Evening star., 1950-08-27

Americas biggest cities have 6
new set of woes as result of the
phenomenal boom in their sub
urbs.
While an upsurge in the build
ing of new homes and factories
on the outskirts of cities has beer
apparent for some years, it took
recent Census Bureau report to
point out how pronounced the
trend has been. In the past II
years, the bureau disclosed, the
suburbs of every one of the Ma.
tion's IL largest cities have out
grown the cities themselves-at
rates of as much as so to II.
Many factors are behind the
suburban boom. Easy credit terms
with Government backing, have
enabled millions to buy their owr
homes. Seeking fresh air, low
taxes, some grounds of their own
they turned to the suburbs. In
dustries have moved to the out
skirts to escape city taxes. In line
with population shifts. department
stores have built big suburban
branches, often cutting down or
inside-the-c city operations.
Now, an Associated Press survey
finds, as officials of the big cities
watch the taxpayers leave, they
wonder what to do with their big
fixed debts and expensive civil
service systems. Most are work
ing on long-range programs to try
to halt, if not reverse, the tide.
St. Louis is typical. In 1910
its population was 816,048 and this
year it is 852,523. In that period
its suburbs jumped from 616,03e
to 821,9 ,9O5. Those who have left
the city for suburban homes gen.
orally have higher. more taxable
incomes and greater spending
power. Left behind are more and
more persons who cannot afford
new homes. So the city finds it
self with constantly worsening
slums.
Officials Disturbed
st. Louis Mayor Joseph M.
Darst says his city is battling the
slum problem. 1t has new zon-
ing law and a new ordinance set
ting minimum housing standards.
Several low-rent housing projects
are under way. and st. Louis aims
to get Federal aid on big projects
under the Housing Act of 1949.
In one key or other, officials of
most big cities are also singing
the "St. Louis Blues"
For example, Philadelphia's sub
urbs have been outgrowing the
city proper at rate of three to
one. I'VE don't intend to sit back
and watch peaple move away"
says Mayor Bernard Samuel.
"We're spending over $500 million
on our redevelopment housing pro-
gram to wipe out defective hous-
ing and attract new households.
Schools, recreation centers. high
ways, bridges are being con-
structed."
Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Of
Baltimore strikes the same fight
ing note: THE asSessable tax
basis of Baltimore's downtown
business area decreased from
SITS, 1851 600 in 1881 to $116,663,-
900 in 1896" he says. But we are
not taking this deterioration of
the city lying down. BY our efforts
to clean UP slums, relieve traffic
congestion, provide sufficient park
ing space and generally make city
life more attractive we definitely
are on the road back"
One of the city's main weapons
in it's fight on slums is its ma
tionally famous Baltimore plan" +"
Block by block, city inspectors
move in on slum dwellings, search
ing for violations of health, hous-
ing, sanitation, building, fire and
zoning ordinances. In its hous-
ing court, which considers hoLOlg
violations only, more than 1000
cases have been prosecuted in the
last three years.
Districts Situation
The city of Pittsburgh barely
held its own in the 1940-1950 dec
ade, gaining only 1000 in popula-
ton while its suburbs increased
by 10000. eve have become well
aware Of our problems and have
set out to correct them through an
impressive improvement program
now under way" says Mayor Da-
vid Lawrence.
II am certain" he adds. that
the only sound way to prevent
larger migrations to the suburbs
is for American cities to recognize
their faults and to make earnest
attempts to remedy them"
Efforts along this line in New
York include vast housing pro-
gram, new road and school con-
struction, and vast parking facili-
ties aimed at easing a traffic prob
lem estimated to be costing the
city's businessmen millions of dol
lars daily.
San Francisco has been plan
ming more underground parking