Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-15
THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING.

tagonism shown by the populace OF
practically every city where Southern
negro immigration has been consider
able during the past few months, the
exodus of negroes continues with little
abatement.
Only day or two ago an Americas
negro was heard to declare to several
of his race gathered in group on a
street corner, that the newspaper re-
ports of race riotfng in the north were
"all talk"
Evidently believing not word of
the reports of the shooting, beating
and threatening of Southern negroes
emigratina to northern cities, colored
mechanics, farm hands and unskilled
laborers of all kinds are to be seen on
almost every north bound train.
A most Illuminating dissertation on
conditions brought about in the north
by the immigration of thousands OF
Southern negroes, is contained in a
recent issue of the Detroit (Mich.) Free
Press, which describes the conditions
under which the negro lives in that
city.
The article says that on an average
OF 100 negroes reach Detroit daily,
most of them direct from the South
Having no place to go, not being well
coined, they are dumped down in a
district already the most congested in
the city, where they are left to shift
for themselves. This district is APP
proximately one-half mile wide and
one mile long, and according to re-
cent survey there are 10000 negroes
crowded into this territory, in addition
to the whites who make their homes
there. The article says:
Many Of them live amid sanitary
conditions that are unspeakably vile.
Tumbledown shacks whose outward
evidences of dilapidation are only a
suggestion of the decay to be found
within, fairly bulge with their human
population, herded into stuffy quarters
without proper light or ventilation
eating. living and sleeping in a single
room perhaps, because they have no
other place to CO. And for the priv
ilege of having roof over their heads
even if it does at times leak, they are
required to pay rent that is outrag-
eously high compared with what is ex-
acted in other localities, in which
however, negroes would not be wei
coined, even if they were tolerated.
What is called an apartment" four
rooms made cut of two ordinary sized
rooms by fiimsy partitions. rents for
$35 per month. A furnished room
without water rents for SIG. A small
shack rents for 500 a month
In this locality are saloons of the
lowest type that cater especially t.
negroes, who are barred from other
meeting places even if they should seel
them out, clubs and gambling houses
fatten off the earnings of the men in
whom this diversion makes a strong
appeal.
The article concludes:
These are the people who are com
ing into Detroit at the rate OF 100 or sc
day and there is no prospect of a let
Up in the flood. Some stay only short
time, because they learn to their sor.
rev that even with the large wage.
they command the cost of living is 81
much hi.her here than in the Soutf
that in the end they are no furthe'
ahead.
THE great majority remain becaus,
they are unable to do anything else
The struggle for existence is more
strenuous than they have ever befor'
known and they are left to work in 3
neral or social way. If they make
good all is well. If they fail-well
t i is exactly the problem that con
fronts Detroit today, and which it must
solve sooner Or later