﻿138 



I^^DIA^s^A UmVEESITY 



A comparison of these figures with those secured in District 

 Number 12 shows that housing- conditions are very similar in the 

 two districts. A large majority of the people live without the 

 benefits of modern conveniences. Not only do they lack the com- 

 forts of modern homes, but they live under the unhealthful sur- 

 roundings of primitive cities. AVater from wells or cisterns is 

 used by 80.4 per cent of the families. The fact that the land 

 in this part of the city is low and that water stands in the yards 

 has already been mentioned. The danger which comes from 

 drinking water which may have been polluted by impurities in 

 the surface water is very great. This danger could be eliminated 

 by the extension of city water mains and careful inspection of 

 wells. 



At the present time it would probably not be expedient for 

 the city to attempt to enforce sanitary sewage in this district. 

 But from the standpoint of public health it would at least be 

 proper to enforce stringent regulations in regard to outside 

 closets and garbage disposal. It will be noted that 72 per cent 

 of the families have their garbage hauled away in the city 

 wagons. About one-half of the remaining 28 per cent feed all 

 their garbage to chickens. The other 14 per cent throw it out 

 into the streets, alleys or their own yards. This last practice 

 should be stopped by regulation and inspection. 



THE FAMILY. 



Number of families investigated — 



^^'liite 291 



Negroes 209 



Total 500 



Number of people 1,700 



Average per family 3.4 



Normal families 376 75 i 



Families not normal 124 25 i 



Father dead 56 45.2^ 



Mother dead 11 8.8^ 



Father deserted 37 29. 8;^ 



Mother deserted 14 11.3^ 



Never married 6 4.9^ 



Number of children in 500 families 896 



Average per family 1.7 



Number of childless families 164 



Indianapolis born 27 5.4^ 



Indiana born 150 30 



American born 294 58.8^ 



Foreign born 29 5.8;^ 



