The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-08
CITY TO ORDER
EVACUATION OF
-HOOvERv|LLE
Speed Arrangements With
Realty Owners to House
Evicted Families.
CONDITIONS TERRIBLE
Immediate Removal Urged
by Health Officer: Fears
Epidemic.

Evacuation of Hooverville and
Curtisville, mushroom towns on the
banks of White river populated by
evicted families, will be ordered by
city officials, as soon as arrange
ments are completed for housing, it
was learned today.
Action was decided upon at
meeting Friday called by David
Liggett, Community Fund executive
director, and held in the fund
Offices.
Among those attending were
Walter Clarke, township trustees
counsel; DR.. Herman G. Morgan,
city health board secretary, and
William A. Hacker of the social
service department of the city
schools.
1t is planned to provide houses
rent-free through the cooperation
of property owners, providing that
arrangements can be completed for
paving taxes on the houses, accord
Visit Two settlements
IF funds of the township trustee
can be used legally to pay taxes on
the property, the owners will be
willing to donate their use Clarke
said. They feel it is better TO have
the houses occupied than standing
idIo 4I,ic vr,i,otor"
Today representatives of three
agencies of the fund, the Family
Welfare Society," Salvation Army,
and Colored Y. M G. A. visited the
two towns to ascertain needs. Nov
ing of the families will be under
fund direction, it was announced.
Site of the two towns probably will
be used for gardens next spring, it
was said.
Decision to order the abandon
ment of the tin shacks and drift
wood novels was reached by city
officials after sanitary conditions in
the settlements were found to be
'deplorable.'
DeplorabIe Living Conditions
Last week fourteen-foot well
supplying the towns with water was
ordered sealed after analysis. showed
the presence of bacteria.
Few of the occupants of the
shacks have made any provision for
cold weather, and fatalities during
the winter would be almost impos-
sible to avoid, according to DR..
Morgan.
Conditions under which those
people are living can not be toler-
ated," DIR. Morgan said. For their
own safety, ss we'll as the health of
the entire city, the almost perfect
facilities for breeding disease which
exist there must be eliminated.
Previous plan for improving living
conditions in the settlement while
permitting it to remain on the river
bank was declared impractical by
Charles R. Myers, president of the
board Of safety.
In Overflow Zone
1T is not unusual for the river
to overflow beyond the point where
the homes are located" he said.
High water this winter and next
spring would drive them from their
homes at the worst possible time.
We plan to provide for them before
an emergency arises
approximately thirty-five families,
homeless because of evictions for
ncnpayment of rent, now are living
in the settlement. Among the group
is one widow with family of eight
children, and there also are num-
Der of other children of school age
in the group.
According to the board of health,
there are seven eXpectant mothers
in the settlement, as we'll as several
cases of disease which necesSitate
immediate hospital treatment.
Await Final Action
Proper treatment and care of
these persons is impossible under
conditions in the towns, because of
lack of proper shelter and sanitary
facilities, Dr. Morgan said.
Several conferences were held this
week in the Office of Mayor Regi-
Maid H. Sullivan, attended by Nor
gan, Myers, Clarke, Chief Mike
Morrissey and William H. Book of
the Chamber of Commerce.
Determination of the date of
evacuation awaits final decision on
the housing of the families.