RECORD OF TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO 109 



NECESSITY FOR DISTRICTING PLAN 



defects during their early years, so as to become fit and effective self- 

 supporting citizens ; whereas, if during this period their only possibility of 

 residence is where they have to do much stair climbing, the chances of their 

 permanent injury is considerable. 



Dust 



Probably the danger of dust is not so much in its carrying the actual 

 germs of disease as in irritating the respiratory passages and making them 

 more accessible to invasion. The amount of dust which people inhale makes 

 the nose and throat more accessible to the invasion of infection when 

 crowded in traffic conveyances immediately after coming from the street, 

 so, with that proviso, I should say this : That where there is excessive dust 

 or excessive draught and spreading of dust through crowds of people in 

 the streets, there is going to be a diminished local resistance of the respira- 

 tory tract to such diseases as people are commonly exposed to in crowded 

 premises, such as moving picture theatres, traffic conveyances, and many 

 places of public assembly. 



Effect of congestion on health 



The infant mortality rate is usually higher in the most congested places, 

 except for certain characteristic racial differences. The congested colored 

 section gives an infinitely higher rate — I should say three or four times, 

 as I recall the infant mortality statistics, than an area similarly congested 

 occupied by Jewish people. There are racial differences involved, so that 

 I cannot make a very broad general statement. The colored infant mor- 

 tality would be three hundred and the Jewish ninety per 1,000 living births, 

 with similar congestion in similarly constructed buildings. 



I should say we could anticipate with perfect certainty a diminished 

 sick rate, a diminished incidence of infectious disease, and a diminished 

 death rate, in all areas of the city limited to residence developments. The 

 portions of the city which have the small family house development show 

 a lower death rate than prevails elsewhere in the city, under equal economic 

 conditions. Children who are brought up in single or two family houses, 

 where there is plenty of land about, are more likely to be healthy than tho'se 

 brought up in an apartment or a tenement house. 



Statement by William Emerson, Architect, March 28, 1916 



I take pleasure in expressing my hearty approval of the purpose and 

 work of the Commission on Building Districts and Restrictions. 

 This approval is based on the following convictions : 



1. That those occupying houses or apartments or carrying on legiti- 

 mate business will be safeguarded in a continuance of their occupations. 



2. That it will result in establishing and standardizing real estate 

 values, thereby insuring fair activity and profits and eliminating excessive 

 profits or losses resulting from sudden changes. 



3. That such an assurance enables citizens to devote their time and 

 energies to the fullest development of their business and civic interests with- 

 out anxiety for the future. 



4. That it will give to each citizen a proper share of light and air and 

 prevent the monopolization of these essentials to health and happiness. 



5 That the proposed legislation will upset to the least extent estab- 

 lished values, keeping in mind the general benefit that will inevitably result 

 from its enactment. 



