Evening star., 1949-06-19
'SIum Houses Called as Sound
As in. Good Georqetown Area

The Home Builders Association
of Metropolitan Washington last
night reported on q survey Of two
so-called Stun areas" in Wash
ington in which it found that
structurally the houses are as
sound and. In many cases, as large
as fashionable homes in George
town.
The associations report in
cluded five recommendations
which 1t said would result in the
elimination OF slum conditions
in Washington.
The program came out in an
article appearing In this month s
issue of the Home Builders
Monthly.
1T Is interesting TO note" II
read, that the physical structure
of these dwellings Is substantially
the same as many in the exclusive
section of Georgetown and that
the houses in Georgetown would,
themselves, become slum property
If they were not properly main
tanned"
Sought to "Get Facts"
The home builders group un-
dertook its survey. 1t said. to get
the facts" about two slum areas
recently visited by a group of
members Of the Senate led by
Senator Douglas. Democrat, OF
Illinois.
The staff of the Home Build
ers' Association decided that II
these slum areas were going to
be used for propaganda purposes,
it would be a good thing to have
the true facts available" the as
sociation said in its report.
with this in mind. survey
was made of the two principal
slum areas visited by the Senators
Temple court and Dixon court.
the report continued,
Temple court. from which the
United States Capitol Building
may be seen, is located near Della
ware avenue and Canal street S.W.
Dixon court Is situated between
Third and Fourth and H and ]
streets S.W."
Forty -four Houses Visited.
In the two courts there are q
total Of A houses. An average
Of nearly Ave persons occupy
each house, the report said,
though lin some structures there
are as few as two persons. whereas
others house many people"
To eliminate slums. the asso-
citation recommended:
/. Enforcement of existing
housing and sanitation laws. -
The report said regulations con-
trolling sanitation, the number
of people who may live in one
room. ETC.. should be rigidly en-
forced"
2. Enactment Of "such addi-
tional laws as may be necessary
to insure the maintenance of the
houses and yards in a safe and
sanitary condition at all times"
8. That landlords be required
to make certain improvements"
including installation Of electricity
and indoor running water and
toilets. The report added: "The
doors which are dislocated should
be adjusted; the broken window
panes and frames replaced. The
interior should be repainted or re-
papered. Although 1t is doubtful
whether the landlord could be
compelled by law to paint the out
side of the structures. to do 80
would improve them materially" ="
4. That tenants be required IF
possible" to adhere to funda-
mental principles OF good house
keeping" The report admitted
that this would be largely ques-
ton Of education"
5. That those now living In the
houses who are receiving relief
grants be permitted to 'move into
existing public housing II they so
desire" In this connection, the
report said that public welfare
payments, In the association s
view. provide a "far more desir-
able way to house the needy than
is public housing" but that so
long as public housing units to
exist, needy families should oc-
cupy them rather than rich
families who have high incomes
and can afford television sets and
other luxuries."
Answers From Tenants.
A spokesman for the association
said the report was based on door
to-door visits. Answers to a ques-
tionnaire were supplied by tenants.
The questionnaires are on file in
the associations Office, he said.
The survey was made between
May Is and June /, and q men,
ber Of the Metropolitan Police
Force escorted members Of the
staff to the homes. the spokesman
said.
Conclusions drawn in the re-
port included the following:
l. "The physical structure Of
the buildings is sound. Certain
repairs and freshening UP are
needed, such as painting and wall
papering. Much Of the evidence
of slum conditions is found in the