The monitor., 1928-11-30
PROBLEMS IN PACKING
HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD
Paper Read by Mrs. M. L. Rhone
Before Nebraska Confer
ence of Social
Workers.


ing to outline in this brief discussion
are not new. Probably every one en-
gagged in social work knows that the
vast differences in the home condi-
tions of the packing house neighbor-
hood require various methods of ap-
proach in dealing with the problems.
The point of view of this paper is
largely that of brief review of a
few of these problems.
Close your eyes for few mo-
mentsl Imagine a neighborhood in
which there are Quoting from Head
workers 1928 annual report) with
in one-half mile radius of the Social
Settlement and its branch, the Ne
gro Cultural Center, the following:
Four packing plants employing a
minimum of 5000 people, Union
Stock Yards, second largest in the
United States, small shops of various
kinds, 80 soft-drink parlors and pool
rooms, one public school, three paro-
chial schools, five white churches,
eight Negro churches, one small ball
park. No public playground or gym
nasium, no adequate playground.
One night school Financed by wo-
mems organization), one citizenship
class at Armour's flor packing house
foreigners), conducted by the Y. M.
c. A, 81 foreign nationalities, $500
Negroes-now you have picture of
this neighborhood. The problems
presented herewith, chiefly concern
the $500 Negroes"
Compared with other groups in the
community, it is interesting to note
that the percentage of Negro workers
in the four packing plants is as fol-
lows:
In Armour's, between 16 and 10
per cent of workers are Negroes.
In Swift's plant, 141z per cent of
the workers are Negroes.
In Cudahy's plant, 81 per cent of
the workers are Negroes.
In Dold's plant, 8 to 10 per cent of
the workers are Negroes.
Homes
In most of these packing house
homes, the father is a common la
borer, and oftimes the mother must
necessarily work, in order to meet
the family budget. When there is
an older child, he stops school at the
earliest age legally permissible, and
begins his career as wage Garner;
thereby contributing to his own and
his family's support.
Rent
In many cases the income is in
adequate to meet the high rent which
the Negro family is forced to pay.
Investigation shows that some of the
families are paying first class rent
for third class houses. His foreign
white )neighbor leaves third class
house, for which he paid third class
rent. The Negro family moves into
the same house, or similar kind of
dwelling, and pays first or second
class rent.
Sanitation
Sanitation is at low ebb among
the poorer Negro families. These
people must live somewhere. Do we
marvel at the existing unsanitary
conditions, and yet know that the
landlords willfully neglect to remedy
conditions, causing some of the ten
ants, saying that certain sanitary
houses are for rent, but not to Ne
groes?
Young people in the packing house
neighborhood have their own prob
lens. Like most communities, the
girls standard is higher than that of
the boy, who is forced to become a
wage Garner, or who loses interest.
In some cases the boys argue lack of
opportunity for advancement, either
during high school or after its COM
pletion, saying that there is no need
to complete high school course to
become a packing house butcher.
Perhaps this incident will bring the
problem closer to US.
Two boys, James and John, were
joshing each other last Monday eve
ming during checker game. Says
John: "I'm going to leave Omaha"
"What fort" asked James. "To be-
come a school teacher" answered
r. 81 a 4
teacher" said James. "Why?" asked
John. "Well--you see, I'm going to
stay in Omaha" j.
We find in some of these packing
house homes lack of income, lack
of education, lack of physical and
mental health, lack Of vision and
lack of hope. We are encouraged,
however, by the number who are am