Evening star., 1926-10-13
$1O0,0DO,OQO YEARLY
MAY CLEAR SLUMS
PhiIanthropists and Officials
Plan Drive to Eradicate
Tenements.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, October ia vision
Of a lower East Side without slums
and their breeding places Of disease,
vice and crime wiped from the map
is moving toward realization in the
minds. of philanthropists, architects
and city officials.
August Heckscher, philanthropist
who was appointed by Mayor Walker
to study European methods of hous-
ing in congested districts, Is the lead
ing spirit of the movement. By the
fulfillment of tentative plans which
he announced today and which con
stitute one of the most ambitious
housing programs ever projected in
this country, thousands Of modern
well ventilated and sun-lighted apart
ment houses would spring up in the
houses that now line the dingy streets
for miles and in which live approx.
mately 100000 people.
Plans to Raise Fund.
The magic wand" by which it is
hoped to bring about the transforma-
ton will be $100,000,000 annually,
which the leaders of the movement
expect to raise from public-spirited
citizens, the city and the State. With
this sum available annually, these
leaders believe the tenements could
be eliminated and replaced by modern
apartment buildings within 10 or Is
years. Prominent people already have
given assurance of their aid, Mr.
Heckscher reported.
Terming the slums of New York
and other great American cities "a
disgrace to. these cities and to the
Nation" Mr.. Heckscher pointed out
that progress has left little impress
on the lower East Side. There is one
mile, where more than 100000 people
live. One group of tenements was
condemned in 1885 as unit for habi-
tatiOn, but they are still occupied.
The progress made by London, Ber-
lin and Hamburg in coping with their
slum problems was cited by Mr..
Heckscher. He advocated adoption Of
the London plan,- the state buying
the tenement property and providing
dispossessed tenants with temporary
quarters while new houses are being
built. The whole purpose Of the plan
is to provide working people with good
homes at reasonable rentals.
Mr.. Heckscher would assess rents
on a percentage basis, according to
the income of the family, this being
the system followed in London. The
houses, under the tentative plans,
would be five stories high and of the
walk up" type.
Legislation Needed.
Drastic legislation would be nee.
essary to pave the way for the re.
construction movement. Gov. Alfred
E. Smith, who is himself a product of
the East Side, is, in the opinion of Mr..
Heckscher, "the only man who can
put these laws on the statute books. -
Mr.. Heckscher pointed out that the
State could exercise the right of emf
nent domain in taking over the land
needed for the undertaking.
Discussing the plan to assess rents
on basis Of family income, Mr..
Heckscher said:
II am told this Is socialism. Every
forward-looking scheme has been thus
labeled and damned. 7 am not inter.
ested in political labels, however, ]
am thinking of results
Taxing New York with tagging be.
hind London and Berlin in dealing
with the problem, he said that Lon.
don during, the past year spent $34,.
100000 in the erection of sanitary,
fireproof ,tenements. while Berlin
raised $40.0O0,OOO for the same pur.
pose.