South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-11
Other Editors Than Ours
\ NEWSPAPER AS HOUSING REFoRMER.
lHOusine Rcttcrmenf.l

Recommendation admirably sustaining the tenets of
advanced housing reform are set forth by DR.. Carroll
Fox. government expert, in the report of his housing
and sanitary survey of South Bend recently issued
from the government press.
DR.. FoX's survey Of some 500 houses in selected dis
tricts of South Bend followed a prolonged agitation
on the part of The South Bend News-Tfmes through
a series of articles by Miss Elinor Wolf exposing de-
plorabIe conditions IN the congested sections of the
city, where neglect, indifference and lack Of under
standing had combined TO foster some of the worst
housing evils. Civic clubs and other organizations cf
the city were finally awakened to the significance
of the situation and an aroused public opinion brought
about the passage of an ordinance by the city council
appropriating $4,000. TO make a survey.
After emphasizing the importance Of discouraging
the erection of tenement houses as against the detach-
ed dwelling. DR.. Fox goes on TO say that in cases
where a house is occupied by more than one family
each family should be provided with a separate en-
trance and separate toilet facilities. The minimum
plumbing fixtures IN any house should be one flush
closet and one sink for each family Any house which
is not worth the expense OF making such improve
ment is not nit TO live in"
The insanitary privy.' he further states should
he abolished. 1t should be prohibited to open up anv
district within the city limits for building purposes
until sewers and water mains are laid"
Two evils which Or. Fox found to be particularly
entrenched in South Bend--which has an unusually
large foreign element-was the boarder and lodger evil
and the dilapidated alley dwelling. His observations in
these respects ELECTED the following recommendations
Adequate ordinances should he promulgated re-
curing a license TO conduct a boarding or lodging
house and defining overcrowd4ng, T. g. light. ventilation
and cubic air space for each individual in the case
OF houses used as above, as we'll as in those instances
where single dwellings are being used for two or more
families. Adequate toilet facilities should also be
provided for. inside rooms should be prohibited.
1T should be prohibited 10 erect or move a house
on TO any rear lot or lot facing an alley.
1T should be prohibited to erect or 10 move any
house on TO a lot facing 2 court. The presence OF
courts should not be tolerated"
Or. FOX's concluding suggestion is the emplovmert
of a corps Of visiting nurses by the health department,
who, during their visits 20 the homes for various
purposes could act as educators and instruct the peo-
pie In the right way Of living"
OF broader interest than 10 the citizens Of South
Bend alone Is his recommendation that the Indiana
housing law be amended so that its provisions shall
apply 20 lodging houses, boarding houses. etc. and
that the procedure TO be taken in the condemnation
and vacation of insanttary or unsafe buildings should
be simplifed.
The report of the government expert furnished
ample Justification for the agitation on The part OF The
News-Times. which offers an admirable example OF the
power for good which a newspaper with he proper
social viewpoint may WELD IN the field Of social reform.