Evening journal., 1920-01-27


random "a was found that on average
six.room house contained three fam
lies Of "a people That these condi-
lions undoubtedly persist to the pres
ent time Is indicated by the following
Isolated cases Of oyercrowdlng
Near Claymont and Christlana ave-
nues. a detached room which was for
merly not inhabtated, and which has
no water. no heat and no sanitary IA
cillties, Is now rented for $50 per month
as a family home.
"Near Third street and Railroad ave
nue., a single room without water or
sanitary facilities rents for SO a week
10 is the home Of a man, his wife and
a half-grown slep-daughter.
Building alterations during recent
months indicate that landlords are max
ing over their properties in order TO
accommodate two and three families In
the same space that was formerly al
loted to one One old seven-room house
on East Thirteenth street was recently
bought for $780, remOdeled into an
eighieen-rOom house, and now brings
in a monthly rental OF SIP. A two
story one family house on East Twen-
iy-sec0nd street, which formerly rented
FOR $40 month was recently converted
into apartments for two families and
now rents for $50 a month. The adj
joining one family house has also been
altered similar alterations are in evi-
dence all through the older residence
sections Of Wilmington.
Graduating the Slums.
The Million Dollar Housing Coropra-
tion should establish section for the
Of rental properties This
section should offer its services 30 the
owners Of tenement houses and dwell
ings, especially 10 the congcsted areas.
20 act as their agents IN the upkeep OF
the properties and in all dealings with
the tenanas, including the collection OF
rent. The rental section Should en-
ploy women rent collectors, who by
and training are fitted to
become the friends and cOunscll0rs OF
the tGrants, helping them in their
troubles, and building up In them a
sense OF interest i'm their homes. and 4
knowledge OF the fundamental rules or /
cleanliness aud health.
"ln the worst sections OF Wilmington
the Housing Corporation should ae-
1uire and remodel dwellings where the
owners are unwilling 10 meet the de-
mands Of the community by providing /
decent living conditions f0prtheir ten
ants. This method Of approach Is Moth
ing more than abe application Of VII
nlngton OF the principles OF the OctaNia /
fnN D
lone such valuable work in the slums
% London, New York, Boston, Phila-
lclphia and Cincinnati
"The Philadelphia Ociavia Hlll As
is a particularly good eN-.l
ample for Wilmington 10 he's been in
Existence for almost a quarter OF a
century. owns or is agent for appr0Xi-1
nately 100000 worth Of dwellings and
cnemenls I'm the poorer sections OF
and has paid regular dNi-
lends un Ms stock each year. 1t has
AIKEN over run down slum properties.
Ike those Of Wilmingt0n. and has made
II ihem decent homes 10 has set the
standard for private landlords in neigh
,oripg sections. and has made moro
human the relations Of landlord and
cuant.
'The establishment OF q rental section
II the Housing Corporation along the
ines Of the Octavil Hill Association
s clearly necessary. This. however,
locs not relieve the authorities of ,hc
'hy nom enforcing those provisions OF
he law which require landlords 10 z
their property IN a sanitary
condition
Wages and Housing.
"Tho most recent comprehensive
wage statistics for Wilmington are
hose collected during the winter Of
9i7 Dy Mr. Nolen AZ That time. OF
500 workers for whom wage ngurcs /
we're available. 5S per cent were un- !
killed Their average wage was SiS !
er week, While the average for skilled :
ob0r was S27 Since that time there s
as been slight increase IN wage ,
ates though ID is stated by those best
ualiilcd TO know that The weekly earn ,
ngs, not necessarily wages. OF unskill- 5
q labor at the present time are not
bovc sis or $40
1T Is a we'll established fact borne
MT by recent cost Of living studies OF j
he Federal government that the work {
r cannot pay more than one weeks .
arnngs for one months rent. Where J
ighcr rent payments prevail, The {
wage carncr's family must suffer Lodi
ers must be taken into already crowd
d accommodations; the standard Of liv-
ng in clothing and food must lee low {
red; tho women and children mus be /,
ut to work 20 increase the family in. !
ONE. on the present wage basis then. i
large part OF the population VI VIII
lington cannot afford a rent Of more
han SIS a month.
Assuming a rental Of SiS per month
S2i6 per year-as The average which \
he wage Garner can pay, n builder in
eturn for this rental could not afford
D invest more than 1850 for land and
yelling. The cheapest available land {
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