RECORD OF TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO yy 



NECESSITY FOR DISTRICTING PLAN 



The 35th precinct lies between 79th Street and 96th Street and is 

 distinguished from the other two precincts in Group. I by the existence of 

 high class residences in its western half. This reduces its accident rate from 

 1.88 or 1.89 to 1.28. 



The 17th precinct has proportionately less business than the 15th 

 precinct, though it has a greater density ; this reduces its accident rate from 

 2.40 to 1.57. The 7th precinct is similar. 



It may be objected that the 36th precinct with a density of only 3% 

 thousand per mile has an accident rate of 1.63, as against 1.57 in the 17th. 

 The explanation lies largely in the fact that the streets run at dangerous 

 angles and that there is considerable business on Broadway, Amsterdam 

 Avenue and Manhattan Street. 



Now compare the 43d precinct and its factories with the 7th, which is 

 slightly denser, and note that the accident rate is 1.88, as against 1.78. 

 This, I think, measures the effect of factories. 



Statement of Ernest K. Coulter, Superintendent, New York Society 

 for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 

 May 24, 1916 

 Juvenile delinquency 



Congestion of population is a. large contributing cause to juvenile delin- 

 quency. Some years ago, while in the Children's Court, I made an extensive 

 study of the matter. As a result of that investigation, I would say that at 

 least 40 per cent, of the charges of juvenile delinquency result from the 

 thwarted desire of children to play. This desire in a child is God-given. 

 But in the denser districts the opportunity to play properly and normally is 

 denied these children. The result is that often they give vent to their 

 pent-up energies by doing things which infringe on the rights of others. 

 The bigger the crowd the less the rights of the individual. To play ball, 

 cat, or shinny in the street is against the law, and yet any one of these 

 games is wholesome for a child under proper conditions. Being denied 

 the opportunity to play wholesome games, the suggestion is made to the 

 boy in the crowded districts that it is great fun to steal something from a 

 pushcart. He goes into it chiefly to gratify his desire for adventure and 

 activity. There is the excitement of the chase and that means more to him 

 than the value of the trifling piece of property he has taken. In time that 

 boy is led to more serious stealing and perhaps becomes a pickpocket. 



It is in those districts where the greatest congestion of population exists 

 that the more serious delinquencies are found. Crime, delinquency and 

 disease thrive in the dark. Where there is serious congestion, darkness and 

 bad living conditions exist. Of course, not all delinquency nor cruelty to 

 children is confined to the congested districts. 



Exclusion of stores from residential streets 



Something has been said about exclusion of stores from residential 

 streets. I believe that if stores could be kept out of tenement houses, con- 

 ditions would be improved. Dr. Price has testified regarding herding people 

 in the back rooms of these stores. That is a serious thing. The families 

 of the proprietors and often boarders are crowded into rooms that have little 

 light or air. Physical and moral conditions in such surroundings cannot 

 but be bad. Then there is another factor — the obstruction of the street 

 space that the children and residents need. The sidewalks are cluttered up, 



