Evening star., 1941-09-28
Housing Agency
Willing TO Buy
Blue Plains Site
IhIder Says A. D. A.
Would Bid if Home
Were to Be Shifted


for Aged as site for low-cost
housing development has been pro.
posed to the Commissioners by the
Alley Dwelling Authority, it was
revealed yesterday as a series Of
new moves were made or considered
on housing problems of District
welfare institutions.
John Ihlder, executive officer o1
the A. D. A, wrote the Commits
sioners that his organization was
prepared to offer bid for the site
in case the Commissioners decide
to erect new home for the aged
elsewhere, as is now being con-
sidered. No price was mentioned
AT the same time, Otto Cass, new
superintendent of the home, asked
for a supplemental appropriation
of about $4,000 for immediate pro-
vision of additional personnel and
equipment, pending provision of the
proposed new quarters.
Also, Ross HaWorth, newly desig-
mated w. P. A. manager for the
District, consulted yesterday with
Commissioner John Russell Young
on possibilities that the District
w. p. A. might provide additional
workers at once, for limited per-
iod at least. He said he would make
a study on the subject. Mr.. Ha-
worth suggested his agency might
provide plumber apprentices if the
District could borrow a plumbing
expert from some municipal agency
to take charge of repair or replace
ment work.
Muirkirk Site Criticized.
Meanwhile, a group of District
officials which has been looking for
a new Government owned site for
the Home for Aged indicated yes
terday it had practically elimi-
mated from consideration the acre
age at Muirkirk, Md, purchased
years ago as home for white girls
assigned to the Training School for
Girls. 1t is now being used, in part,
for Civilian Conservation Corps
housing.
More favorable consideration is
being given to part of the Districts
250-acre tract at Glenn Dale, Md,
where new Home for Aged might
be erected nearly quarter of mile
from the tuberculosis Sanatorium
buildings.
The Muirkirk site, some officials
said, lacks power, water and sewer
connections, whereas these facili-
ties already are available at Glenn
Dale.
No details were given in the pro-
posal of Mr.. Ihlder that the alley
dwelling agency might buy the Blue
Plains site for a housing project.
Ordinarily it is said, the A. D. A.
plans to provide about 10 houses
per acre in its developments, so that
as many as 1000 houses might be
erected on the 200 acres.
The question of a site for the
proposed new home is expected to
be considered at 'tomorrow's meet
ing of the Board of Public Welfare.
Other Changes Considered.
Atthe same time, it became rather
clear the Commissioners do not be-
lieve, the new Home for Aged should
be included in the combined Dis
trict welfare center" which is being
studied under a direct congressional
suggestion The original idea was
that this institution, the industrial
home schools for colored and white
children and the National Training
School for Girls be placed on a COM
bined site, in nearby Virginia or
Maryland Some welfare officials
say it would not be good to establish
a central "Semi-penal' colony.
Conrad H. Van Hyning, District
welfare director. said he was con-
sidering tentative suggestion that
1t might be well to abandon the
National Training School for Girls
and substitute a school of indus
trial type for colored girl charges
There are only about so colored girls
at the training school at Conduit
and Loughborough roads NV. This
site will revert to the United States
II the present school is moved or
abandoned.
The principal argument for new
industrial school is that the 17.8
acres of the present site do not per-
nit farming and other operations
desired in rehabilitation program.
The District hopes eventually to
sell the site of the Industrial Home
School for White Children on Wis
consin avenue NV. where but 81
acres now are available. There are
now about 100 white boys and girls
under care there. The plant is con-
sidered unsatisfactory.
At Blue Plains. adjoining the
Home for Aged, there are about 18O
colored boy wards at the Industrial
Home School for Colored Children.
The institution has about 13O acres.