Evening journal., 1917-09-28
HOUSING PROBLEM
DISCUSSION Opens
Mayors Committee Doe,
Not Hope for Results
Until Spring
SAY CITY RENTS
ARE TOO HIGH

Wilmington's housing problems
were the subject last night of a dis
eussion by members OF the Housing
Committee appointed by Mayor Law
son, in the Mayors office. Though
the committee is hard at work on
plans for relieving the situation,
there is little hope that any real re-
butts may be achieved before next
spring. In the meantime, however,
the members of the committee are
anxious to receive assistance and sug-
gestions from the public.
At last nights meeting an offer OF
assistance was received from Mrs.
John w. Collins, of No. 1907 West
Thirteenth street, who offered the
services Of herself and several other
women on attempting to solve the
problem facing the committee.
During the evening It was brought
put that Philadelphia offered more,
better arranged, more convenient and
q better grade Of houses, at distinct
" less rent, than can be secured In
mis- city, but really sound reasons
for this difference, IL was pointed
put. are as scarce as Wilmington
houses.
John S. Hamilton, a member OF the
committee, who has made an exhaus-
. tive study of housing and general
Social conditions, offered the follow
Ing. which was entered in the min
htes and copies furnished the local
bressi
"As a member Of the Housing Com
mittee appointed by Mayor Lawson,
I submit that II We contemplate our
task as a solution of the problem OF
housing as Il exists in Wilmington
today without going back to condi-
lions as they existed before the world
war we will be missing an oppor-
tunity 10 discover an answer TO
the overcoming, ever-unanswered
uues'ion: What is the matter with
Wilmington?
"In my humble opinion the hous-
Ing problem is only a single detail
In the governmental problem. | am
not enc Of those who gre continually
seekiug new governmental forms and
svstems which they call charters. IL
Is the enlightened consciousness oil
fho governed which counts, not the
hvsten or restraints which we call
n government. With an enlightened
ana solicitous and an alert people
Won would inevitably have good
government. With an INDIFFERENT PEG
ple which regards its government us
n nuisance to be administered by
whoever will take It off your hanus
YOU will inevitably have such gov
ernment as Wilmington has at lhis
time with ~ housing problem amonl
n multitude OF other bewilderlne
ain irving TO find a solution OF
Wilmington's housing problem mad'
NV way into United States census re-
ports and there l found that VIII
mingfon was a very cheap city.
II looked into the municipal re
norris Of cities I'm Wilmlngton's elias
md I found that Wilmington paid
rmaller per capita tax titan any city
eould find which could reasonably b
elassed with it.
~ found that Wilmington pai'
every year per capita tax OF .aDou
$40 The wear and found that IN
average for nine other cities which
Investigated was about 500 the year.
an choosing these cities ! though
fon Including Wilmington was enough
Tho cities chosen were: Hartford
Conn. population. 9s,9i5, per capt.
tax. s2i.T5; Reading, Pa, population
e6.O7i. per capita, a little more ina
SIS: Trenton, n. j. population, 96.el'
per capita, a little more than Si4; pa
las. Texas, population, s7,6O6, per capt.
about SIT: salt Lake City, Titan, popt
letlon 1880, per capita S25I6; Lynn
Mass, population s7i66, per capil
e2f 90; Wilmington, Del, populatlo
e7.lil. per capita, about si2; Sprinl
field. Mass. population s62iO' Pc
oapita about $3.50; Des Molnes, low
population si,502, per capita abo,
s2i5O: Troy, n. Y, population 1911
per capita $3.50.
II use these figures because l wal
20 seek the cause Of the housing PROF
lem, and in passing want to sa
that I'm my humble opinion ! am sun
] have found here what IS at the DO
tom Of all your other problems.
II believe there is something. eve
much I'm what is said by those VII
urge that our banking institutions al
TOO conservative in the loaning
money on building operations, but
believe that this is a problem while
could be solved II the right people