Evening journal., 1918-11-21

than 100000 should be expended In
any one year for this purpose. This
sum was not made cumulative from
year TO year.
It was not until 1891 that the land and
buildings were acquired at a total
cost OF Si,522,0J5. In 1896 Mulberry
Bend Park was opened TO the public
and few years later the people OF the
neighborhood had proclaimed II zone
OF the greatest blessings that could be
bestowed on the people Of this precinct.
Since the eradication OF this block the
whole neighborhoOd has taken a change
and decidedly for the better"
"A few years later two other notorious
slums were wiped out on authority Of
the same measure which brought about
the destruction of the'bend-one, in the
most densely crowded ward in the city.
giving way TO Seward Park and the
other 10 Hamilton Fish Park. In 1900,
the population OF the tenth ward. in
which Seward Park is located, was TO-
O73, OF which 1858 were children. The
density per acre was $50. As early as
1896 the death rate among children here
was 573. In the eleventh ward, where
the Hamilton Fish Park is located the
population was s6722, OF which 1885
were children. The per acre density
here was iO7.i and the death rate among
children 55A.
Acquisition OF the sit OF Seward Park
cost the city OF New York s7,s59,9I5.
Hamilton Fish Park cost Si,77i,O62.
It was in 1910 and 1911 that Congress
took the action which brought about
the destruction Of Willow Tree Alley in
Washington AS stated by the District
Board for the Condemnation OF lnsani-
tary Buildings, This alley was selected
on account Of the generally unenviable
moral condition prevailing therein" An
investigation Of the police records dis
closed the fact that arrests in this local
ity averaged about one and one quarter
per day, the Offenses covering almost
the entire category from vagrancy to
murder.
The population Of the alley was 4O6;
white, III; colored, 236. The death
rate was 36s per thousand.
To demOlish this slum, which con-
brick and to establish in their stead an
sisted Of 6s structures. most Of them
interior playground, Congress appro-
priated si7s,OOO.
Radical as such measures have seemed
TO US in America, our enterprise and,
foresight has Jagged far behind that OF
Great Britain which has demolished her
fostering slums with a ruthless hand.
In 1866 Glasgow, under the Glasgow
Improvement Act acquired IS acres In
the center Of the city, opened 30 new
streets and widened 26 existing streets,
thus converting about % acres into
open space. TWO filthy streams were
covered and Alexandra Park acquired.
In 1897 further Improvements author
lied included acquisition Of 2t acres as
sites for wOrkingmen's dwellings. The
expense OF such wholesale clearances
was Of course great. The purchase and
Improvement Of lands and buildings
cost s9,733OO0 and new buildings ST.
$4,000.
Liverpool, up to 1907, had spent si.-
an. .isO in housing schemes. Liverpools
enterprise is especially interesting be-
cause OF its extent, the early date at
which it began, the consistent adher-
ence TO a we'll defined plan for Kidding
the city of inssnitary abodes and be-
cause, since 1896. IL has included def
mite effort to rehOuse the identical peo-
pie who are dispossessed by clearances.
As early as 1912 regulations had been
passed 70 prevent the increase OF bad
conditions. Between 1865 and 1901, the
medical officer Of health brought dem
clifton Of $500 houses. Between 1906
and 1912. 1902 houses were demolished,
637 rendered sanitary, 456 closed and SO
condemned. In 1869. 1885 and 1891, the
city had built improved tenements, but
these were all occupied by the better
paid workers. Between 1864 and 1896,
10000 persons had been upro0ted with
out being rehoused and public senti-
ment began 10 demand that either the
be halted or decent quarters
provided for those who were expelled
from thir homes, so In 1896 the city
began definitely 20 deal with this prob
lem. BY 1913 It owned 2,73i tenements
6s33 rooms and let at a gross !
rent Of si33.3Ss. While these tenements |
do not yield an economic rent, they are
decidedly more than self-suppOrting.
Up 20 1875 the central portion OF
was overcrOwded, unplan-
ned and insanitary. In 1873 the site OF
the old city was made the subject OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES