The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-22
HOUSING SITUATION
OFFERS PROBLEMS
Housing OF Many Rural
Southern Families Little
More Than Shelter

9lt4lN'S'
o,4 institutions have exhibited in
.oroet in better rural hosuing, for
. great mass of southern farm
emi)ies housing covers little more
.bo, shelter from the elements.
Actually, according to S. c. Mayo,
,,,rai sociologist of N. c. State col
1oop Ihe effects of bad housing can
no measured directly in terms of
Tho general welfare. 1t lessons in
drsfrial efficiency, encourages in
ferior citizenship, lowers the stand
ard Of family life, and deprives peo-
rle Of reasonable comfort.
The state college nan also point
cd out that there are direct relation
ships between poor housing and poor
health. He said it should be re-
cocnized that the health of the in
diyiduaI is more than mere absence
Of disease. Health means the maxi.
MUM degree of efficiency of all
physical and mental processes.
For instance. one important factor
in the relationship between health
and housing is lighting equipment.
Although great strides have been
made in electrifying rural homes, a
recent study conducted by the De-
rartnent of Agricultural Economics
and Rural Sociology at State college
revealed that much progress yet
reeds to be made in farm home
Lighting.
Especially was this condition true
among white troopers and laborers
and negro tenants. these classes u.s.
ing. kerosene wick almps almost
exclusively.
Minimum rural housing standards
with respect to lighting are: first,
artificial light; safe, easily-control-
ed lights for all rooms and pas
Sases, adequate light on all work
SL4LdIto' oIId IlSA tolNlt pO"1l
lamps for reading or sewing.
Second: natural light or direct
sunlight should enter three-fourths
Of the rooms; twelve square feet
minimum for any room; two win
dows for rooms with W. occupants
and for kitchen; and natural light
On all work surfaces.
Mayo pointed out that another inn
rortart housing item related TO
ieaI,h is the water supply. From
the standpoint of health. the home
water supply must meet at least
three definite requirements; it must
he suitable for drinking, a sanitary
and convenient method Of delivery
must be provided. and it must be
adequate as to quantity.
The same study referred to above,
conducted in a Piedmont county,
showed that IS percent Of the farm
families water supply came from
wells. The remaining families used
springs as a source of water supply.
About half of these springs were
open and perhaps not free from
organic contamination.
About nine out of every ten wells
were termed shallow since they
did not pass through an ~impervious
stratum and the supply is seepage
water from the surface.
Since water is an excellent
solvent and into contact with
many impurities on and below the
surface Of the ground. it is always
liable 10 contamination" Mayo eX-
planned. This contamination may
not aus disease, but is indicative
Of impurities which may carry dis
ease germs at some future time.
The greatest danger" he went
ON. is from the surface or shallow
underground supply. Careful loca-
ton Of farm and village home water
supplies and proper protection from
surface contamination are essential
requirements"
The minimum housing standards
With resect to water supply are:
water from a pure source protected
from possible pollution. and at least
a kitchen sink with an outlet for
waste water.
Another important factor in rural
health is that of Green for farm
homes. Persons living in tightly
screened houses have some protec-
ton against malaria, yellow fever,
and other mosquito-born diseases.
HQch houses also prevent the en-
rance Of flies which play a role IN
Tie spread of typhoid fever and
d}sentery.
The study in the Piedmont coun-
~ revealed that approximately 81
percent of the homes had no screens
N any kind. The corresponding
hgure for whites was 50 percent
and negroes 70 ercent. Homes &C.
cupied by owners, both white and
negro, were more adequately screen
ed than tenants homes.
The survey also showed that the
age Of the house is related to the
adequacy of screening, the newer
o9mes usually being better screened
man those built years ago.
While there has been consider
@ble Improvement in farm housing
'9r he ~land-owning element of the
0opuIation," Mayo stated, eve have
YET 10 work out methods for obtain
ing better housing conditions for the
tenant and low-income masses. Per
laps most Of the progress along this
me VIII come from research and
UNCONDITIONAL work and self-help by