Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-05

tContlnueo from FIRST PageD
except for pictures on the walls which
were mostly family portraits or religious
Illustrations. Nearly all are tenants.
In Industrial Area.
Grace alley is a sordid residential
island in an industrial area. The
dwelling houses on the surrounding
streets have been replaced by ware
houses and factories. but the little in
terror court settlement, with its wind
ing paved lanes, has been left. and
ideal breeding place for crime of all
sorts, and with very insanitary condi-
tons. But for the most part there APP
peared to be some effort to keep the
little tenements clean. AS in the other
alleys, there was complete absence
Of shade and the customary groups of
children playing in the streets.
The party then went across the city
to Goat alley, bounded by Sixth,
Seventh, L and M streets, which is re-
puted to be a tough place" the scene
OF considerable crime. Picturesquely
enough, the landscape of tins n.,.,-4
community is dominated by the staircd-
glass window Of a colored church on
Sixth street.
Few of the folks were at home, the
houses were about the same as in other
alleys, and the party hurried on to the
climax of the tour-Pierce alley, bound
ed by First, l. and Pierce streets and
New Jersey avenue, which often has
been described, together with the neigh
boring Logan alley, as representing the
worst conditions in Washington. It
made profound impression on the
congressional visitors, several of whom
remarked that they had not realized
such settlement could exist in the
midst OF modern American city. It
was denounced especially as a fire haz-
ara. There is customary tangle of
narrow streets from which, with the
Two entrances difficult to locate, few
could escape in case of a conf1agration.
Cats and Dogs Present.
characteristic bit of slum color was
found in the large number of alley
catS--dirty, half-starved creatures that
crawled about everywhere. A dead
black cat in the center of one street
was the center of group of dirty chill
dren. All the men seemed to be at
home. The alley was full of them and
they seemed to be in high spirits
laughing uproariously at a three-legged
dog which some of the boys had brought
in from the street.
The houses are mostly of three stories,
with wooden galleries on the upper
noors. These galleries were filled with
men. women and children, who fiocked
70 look at the unexpected visitors
overhead, stretching from gallery to
gaHery across the streets, were net
works OF clothes lines. The rear of the
houses were piled high with Junk of
an sorts, making them prospective fire.
traps.
Members of the party went into sew
eral OF the houses, some of which seem
10 be deteriorating fast They were
barren and sordid. The only touch of
color came from the pictures on the
walls, which seem characteristic of the
alley jewellers. There was the CUSTOM
airy alley odor and the noon sun beat
down furiously on the shadeless lanes
Where the children played.
Alleys Seen at Worst.
Pierce alley long has had an I'M
saVory reputation, and 1t impressed the
congressional delegation more than any
OF the others, although the houses were
actually no worse than in Navy place
or Grace court. The legislators saw
the alley conditions in Washington at
their worst and probably at their best.
Mr. Ihlder explained that the houses
themselves were not much worse than
could be found on open streets, that
most OF the alleys had lights and water,
and that the actual slum conditions
might not be much worse than in some
other cities. But, he pointed out, the
situation here is peculiar and demands
strenuous remedial action because of
the concealed character of the settle
| ments. Shut of from the rest of the
city, they are natural congregating
places Tor crime and vice of all sorts.