Local History Home
Newspapers
Maps & Views
Government
Business & Industry
Education
Community Life
Local History Timeline
The BDHP
More History Links
Suggested Reading
Be part of Local History
First Annual Message of Archibald Johnston, 1918 [continued]
It contemplates improved housing conditions, and when wisely planned, it promotes the interest of the man of family who desires to purchase a home.
By proper city planning, moderate priced lots are designed with respect to the street in front, and the rear alley, space for lawns and gardens are planned with a view to plenty of sunlight and ventilation, and at the same time handy to direct means of communication with other parts of the community and to connections with the public utilities of water, gas, lighting, transportation, etc.
I know of no city where additional houses are more in demand and would prove more beneficial , to citizens, of the community, as well as to the country at large, than in Bethlehem. Yet due consideration must be given to the character of the structures being reared in our midst —
1. Due regard should be paid to sanitary conditions; that is, health.
2. With the view of preventing fires.
3. From an aesthetic point of view.
In this connection, I take the liberty of quoting from a letter from Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, State Commissioner of Health, on this subject:
"In the matter of housing conditions there are, as you know, several problems. I have had our Housing Bureau working in your section for some time and therefore these problems are particularly vivid to me.
"The tremendous industrial expansion due to war conditions has had a great effect on your locality, South Bethlehem in particular. You have, therefore, bad, as is the usual phenomenon in these cases, a great overcrowding of your buildings, and you have had a rush of speculative building that
Previous | Next 
