The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-07

lneSe IacLS were disclose
Thomas Atkinson, superintend-
ent of the mems service station
of the department of public
welfare, in cooperation with
the lodging house inspecting
department of the Illinois De-
partment of Public Health.
"Dilapidated survivals of rich peo-
pies houses have been taken up by
an army of roomers," the report
states. when these old residences
are converted into rooming houses
the whole social life of the region
changes, the one outstanding factor
being that more people are being
crowded into each house. Hundreds
of old dwellings on the South Side
fall into decay each year while few
are built to replace them. Altho the
population is decreasing, there is no
decrease in the crowding of the
houses"
These rooming sections, where co.
900 men and $4,000 women are
crowded together are important fac
tors in the housing situation in Chi
cago, because many workers must
room in them to be near their work.
"Most roomers on the lower North
Side are in the white collar class" the
report goes on, Comprising the cleri-
cal workers of the loop. In this class
may be found the most ardent ladder
climbers of the city. A rooming
house crowd is always lonely one
and hence vice abounds here in its
most insidious forms"
The bad results of the subdividing
of these ancient mansions into crowd
ed rooming houses are many. The
report characterizes the West Side as
a Region of social disorganization
and physical Decline" Lawlessness
and delinquency follows the congested
rooming districts. "West of Halsted
street, on the near West Side, where
there are many children is the re-
gion of juvenile delinquency" we are
told. mo region in the city is more
trying to the truant officer. To have
lived ones childhood here is suffi-
cient evidence that one has seen the
rough side Of life"
Besides depriving the children of
the working class of a square chance
to grow up healthy physically and
wholesome morally, the overcrowded
conditions are source of lawlessness,
lit appears from Mr.. Allinson's report.
Little Sicily" he states, "sandwiched
in between the industrial belt border
ing the river and the rooming house
area about Clark street, has been con-
spicuous for twenty years for its
fueds and vendettas. Policemen have
little influence here and the majesty
of the law frequently becomes a ira
vesty. Churches and welfare institu-
tions abound, yet they have accom-
plished little toward realizing their
ideals"
The negro, according to the report,
has as usual, received a dirtier deal
than any one else in Chicago's hous-
ing situation. "In 1920 the negroes
numbered 100000. They have in
creased their numbers until at present
there are fully one third again as
many, and still they pour in. The
NEGRO invasion of the higher grade
streets on the south side has been re-
sisted by home owners. Intimidation
of negSo purchasers of property has
been practiced. Between July /,
1917, and March, 1921, fifty-eight
bomb explosions are recorded, to
brighten the negroes. The result has
been two negroes dead, many injured
and property damage of over $780,
900. But no one was convicted of
lawlessness.
"The lack Of foresight shown in
the absence Of provision made for the
housing of the negroes is apparent.
The negro problem in Chicago is es-
pecially one Of housing. AS the stu
alton now stands the conditions of the
negro habitation on many streets is
deplorable, in short a reflection upon
the intelligence and moral sense of
the community"
r.