Evening star., 1923-04-14
PREDICTS NEW TYPE
Of CITY DWELLINGS
Construction ''Neither Brick
Nor Frame," May Follow Al
ley Evictions.

Although plans for housing alley
dwellers facing election from their
homes on June ] are in but little
more than embryonic state, enforce
ment of the law making alleys nom
residential territory in Washington
after the date mentioned may bring
in its wake something new in the
line of houses for this city-Struc-
lures of neither brick nor frame, but
erected with "noncombustible ma
teriar' in model architecture, and ar
rangement.
This possibility was opened by John
1hlder, president of the Monday Eve
ming Club, who spoke before meeting
of the Twentieth Century Club, at
the Women's City Club Thursday, on
the relief measures for houses being
planned for alley dwellers by a group
of Washingtonians whose names were
not made public.
Drawings Already Completed.
Mr.. Ihlder said that drawings for
the type of houses described had al
ready been completed. Finances OF
the group interested, he said, did not
permit continuance of plans until
guarantees had been obtained from
sure the cost being within the means
of the group.
The group has some funds in hand
at present. but by no means sufficient
cash to allow procedure on conStruc-
tion work. AS soon as guarantees
are obtained. Mr.. Ihlder said, ar
rangements for raising the funds
necessary for erecting the buildings
will be made. Until the guarantees
are Forthcoming the plans will re-
main in formulative state. If they
do not come present plans will be
dropped and new ones substituted.
The plans made thus far he de-
clared, call for tWo-story houses of
the one and two family types. Tene-
ment types are barred from consid-
Grafton. The prime objective of the
group at the wheel, of this enter
prise, he declared, was to proceed in
business-like manner to alleviate
the conditions which Will face the
city when the alley-closing laws go
into effect.
Promise of Modern Appliances.
The houses will be equipped with
modern appliances for sanitation and
domestic hygiene Mr. Ihlder said
that they would be constructed of
mon -combustible" material, but gave
no further description of it,
contemplate the placement of such
invest money and at the same time
aud the community by helping out
the alley dWellerS for sums which
VIII bring return of at least per
"cnt on the investment. The sacrifice
of | per cent return on money invest
ed would be asked of the investors in
case the project goes through.
Mr. Ihlder pointed out that there
are 10000 alley dwellers in Wash
tngton. To equip homes for this
$4,000 per house, would take $4,000
200. 1t is impossible, naturally, he
said. for the group to raise such
a sum offhand. but the erection
experiments would be possible, pro-
Nided District officials delay the en-
forcement of eviction orders.
AS for the group interested he de-
clared. they would incorporate and
conduct the business of furnishing
homes for the homeless alley dwell
crs in a manner which would have
the benefit of not only the alley
dwellers, but the entire community at
Eeart.
Asks Support of Project.
Following Mr.. Iheder's address, the
support of the organization in the
project was asked by Mrs Archibald
Hopkins, who has made an intensive
study of alley conditions of the city.
An address on Reds in America"
was given by r. NJ. Whitney, director
of the Washington bureau of the
American Defense Society, in which
the support of the Twentieth Century
Club was asked to help eliminate
radical activities in the country.
Mrs. Gilbert GroSvenor chairman
Of the civic branch of the club, pre-
sided.