Evening star., 1932-09-11
R. F. c. LOAN TO END
ALLEY DWELLINGS
HERE CONSIDERED

CONTINUED From First Page)
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at so low a rental that dilapidated and
insanitary houses will be abandoned by
their tenants"
Appleton P. Clark, jr., now president
of the company said suggestion had
been made that the company might
broaden its present program by secur-
ing an r. F. G. loan, but that serious
consideration had not been given the
matter. Limited by law to a per cent
dividend, the company has made good
progress during the years in alleviating
conditions of the alley dwellers and has
its hands full at the present time with
building program calling for erection
of 80 two-apartment houses.
An expansion of the plans Of the
company to include housing construc-
ton project large enough to care for
all Of the 1000 to $4,000 inhabitants
of Washington's alleys would require
added capital not readily obtainable
except through some such agency as
the r. F. c.
Project Coming Up.
The question of applying for Federal
lOdn
and ambitious a program probably Will
be discussed at the next meeting of the
board of directors of the company, Mr.
Clark said.
The company has built approximately
1875 two-apartment houses, chiefly IN
the Southeast and Southwest sections.
These three and four room fats, eacn
with bath and porch, rent for Sl5 or
SIT a month. They are located on van
Half and M streets and Carrollnurg
place southwest, South Capitol street,
Thirteenth and K streets southeast anu
Franklin street northwest.
Mr.. Clark said the company has been
asked to give attention to the housing
needs of underprivileged famllleS III
congested areas outside OF the alleys
and this request may be granted.
DR.. John M. Cries, formerly housing
expert of the Department OF Commerce
and now a member OF the FeoeIal
Home Loan Bank Board, is deeply IN
terested in the local alley housing situa-
tion and. in a personal capacity, is will
ing to assist in solving this problem, ne
said Yesterday. The Home Loan Bank
Board has no Jurisdiction over alley
housing projects.
other Cities Interested.
New York is said to be the only
State definitely known to have an
allev housing organization qualneo
under the law to seek loan from tne
r. F. C. 1t has been reported tnat
the State Housing Board there Will
ask for $40 100000 for slum clearance
work in New York City. Other cities
which have indicated they would apply
for loans, when necessary legislative
authority is granted. include Chicago,
Philadelphia, Cleveland, st. Louis ano
Detroit.
Robert D. Kohn, former president OF
the American Institute OF Arcntects'
recently deplored the fact that the pun-
lie has been slow to grasp the poSsloll-
ties offered under the slum clearance
provisions of the amended r. F. G. act,
THE Federal loans for -liquidatng
public works construction, housing ana
slum clearance" he stated, were prl-
marily intended as a work rehei
measure. 1t would be deplorable. indeed
disastrous, if we failed to take immedi-
ate and complete advantage OF the op-
portunity for relief thus afforded IN
every part Of the country.
Federal Effort New Factor.
"In the encouragement Of pro jects Tor
low-cost housing and slum clearance
the emergency relief and construction
act of 1882 is likely to make history
Never before, except indirectly, has the
Federal Government shown the slghteGt
interest in this nationwide problem.
In a report to the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission IN l93!
Mr.. Ihlder said there were $50 inhabited
alleys in the District of Columbia. with
2,400 dwellings and frcm 1l,Oo0 70
10000 residents. :,
Some of these alleys" he reported
"are communities of such size that they
would be considered villages If they mao
a rural environment. Navy place, 1or
court, 40; Shows court, Al; Cooksey
place, SO, and Dixon's court, "A"
At a Joint conference last Spring OF
the Council Of Social Agencies, the
American Civic Association, the Home
Economies Association, the Monday Eve
ningClub and the Washington Board OF
Trade, Mr.. Ihlder declared that large
part of the apparent surplus" OF nous
| ing today Is composed of dwellings un-
| fit for habitation" and that some are
actually in dangerous conditlcn. Inese
organiza tions have taken prominent
J part in the campaign to rid Washington
of unsightly and unhealthy alley houses
Many Bills Introduced.
Budget limitations have initiated
against approval OF numerous nlils oer -.
! signed to secure appropriations 1or
closing the allays to inhabitants. One
bill provides for an appropriation OF
| 5000, 600 by the Federal Government
| for accomplishing the work, Whlch
would be executed by the United states
Housing Corporation, under the dlrec-
ton Of the District Commissioners:
Another measure called for utlllza-
| ton of the Housing Boards surplus OF
| half million dollars as the nucleus
Of q fund to finance l0-year program
OF alley Improvement This proposal
was backed by the Monday Evening
Club, which held hearing on the Dill
at the instance of Mrs. Archibald Hop
| kins, who long has crusaded for the
closing Of Inhabited alleys.
According to Mr. Ihlder, washington
has been confronted with an alley
housing problem for more than 70
years. The alley population has been
reduced from an estimated $4,000 OF
many years ago to about half that
number today, he explains. The worst
Of the old frame shacks have been de-
molished and sewers, water mains and
! street lights have been extended into
the inhabited alleys.
THE fact remains" he declared,
that disease, crime and immortality
flourish more in the alleys than they
do outside; the children born and
reared in alley dwellings are more SUBJ
| ject to q demoraliNng environment
than are those outside. The remedy
that all students ultimately advocate
is the elimination Of alley dwellings"