﻿HOUSING CONDITIONS IN INDIANAPOLIS 



135 



ible of proof, many people who are familiar with conditions in 

 the district contend that the general moral tone and the stand- 

 ard of living of the whites of the district have been lowered by 

 contact and association with the negroes. 



It would be impossible to forecast the future of the district. 

 Whether its population will eventually be mostly white or mostly 

 negro depends to a large extent upon the policy of the Atlas 

 Engine AVorks. If that establishment again begins production 

 on a large scale, and furnishes employment for hundreds of men 

 (they employ only white men), we may expect to see the negroes 

 crowded out of the district. The houses will be remodeled and 

 become the homes of white laboring men. But if a renewed ac- 

 tivity of the engine works or some unexpected influence does 

 not set in to counteract the tendency of the negroes to move into 

 the district, w^e may expect to see the white people gradual^ 

 move out, with the result that this section of the city will become 

 a regular negro quarter. 



It has already been intimated that the Atlas Engine Works 

 is the most important industrial concern in the district. Among 

 the other establishments which are located here are a large stove 

 and range factory, two lumber yards and planing mills, and a 

 bottling- works. A large number of men go outside of the dis- 

 trict to find employment. Many of them, especially the negroes, 

 are common laborers, teamsters, coachmen, etc., who work in 

 various parts of the city. 



All of the women who work outside of their own homes go 

 out of the district for employment. Some of them work in 

 down town stores or offices, or in factories in other parts of the 

 city, but a large majority of them, especially the negroes, are 

 engaged in housework. The best residence part of the city is 

 located just a few^ squares w^est of this district, hence it is never 

 difficult for the good domestic servants who live here to find 

 work near their homes. 



Child labor in factories is unknown in this part of the city. 

 It' is reported that a number of children who live here are il- 

 legally employed in down town stores, but our investigation did 

 not establish definite proof of this statement. 



Turning our attention for a moment to the subject of retail 

 stores, we find somewhat the same conditions existing here as in 

 District Number 12. There are numerous grocery, dry goods and 

 notion stores in this part of the city, but all of them are small. 



