Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-30

Washington are negroes. "A stones
throw from the beautiful grounds
of the capitol are some of the
most congested districts. Poor
foreigners who come into Wash
ington through the nearby union
station settle down i'll these lodg-
ings, the cheapest the city affords
in the built-up sections.
Vice and crime are bred IN
these internal streets, welfare
workers say often the entrance
TO an alley is by narrow court
way. Beyond this Cul de sac the
alley broadens and winds ana
branches. There are alleys with
in alleys. Police cannot patrol
these streets" closely because the
force is not large enough to per
nit men being detailed to alleys
only.
Disease Always a Menace.
As for disease, Investigators
have reported whole rows OF al
ley houses known as 'lung
blocks" where tuberculosis is
found in four houses out OF ev-
cry five. Other districts nave
periodical sleges of typhoid. Mr.
Ham states as his opinion that an
outbreak of small pox or some
other epidemic in the alleys would
be felt all over Washington.
There is the back kick to the
situation. Washington is getting
it's cleaning and cooking and
washing done by the alley dwell
ers. and getting them perhaps
little cheaper than If the workers
lived in the suburbs and had to
nav carfaFe out of their earnings.
But the city is exposing itself to
the diseases that prey on the peo-
pie of the hidden slums.
Washing for "the best homes
Is done in the alley shacks. People
go out Of houses where there arc
! cases OF fevers, tuberculosis and
svphilis to work all over the city.
This condition, or its equivalent,
IS true perhaps in any city. Dis
ease germs are almost inescap-
able. But in the alleys, as in the
tenement districts Of great cities,
disease Is less controlled and
more powerful.
|
bows with the back yards of fine
residences. The alleys are just
far enough away and sufficiently
shut off by board fences to be
disregarded by the people who
live facing the streets. But the
alley dwellings are at the same
time Just close enough for disease
to spread.
So far, however, the dangers
and the wrongs of the alley sys-
tenn have been tolerated. The
city does the best it can with the
laws and ordinances on the books.
But any radical steps rest with
congress. The commissioners Of
the District are now taking an
active interest in the situation.
Several years ago congress
passed a law to close the alley
houses on fixed date. When
the time drew near an extension
was obtained. 1t was argued that
the city could not absorb so many
people moving at the same time
Now the alleys are to close ir
November, and again it is being
urged that the date be put off
two years. Mr.. Ham opposes this
on psychological grounds. He
says that the tenants would stay
on until the two years were up
as they have done this time, ant
then there would be panic at the
last minute.
He urges instead that the alley
be closed in three installment.
year apart. The tenants woult
! know all about the moving day:
= and which alleys were to clost
first. 1t would be possible fo1
g the district to absorb 5000 PEG
! pie at one time in small houses
9 chiefly in outlying sections. Thu
{ other alley tenants. seeing thu
: first set move, and realizing tina
' their turn would surely come OF
2 the fixed dates. would begin t.
s look about and the whole emf
s grafton would be accomplished
r without serious confusion.
r Mr.. Ham has laid this plan be
4 fore congress. He says that TIL
d alleys should be turned into play
g grounds. minor streets, city parks
O garages and parking spaces.