UNSANITARY HOUSING 29 



The report of Dr. A. J. Douglas, Medical Officer of Health of 

 Winnipeg, contains the following references to overcrowding in that 

 city; the first indicates how overcrowding occurs, and the second 

 shows along what lines work is being done an example to other 

 cities to go and do likewise: 



" Overcrowding notices totalled 1852, an increase over 

 last year, but most of these were not extreme cases, but mere- 

 ly verbal warnings of the inspector, whose special duty this 

 is, that the number of beds must be reduced; for it requires 

 ceaseless vigilance to keep within bounds the temptation of 

 certain classes to eke out a slender living by taking in boarders, 



regardless of the size of their rooms or families 



" I think we can honestly say that the improvement noted 

 last year amongst the class referred to has been continued 

 through this year. The total number of buildings remaining 

 closed and placarded, December 31st, 1909, were 145. Many 

 of these have been unoccupied for years and are in fact, beyond 

 repair. They, however, cause both this department and the 

 Building Inspector much annoyance by being broken into 

 and becoming nuisances." 



In the Report of the Registrar General of Ontario for the year 

 1908, reference is made to the housing question as follows: 



"There are also many other lines upon which improve- 

 ment can be made, such as the housing of the poorer classes, 

 preferably in detached houses or cottages, the preventing of 

 overcrowding, and I would go so far as recommending legisla- 

 tion to prevent, under certain conditions, the erection of the 

 tenement. They are a damnable architectural invention, and 

 their erection should be carefully considered. Space is what 

 we require, so that fresh air and sunlight may be enjoyed by 

 all." 



It may very properly be asked, What is unsanitary housing?" 

 It is that condition of housing which, in itself, is unsanitary and un- 

 safe or in any way unfit for home-making or for habitation, no 

 matter how transitory; that which tends to impair the physical 

 health or morals of the tenant; the conditions of which are damag- 

 ing to the community. Some of these attributes may be applied to 

 the expensive apartment house which is little better than a series 

 of packing boxes, a human storage warehouse. Would you there- 

 fore have it inferred the modern apartment is a "slum home?" 

 Not a slum but an unhealthy hive, an architectural monstrosity; 

 but these are just the kind of houses that in their decadence make 

 the worst kind of slum homes. 



