The Washington herald., 1921-11-09
Banning Alley Houses.

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
Your series of articles and edi-
torials on the street railway systems
of Washington have been followed
with much interest by me, espe-
ciaTly since my home before coming
here in 1914 was Detroit, where the
street car system has been an issue
for a number Of years, and where
municipal ownership Is now under
way.
Washington has lacked leadership
In civic progress and betterment,
and The Herald in the above edi-
torials has given indication Of fill
ing this need.
You have an opportunity to do
much to arouse civic pride aid con-
sciousness which seem sadly want
ing in this city as compared with
other cities. There are many things
that may be accomplished to make
this better city to live in. One
that demands immediate attention
is the question of alley housing.
A series of articles or editorials
could present a historical review of
the law providing for the removal
of these alley houses: a discussion
! of the evils incident upon them,
and suggestions as to the course 10
be pursued in their elimination.
Following are a few points for
your consideration in connection
with this subject:
1. Extension OF time for removing
alley houses.
1t is. now proposed by the Com
missioners that the time limit be
extended to two years from tthe
date of the peace proclamation in
stead of one year according to the
present law. under plea that hous-
ing conditions are too crowded and
arrangements could not be made to
care for the $500 alley inhabitants
in one years time. The difficulty
is that the landlords who own these
properties wish to continue to rent
them as long as possible. 1t was
only after a hard fight with the
real estate men and as a sort of
memorial to the first Mrs. Wilson
who had worked hard for the bill
that the alley act of 1914 was
passed. 1t set a date q believe in
l91O when this law was to go into
effect. When that time came war
was on. and under plea of housing
shortage, the date of operation OF
the law was postponed until after
the close of the war.
But with at least three whole
years OF time, and under prewar
conditions with no congestion of
population in. Washington and
numerous vacant houses. was there
any attempt on the part of the al
ley house owners to prepare for
the operation of this law-not by
long shot. There only aim was
TO collect rent up to the very day
the law went into effect, and then
TO find excuses for extension of
time
II the extension to two years Is
now granted do you think that
there will be any effort made 10
eliminate these dwellings before
mat ttme-not a bit. They will be
full of tenants, and a howl will GO
up for another time extension.
2. Conversion of alleys into minor
streets.
City Surveyor Hazen has offered
the suggestion that most of the
alleys in question could be con-
Yerted into streets thirty feet wide.
Shades OF L'Enfant! One of Wash
lngtons greatest assets of beauty
is Its wide streets. How any one
with a vision to the future can
recommend a 30-foot street Is be-
yond me; 50-foot street is plenty
narrow enough. The Inconvenience
and unattractiveness of such mar
row streets as Park road, Newton
street and those superimposed on
the original plan, such as Swami,
Church, Riggs and like streets, is
apparent to the most casual OBJ
server. Is a 30-foot alley made any
better by calling 1t a street? Would
Representative Myers, of Montana,
who has just introduced bill to
repeal the alley housing act, be
willing to live on such a street! !
With back doors Of houses, apart
ments, and business establishments
opening upon 1t, it will always be
an alley; and II Is disgrace TO
allow people to live in such places.
Wa ahnn1d ~ all the nld