Evening star., 1923-12-17
JAIL AND ALLEYS
IN D. c. CONDEMNED
Representative Rathbone,
After Tour, Says CongeS-
ton Is "HorribIe."

Substitution of humane" condi
tions at the District Jail for the
horrible conditions that now exist.
wiping out the fostering sores of dis
ease and immortality that he found in
the inhabited alleys and creation of
a number of small Fairgrounds, will
be urged upon Congress by Repre-
sentative Henry c. Rathbone of Illi-
nois. a member of the House District
committee. who made a personal tour
of inspection of the Jail and alleys
yesterday.
Representative Rathbone, who is
himself a native OF Washington, was
conducted about this under side" of
the nations Capital by Mrs. Archi-
bald Hopkins, childhood friend. who.
for many years. has been an active
worker in social service and civic
Improvement work here. and also by
Mrs. Anne Archibald and Albert S. ].
Atkinson. executive officer of the
board for condemnation of insanitary
buildings.
Amazed at Condition.
Amazement and CONSERVATION at
finding such conditions existing in
the National Capital was frequently
sentative Rathbone. AS a result of
this trip. Mrs. Hopkins will call q
meeting in her home. 1926 Massachu-
setts avenue northwest. "Wednesday
at 4.30 o'clock of the heads of all or
ganizations interested in this line OF
civic cleanup.
In regard to the proposed solution
of the inha bited alleys problem" said
Renresentrt i've RathhCna. 81 would
say that my strong impression is that
~
there are over 200 such alleys in the
cry of Washington and that only
about one quarter of these are about
thirty feet wide. or nearly so. Ir
order TO make a minor street out OF
one of these alleys the width would
have to be at least thirty feet.
I'm my judgment Washington
sNsnds greatly in need of small play
grounds" he continued. especially ir
congested and poorer districts. I saw
many vacant lots covered with the
debris of many wears which should
he turned into Fairgrounds for the
children of the poorer classes.
Calls Copgcstion Terrible.
The congestion in the inhabited
alleys of this city is terrible, with
whole families living in one room
The ordinary decencins OF life are not
and crime, disease and immortality
are sure to be rampant / am cred
IDLY informed that such is the case
II be'i~v" that sooner or later the
community will have to wipe out
these sections and convert them into
places for garages where they are
not changed into Fairgrounds. Many
of these blind alleys and narrow
filthy pasSageways should he vacated
Il am told that the question of
housing must be considered in deal
ing with the problem. No doubt this
IS true, but / saw rows of model
houses for the poor. which to my
mind present at once a solution of
the problem.
"ln visiting the jail | found that i;
dated back to the '70S and was wholly
inadequate to present needs. Three
prisoners were sleeping in cells 5xS
feet in size.
Meals Near GalIOws.
II saw the inmates at supper, ano
At the end of the room was cur
tain. | asked what was behind it
and was told that 1t was the gal
lows l had never heard of any such
thing before. but ii reminded me Of
the feasts of the ancient Romans
where a skull and crossbones were
exhibited with the words. 'Remem-
Der Death below. Why these unfor-
tunate prisoners, while at their
meals, should be cheered by the pros
pect of a gallows l fail to see.
MY impression is that the two
things needed most in connection