﻿HOUSING CONDITIONS IN INDIANAPOLIS 



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Within the district itself we find very little evidence of reli- 

 gious life or activity. Only one church is founci within the bound- 

 aries given, but from this we must not conclude that no religious 

 work is carried on. A number of churches of different denomina- 

 tions and for different nationalities are found near the district in 

 different directions. These are all to some extent attended by the 

 people whom we are studying. 



Just as it is impossible to judge the religious life of the dis- 

 trict by the number of churches within its boundaries, it is also 

 impossible to judge definitely moral and social conditions in the 

 entire district by the forces for evil which are found here. To 

 be more explicit, let us consider the saloons. There are a large 

 number of them in the district, especially along Washington 

 Street and in its immediate vicinity. A certain portion of their 

 patronage comes from the people of the district, the majority of 

 / whom are moderate if not habitual drinkers. But if all of these 

 saloons had to depend upon the residents of the district for their 

 patronage, many w^ould be forced to go out of business. Their 

 patronage comes from various parts of the city. People have 

 business to transact with the cheap stores w^iich are found here ; 

 with the colony of junk dealers who make West AVashington 

 Street their headquarters ; with the packing houses and other 

 large industrial concerns near here. 



The city hay and grain market is located in the district. Each 

 day scores of farmers are found here waiting to dispose of their 

 produce. They too are usually patrons of the saloons. Thus we 

 see that the residents of the district should not be charged with 

 supporting the large number of saloons which are found in their 

 midst. Another evil influence exists in the community for the 

 presence of wliich the residents are not responsible. Along 

 Washington Street, Senate Avenue, Maryland Street and Court 

 Street are found many houses of ill-fame.^ Over half of the red- 

 light district of Indianapolis is found in this part of the city. 

 On the whole these places are considered fairly orderly and well- 

 regu],ated, but they nevertheless do a great deal to lower the 

 moral tone of the surrounding community. If they are to be al- 

 lowed to exist where they noAv are, steps should be taken to reg- 

 ulate family life near them. No children or young people should 



5 Our Investigation was primarily one covering points of family life, income, 

 etc. We consider that there can be no family life in a house of ill-fame, conse- 

 quently our investigators did not call at any of these places, and we do not attempt 

 to give any figures concerning them. 



