Evening star., 1943-10-14
CIergymen 10 Inspect
District S|um Areas
Visited by Senator'S

A group of Protestant clergymen
today announced plans to inspect
many of the slum areas and slum
reclamation housing developments
visited yesterday and last Saturday
by members of a Senate District
Subcommittee investigating the Dis
trict's housing problems.
DR.. Frederick E. Reissig, executive
secretary of the Washington Fedora
ton OF Churches, said the clergy
realize the effect of inadequate
housing on health and ARE eager
to gain f1rsthand knowledge of the
housing situation so as to be able
to interpret more intelligently" the
long range slum reclamation program
proposed for the District.
DR.. ReiSsig and DR.. John W.
Rustin, president of the Federation
of Churches, will be among the
churchmen making the inspection
tour, which will begin at 9:l5 am.
tomorrow. 1t will be directed by
James Ring, administrative officer
for the National Capital Housing
Authority, and the Rev. Francis w.
McPeek. director of the Federation's
Social Welfare Department.
Senators to Resume Tours.
Meanwhile, members of the Senate
subcommittee, who completed their
visits to slum areas and NCHA hous-
ing developments in the Northwest
section of the city yesterday, made
plans for tours of the Southeast and
Southwest sections. Chairman Bur-
ton said the next trip will be made
Saturday, beginning at 10 am.
The most striking development"
on Yesterdays tour by the subcom-
mlttee. according to Senator Bur-
ton, was the discovery of near -slum
conditions among roomers in the
1900 block of N street NV. There,
SqualOr was found hidden within
the walls of dwellings that once were
fashionable and still appear accept
able to paSSersby
John Ihlder, executive officer of
the NCHA, who conducted the in
Spection party, said this block is a
good example of an area in transi-
ton
Solution Suggested.
MI. lhlder pointed out to Senator
Burton and to Senator Capper. Re-
publican. of Kansas that the hous-
ing authority does not propose to
tear down buildings such as those
in this block of N street because
they are structurallv sound. The
solution for such conditions. he said
is the construction of an adequate
supply Of loW-rent housing, to re-
lleve the necessity for overcroWding
The subcommittee also visited
several alley slum areas which Mr.
1hlder indicated the NCHA would
ike to reclaim under the SlOO 900 900
slum reclamation program he has
proposed, These included Navlor
alley, between I, K. Fourth and
Fifth streets NV, and Shows court.
between I. K. Twenty fourth and
twenty fifth streets NV.
Rents in the fats inspected in
SHOWS court were the lowest found
on the tour, and Senator Burton
was impressed by the play area that
residents had developed for their
children. Houses in the court were
in poor repair, however. and there
was evidence of insanitary condi-
tlonS.
In contrast to the slums, the group
visited the St. Mary's Apartments.
an NCHA housing development on
Twenty-fourth street between G and
H streets NV. Twenty-four we'll
built and wellkept apartments for
colored families now stand on this
site, where once there were slum
houses. Rents for three and four
room furnished units, with heat. hot
water and janitor service included
range from only $50 to $3.50.
Senator'S Burton and Capper
showed great interest in this de-
Velopment. Senator Burton re-
marked after the tour that it illus
trated what people will do to keep
their homes in good condition if
they are provided with the material ;,