer. water
mains, gas or electric fight. 1t fur
ther provided that alley buildings
which had deprecated one-half their
J original value should not be repaired
or reconstructed and no permits were
to be granted for alterations or re-
pairs. Such buildings were to be con-
demned.
From and after July l, 1918. the
law prohibits the use or occupation Of
alley buildings in the kind OF alleys
that are intended to be eliminated.
Many Accept Inevitable.
As result Of the law. practically
no repairs have been made on thou
sands 6f alley houses, the owners
realizing that the properties would
be condemned after July i and paid
for. The enforcement OF the law will
come under the District board for
Disqualification OF insanitary build
ings, composed OF the Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner, the building in
spector, and the chairman of the
board OF health.
Before the Ia wwas passed there
were hel dout promises that philan-
thropically inclined people would see
to the erection> in this city OF small
houses built along modern lines to
take the place OF the alley dwellings
and to be rented atlow prices. Some
OF these buildings were constructed
fV, fOdaxy htnF hn
number Is so small that the 1900
jewellers in alleys must soon begin
to look around for places OF abode.
Hits COIOred Race Hardest.
The great majority OF the alley
dWellers to be affected are colored
people. They are living under con-
ditions recognized by the police and
health authorities as extremely det-
rimental to moral and sanitary well
fare. They furnish an enormous per-
cetnage OF the cases in the police and
other courts OF the District.
These officials and real estate men
see dangers to the city in the trans
fer OF this population to various sec
tions OF the city in the face OF q con-
stantly decreasing supply OF houses.
Those who have Investigated matters
/
ing at prices these people can pay
is comparatively small, by no means
| sufficient to absorb them.
| Real estate ment are fearful that
two and ee-story houses that are
not in good repair, but are now oc-
cupied by a good class OF people, will
be taken over by alley occupants and
large numbers OF them will flock to-
| gether in one house. living under con
dItIons far more dangerous to the
welfare OF the city than dwelling in
alleys.
War Conditions Unforeseen.
The law passed at n time when
there was no thought OF the United
States becoming involved in war or
OF Washington jumping in population
to one OF the big cities of the world.
The presumption was that the alley
population would be absorbed in salts
factory manner through renting OF
vacant small houses and construction
of houses that would fill the demand.
Construction by private owners has
practically ceased throughout Wash
ington and existing houses which
might have gone TO alley dwellers are
being fitted out for families able 20
live in fairly comfortable circum-
stances.
Congress. It was said today. will
have to pass on the question and do
so before July l next. A suspension
| OF the law IL that is determined on,
will have to be for a sufficient num-
Der OF years to justify alley owners
in repairing and reconstructing the