Evening star., 1921-09-12
FLAYS D. c. ALLEYS
AS HEALTH MENACE
AND CRIME SPOTS
City Surveyor Hazen Urges
Changes in Law to Allow
30-Foot Minor Streets.

The inhabited alleys of the District
were characterized as a menace to
health and breeding places for crime
by Melvin c. Hazen. surveyor, in his
annual report submitted today to En-
gineer Commissioner Kutz.
The surveyor called the attention
of the Commissioners to the fact that
the law closing alley dwellings, will
become effective one year after the
peace treaty with Germany is pro-
claimed by the President.
The law provides that alleys may
be converted into minor streets if
they can be given a. width of forty
feet. Mr.. Hazen in the past has pro-
posed certain amendments to the law.
one of which is that the city be per-
mitted to create 30-foot minor streets
where alleys now exist Summing up
the alley situation, the surveyor said:
Urges Commissioners to Act.
THE law which provides for the
elimination Of alley dwellings was
suspended for one year after the
signing of the peace, treaty. Since
the close of the fiscal year it has be-
come general knowledge that the
peace treaty has been signed and,
therefore, the alley law will soon be-
come effective. This office has already
made recommendations for certain
changes which are believed to be Ce-
sirable. 1t would seem to be highly
important that the Commissioners
take some action in regard to this
law.
normal, this alley problem as to alley
dwellings, should be prosecuted Wig
Forousl$,-aa many of these alleys are
densely crowded. insanitary and a
menace to the health and welfare of
the community. They are breeding
dare not venture without endanger-
ing their lives. They harbor boot
leggerS' and criminals of all classes,
and, on account of their inaccessible
ity, form splendid hiding places for
all who are engaged in the violation
of the law.
Makes Plea for More Parks.
The surveyor again directs atten-
ton to the necessity for asking Con-
gress Immediately to purchase addi-
tional parks before the available
sites are used for home-building. On
the park situation the surveyor re-
ported as follows:
"The original federal city is IA
nous for it's street plan and for it's
beautiful parks. Outside of the orig
inai city we have a highway plan
for the entire District of Columbia,
and all property which is subdivided
must conform to this plan. The en-
tire District of Columbia is, there
fore, being developed in accordance
with a comprehensive and orderly
street plan, but there is no provi-
sion for parks outside of the federal
city, except such as are acquired from
time to time by special acts of Con-
gress. This is usually not done. how
ever, in accordance with any plan
that has been adopted.
"It is true that the Mcmillan park
plan was submitted to Congress in
1902. which provides for park plan
outside Of the cities of Washing
ton and Georgetown. but there is no
provision for executing it. and land
is being subdivided and improved with
plan If this condition is permitted
to continue over the entire District.
many of the beauty spots of the Dis
trict will be destroyed. and the Dis
trict will be developed without any
provision for parks. Much of this
land is sparsely settled, and is COM
paratively cheap. These should be
preserved so that the citizens can
walk and ride through them and the
children play in the open and breathe
the fresh air, to promote the health
and happiness of our people.
Beauty Spots Destroyed.
MANY magnificent trees and beauty
spots are being destroyed by subdi-
visions and improvements. thus cre-
ating the newer Washington without
the liberality of the park spaces as
provided in the older city. 1t is a re-
fection to say that the original de-
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