New-York tribune., 1920-12-05
Ovcrcrowtlcd
Houses Here
Total 80 p. e..
Copeland in Report TO Sen
ator Calder Says Condi-
tions Arc Growing Worse
and Makes Request for Aid
Aliens Increase Menace
Health Chief Assails Divid-
ing of Apartments as
Benefit Only to Landlord

Figures showing the tremendous
increase in housing oycrcrowding
throughout the greater city are con-
tained in IL comparative survey of the
local situation sent yesterday by Royal
S. Copeland. Health Commissioners to
senator William NJ Calder, chairman
o. the Senate Reconstruction Commit
tee
Two surveys were made, one last
spring and the other in the carly au-
tumn months. In Manhattan last spring
The percentage of houses overcrowded
was %, and in the autumn the percent
aes was more than SO. In the Bronx
the comparative figures for last spring
we're IS per cen1 and in the fall 35 per
cent. The increase in Brooklyn was
about per cent.
Along with this report Commissioner
Copeland submitted another dealing
with the activities Of the recent con-
vcntion in Detroit OF health officials
rom twenty cities. each with popu-
la,ion cf more than 900. He re-
norteG til ..ousing condition through
out the country was becoming lncreas
ingly dangerous and was at the present
time already a grave menace. He asks
Senator Calder to see to it that urgent
action is taken by the Senate Recon-
strUction Committee.
Few Vacancies Are Found
Commissioner Copeland says IN the
Health Departments report that the
best evidence possible of ehowlng the
ac.ual shortage in housing facilities Is
presented BY the small number OF
vacancies.
In the Borough OF Manhattan"
reads the report, there were only 596
such vacancies, in the Borough of The
Bronx about 1913 and in the Borough of
6roohlyn 1876. A lderable number
of these vacancies are due to the unin
habltable conditions of the premises in
question. and in q great many other
instances the rentals run from 81 800
TO $4,000 year beyond the reach of the
ordinary citizen"
Commissioner Copeland declared that
The practice of dividing apartments in
iwo IS beneficial only to andiords. who
-eceive twice the amount of money
originally received by them for the
apartment.
Our survey revealed number of in
tances whore each apartment on
floor had been subdivided and small
kitchenettes installed. These ktch-
enettes are unsatisfactory when in
stalled in a corner Of bedroom, living
room or passage way but are abom-
lnsble when placed in bathrooms, as
found in some cases. 1t is sign of
he times that these subdivided apart
ments now bring more rent individually
han did the one apartment from which
they were made"
Conditions Cause Diseases to Spread
Such conditions, Dr.. Copeland CON
-:7ucd, tend to. make easy the spread
OF diseases because Of the great crowd
e and the lack of privacy, which
make inevitable moral and mental de-
Seneracy.
The number OF houses investigated
"a the three boroughs which form the
basis Of the survey were 32,470 last
~pring and so .489 in the fall The
portionately to the lack of proper
housing conditions. In the houses in
vestigatcd 69,9S9 dodgers were found
y addition 10 the fact that many
buildings are being torn down in
Manhattan 70 make way for garages,
tneaters and warehouses. it is believed
me increase in immi grafton is making
nc housing situation worse
The question of imm grafton" &C
corGing 10 the report, "is one Of serious
moment 70 the city. The great influx
of aliens to our port results in the
settling IN me city OF 4 conside bic
number Of these immigrants. Our
housing facilities are now seriously
overcrowded and no provision is be-
lng made to take care Of our normal
increase, without considering these
foreign hordcs.'