Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
Washington's Alley Problem
Is Still Awaiting Solution

peals. in a decision this last Spring.
concurred in the ruling Of the Police
Court and declared that the law was
unconstitutional. The law had two
weaknesses. 1t specified, in brief, that
no building could be erected and
maintained as a dwelling in an alley
that was less than 80 feet wide, which
did not open on two adjoining streets
and which was not supplied with
sewer and water and gas or electric
lights. But II was found, upon ex,
animation Of the law, that the five
conditions set down as making q
house fit to live in were so linked
together in conjunction that all OF
them were required; that a house,
might comply In respect to four Of
them, but, lacking the fifth. 1t would
be uninhabitable under the law. One
instance was pointed out OF houses
that met all requirements except the
one regarding gas or electric lights
This would work to make a house
lighted by kerosene an uninhabitable
dwelling, and the court could not be-
lieVs that such a law was constitu.
tional. Another interesting point about
the law was the fact that the cordi-
tions mentioned referred TO the alleys
and not to the houses in the alleys.
Therefore. If the alley was equipped
as prescribed and the houses were not,
the law did not apply to the houses.
The law could be amended by
renledying the discrepancies found by
the courts and the next Congress will
provide the first opportunity for
amendment since the law has been
declared invalid. Whether an attempt
mains to be seen. Certainly no
remedy has been suggested for the
laws fundamental weakness, that
while the alleys might be cleaned up,
where would those who once inhabited
them go to live?
Some improvement in the alley stu
alton has been noted in the last 10
years. Many of the wretched wooden
shacks have been removed. More Of
them are being torn down every year,
so that by far the majority Of the re-
manning alley dwellings are of brick
construction. Inspections are made at
irregular intervals, and the inhabi-
tants or the owners of the alley
dwellings are called upon to remedy
them. They do or they do not. In
some cases the conditions to be rene.
died are such that the cheapest thing
to do Is to destroy the structure and
build another. In other cases, where
the remedial measures are put up to
the alley jewellers, the alley dwellers
correct them, but after q time they
are found as bad as they ever were.
An inspection was made of the
alleys recently, the first in two years,
and $50 notices of abatement of con.
ditions found by the Health Depart
ment were served. So far some 6S5
have been abated for the time being
There were, in addition, 153 reports of
conditions referred to the plumbing
inspector, 235 to the building inspec.
tor, to the Board Of Condemnatio
l to the Fire Department. % to the
Street Cleaning Department, SO to the
Water Department and to the Police
Department. The inspections are
made by an agent for the Board of
Condemnation, composed of repre-.
senta tives of the Engineer Commits.
sioner, the inspector of buildings and
the health off1cer-a board which rep
resents the joint action of these three
departments. Conditions found within
the Jurisdiction of other departments
are noted and forwarded to the de.
partments under which they come.
Regular inspection Of the alleys and
strict enforcement Of the faulty con.
ditions found tend to work a gradual
reform. If continued, this system
might result ultimately In a condition
to be reached Immediately by drastic
legislation. But 1t would be a long.
drawn-out process. The alleys remain,
and they are not beauty spots, al
though comparison with the slums Of
more congested commercial cities In
not q fair one. Washington has not
solved its alley problem.