Evening star., 1943-03-26
D. {. S|um Area
Probe Promised
By yD',A|esandro
House Unit Plans
Report on Typhoid
Spots Seen on Tour

Further inspections-"a alone and
without fanfare"-of some of the
places said to be breeding places of
a potential typhoid epidemic today
were being planned by the Public
Health Subcommittee of the House
District Committee
Subcommittee members toured
four locations yesterday afternoon,
accompanied by the Commissioners,
Health Oficer George C. Rutland.
other officials concerned with public
health problems, and newspapermen.
Returning from the tour, the sub
committee met in executive session,
after which Representative Dale
sandro, Democrat, of Maryland,
chairman of the group, reported:
The conditions we found were
very disturbing and we're going to
insist that the Commissioners do
something about them"
Plan Formal Report.
He said the subcommittee will not
make a formal report for several
days, until after it has inspected
other of the slum areas which Repre-
sentative Plumley, Republican, Of
Vermont has charged are typhoid
breeding grounds
I'VE have received numerous COM
plants of unsanitary, unhealthy
conditions" Mr.. D'Alesandro said.
revealing that the subcommittee will
go out most any time" in the next
few days to make unheralded visits
to some of the slum areas about
which complaints have been made.
Only cursory investigation was
made on the tour yesterday after
noon. Several members of the sub
committee were Visiblv impressed.
however. as. travelling in a caravan
of cars with District officials and
newspapermen. they made brief
stops in the 1900 block of Half street
Sc, the 1000 block of Seventh street
Sc, the $500 block Of Alabama ave-
nue. Sc. and the 400 block of Neal
place NV.
S10-a Month Tenant.
AT three story brick house in
the Half street block they inspected
backyard toilet, glanced at piles
Of rubbish in the back yard and
/ talked briefly with an elderly COL
ored man. The man said he was
one of 27 tenants in the building
and paid $40 a month rent. His
small back room was dark and
dingy
Apparently wondering what might
follow the inspection by swarm of
officials, he asked:
/ DO you think it would be a good
idea for me to pay the months rent
of April?"
Two small colored boys in tattered
coats watched as the tour party ar
rived at their tWo-story frame
home on Seventh street. accessible
through an alleyway. A woman in
the house said four adults and six
children lived in the house. The
tour rooms were small and bare es-
sentlals in furniture were packed
tightly in the dark, dirty spaces.
That's horrible" said Mr.. DAles-
andro after a glance inside.
Open Grease Pit.
On Alabama avenue the group
looked at an open, abandoned grease
pit, in which about Is inches of
water was standing. DR.. Rutland
explained the water had been COL
ored with a chemical so seepage can
be traced.
In the Neal place vicinity the
group looked briefly at a row of out
, door toilets. Mrs. Helen Duey Hoff-
man of the Washington Housing
ASSOCIATION said they were equipped
with running water, but frequently
1roze up in the winter.
Commissioner Mason commented
that buildings such as some of those
inspected should be torn down.
But we. can't move people out
until We get some place TO move
| them in he added
Committee members personally
inspected many of the dwellings,.
other Investigations being made bv
the associations staff. Cooperating
IN the survey was the Washington
Housing Association, which for wears
has sought improvement of housing
| cOndltlOnS here
Record Called Good.
Meanwhile, DR. Ralph G. Beachlev.
Arlington County health officer, re-
! Piled to charges that insanitarv
conditions prevail in the congested
areas of nearby Arlington by stating
hatly that the county has one of
the best health records in the
United States, and Washington is
one of the cleanest cities in the
country"
Dr. Beachley denied charges made
Monday on the floor of the House
by Representative Plumley, who said
| that open sewers and other factors
constituted a menace to the health
OF residents in the Columbia Woods
area of Arlington County.