Sanitary conditions among the Negroes of Athens, Georgia

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Universitas Georgiae 1785, Et Docere et Rerum Exquirere Causas JULY, 1918
Bulletin of the University of Georgia
Volume XVIII Number 7
Phelps-Stokes Fellowship
Studies, No. 4
Sanitary Conditions Among the
Negroes of Athens, Georgia
Entered at the Post Office at Athens, Ga., as Second Class Matter, August 31, 1905, under Act of Congress of July 16th, 1904. Issued Monthly by the University.
Serial Number 293
Foreword

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FOREWORD

During the academic year 1912-1913 there was established in the University of Georgia a Fellowship for the study of negro problems in the South. The resolution of the Trustees of the Phelps-Stokes Fund in creating the Fellowship reads as follows:

"Whereas, Miss Caroline Phelps Stokes in establishing the Phelps-Stokes Fund was especially solicitous to assist in improving the condition of the negro, and"

"Whereas, It is the conviction of the Trustees that one of the best methods of forwarding this purpose is to provide means to enable southern youths of broad sympathies to make a scientific study of the negro and of his adjustment to American civilization,"

"Resolved, That twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500) be given to the University of Georgia for the permanent endowment of a research fellowship, on the following conditions:"

"1. The University shall appoint annually a Fellow in Sociology, for the study of the negro. He shall pursue advanced studies under the direction of the departments of Sociology, Economics, Education or History, as may be determined in each case by the Chancellor. The Fellowship shall yield $500, and shall, after four years, be restricted to graduate students."

"2. Each Fellow shall prepare a paper or thesis embodying the result of his investigations which shall be published by the University with assistance from the income of the fund, any surplus remaining being applicable to other objects incident to the main purpose of the Fellowship. A copy of these resolutions shall be incorporated in every publication issued under this foundation."

"3. The right to make all necessary regulations, not inconsistent with the spirit and letter of these resolutions, is given to the Chancellor and Faculty, but no changes in the conditions of the foundation can be made without the mutual consent both of the Trustees of the University and of the Phelps-Stokes Fund."

I appointed as Fellow under this foundation for the year 1915-1916 Mr. H. S. O'Kelley, to whom the University had awarded the degree of Master of Arts in 1915, and placed the work under the direction of Dr. H. W. Odum, Professor of Educational Sociology and Rural Education. Mr. O'Kelley entered the army before he was able to put his data together. Dr. Odum was absent on leave during most of the session of 1917-1918, engaged in Civilian Relief work. Under these conditions, Prof. R. P. Brooks, prepared the present study from the data collected by Mr. O'Kelley.

DAVID C. BARROW, Chancellor, University of Georgia.
Preface

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PREFACE

The first of the Phelps-Stokes Studies, published in 1913, gave the results of a general study of the conditions among the negroes of Athens, Georgia, the seat of the University of Georgia. That study contained a description of the town and a survey showing the location of the several negro settlements, with observations on the physical environment of these communities. The present investigator made a house to house canvass in the more important negro settlements, making a detailed study of 215 typical homes, containing in all 735 rooms. The object of the study was to obtain facts bearing on the health conditions of the negroes. In a town of nearly 20,000 inhabitants, of whom the negroes are about 40 per cent., it was impracticable to subject all negro houses to such minute study, but it is believed that the houses inspected are fairly representative of the whole.

H. S. O'KELLEY, M. A.
Athens, Ga., April, 1918.
Chapter 1

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CHAPTER I.
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Mortality Statistics of Athens, Ga.

The following table reproduces in concise form all the data that the investigator has been able to obtain from the records of the Board of Health of Athens. The original tables listed two or three times as many causes of deaths as are here given. The infrequent diseases have been omitted. These together with deaths from uncertain or unknown causes are grouped together as miscellaneous. Table I.
Mortality Statistics of Athens, Ga.,
1909-1915.1.

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1912 1913 1915
Estimated 17,000 20,000 20,000
Population White, 10,000 White, 12,000 White, 12,000
Black, 7,000 Black, 8,000 Black, 8,000
Death Rate 16.1 13.9 13.3
White Death Rate 14.5 11.3 11.2
Black Death Rate 18.3 17.8 16.

The total number of deaths reported during the six years was 1,626. Of these the white race contributed 814; the colored, 812. Whites constitute approximately 60 percent [per cent] of the population of the town. The greater immunity from disease enjoyed by the white people is due in part to their superior economic position, enabling members of that race to live in better surroundings and to provide better safeguards for health; in part to superior education and concern with matters of hygiene and sanitation; and in part to the negro's greater susceptibility to tuberculosis, which is by far the most frequent cause of death listed in the table.

The eight diseases, Apoplexy, Bright's Disease, Colitis, Heart disease, Pellagra, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, and Typhoid Fever, accounted for 42 percent [per cent] of the deaths in the period. On a racial basis these leading diseases scored as follows:

TABLE II.
Mortality Due to Certain Diseases
White Black
Percent [Per cent] Percent [Per cent]
Apoplexy 50 50
Bright's Disease 37 63
Colitis 57 43
Heart disease 51 49
Pellagra 59 41
Pneumonia 55 45
Tuberculosis 28 72
Typhoid Fever 50 50

Since the negroes are only 40 percent [per cent]of the total population, it is clear that they suffer more heavily than they should, were conditions the same for the two races, from all these diseases, and notably so in the case of Tuberculosis and Bright's Disease. Pellagra is the only one of the eight diseases in which the figures conform to the population ratio.

The death rate of Athens is much lower than that of most cities containing a considerable colored population. In the "registration

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area" 2.are 79 cities in which in 1910 negroes constituted at least ten percent [per cent] of the population. For these 79 cities the death rate for stated years is given in the following table.

TABLE III.
Mortality Statistics of 79 Cities in the Registration Area, Per Thousand Population.3.
Percent [Per cent]
population 1912 1913 1914 1915
Total 100 18.8 18.3 18.4 18.3
White 73.3 15.7 15.3 15.5 15.0
Black 26.7 27.8 26.8 26.7 27.5

A comparison of these figures with the data given at the end of Table I shows the situation in Athens to be far better than in the registration area as a whole.

The following tables compares the mortality statistics of Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and Athens, again to the advantage of Athens.

TABLE IV.
Comparison of the Mortality Statistics of Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and Athens, Georgia, 1912-1915.
Percent [Per Cent] of Population Total Death Rate White Death Rate Negro Death Rate
1912 1913 1914 1915 1912 1913 1914 1915 1912 1913 1914 1915
Atlanta White, 66.4 Black, 33.6 18. 17.4 16.5 15.1 14.6 13.5 13.2 11.4 24.7 25.2 23. 23.3
Savannah White, 48.9 Black, 51.1 26.6 25. 25.4 24.5 18.4 17.3 17.5 14.5 34.4 32.2 33. 34.4
Augusta White, 55.2 Black, 44.8 --- 19.7 21.5 22.6 --- 16.7 17.6 17.5 --- 23.4 26.2 28.7
Athens White, 60. Black, 40. 16.1 15.1 --- 14.1 12.1 12.5 --- 12.1 18.4 19.1 --- 17.1

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The Board of Health in Athens is organized on a firm basis. The town is fortunate in having a relatively large number of highly trained physicians, who take great interest in the operations of the Board. Three leading physicians have during the past ten years occupied the position of president of the Board and they have been largely responsible for the city legislation on health and sanitation. Two inspectors are kept going the rounds, inspecting the premises of the white and colored citizens; eight garbage wagons are used in carting off the rubbish; and a modern incinerating plant has recently been installed. The city employs a bacteriologist, whose duties are those usually performed by such officers. As an example of the work being done in Athens, in the appendix (See pp. 24-28) there is given a copy of one of the annual reports of the Bacteriologist, a report of the Sanitary Inspectors, and a financial report of the Secretary of the Board of Health.

It should be understood at the outset, therefore, that conditions are far better in Athens than in most cities, and that an active and intelligent Board of Health exists. Insofar as the investigation now to be reported shows unfortunate conditions still existing among the colored population, it should be borne in mind that there has been great improvement during the past decade, and that the present situation can in no way [wise] be attributed to any failure of the Board of Health to do its appointed task. It is rather to be explained by the general lethargy of the community, the lack of financial resources of the city government, and the low standards and adverse economic conditions prevailing among the negroes themselves.
Notes

1. The investigator was unable to obtain the report for 1914.
2. The states and cities making up the registration area are those for which the registration of deaths has been accepted by the United States government as approximately complete. In 1915 the registration area included 25 states, the District of Columbia, and 41 cities not in registration states. Georgia is not in the registration area, nor is Athens. Only Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah of the Georgia cities are included. Athens, however, should be so included, as its system of death registration is now quite thorough.
3. See Mortality Statistics, Sixteenth Annual Report, U. S. Bureau of the Census, 1915, pp. 16-17.

Chapter 2

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CHAPTER II.
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THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE NEGRO HOMES.
1. Size of the Building Lot

For the most part the negro families of Athens occupy separate homes. There are no tenements, properly so called, and little of that congestion which is so distinctive a feature of slum life in the great cities. The following table shows the size of the lots on which the 215 houses inspected stand.

TABLE V.
Size of Negro Building Lots.
Size. Number. Percent. [Per Cent]
Under 1,000 square feet 0 0.00
1,000 to 1,500 square feet 4 1.86
1,500 to 2,500 square feet 8 3.72
2,500 to 3,500 square feet 9 3.76
3,500 to 5,000 square feet 39 18.13
5,000 to 10,000 square feet 90 41.86
Above 10,000 square feet 65 30.67

Few of the lots have less than 3,500 square feet and a large majority have more than 5,000. Evidently, there is little crowding of houses together. All of the houses have front and back yards. Though many of the lots are uneven and frequently rough, the negroes manage to have some sort of garden spot, 166 being counted during the survey. A majority of the lots have trees.
2. Location of the Houses.

With a few exceptions, the negro dwellings face the open street. Three of the total number visited fronted on back yards of other premises, and four faced alleys. No particularly objectionable consequences seem to follow from this condition.

TABLE VI.
Location of the Houses.
House faces Number Percent [Per Cent.]
Street 208 96.74
Alley 4 1.86
Back yard 3 1.4

The streets and sidewalks in negro communities are not so wide as in the better portions of the town. The streets are entirely unpaved, as are also the sidewalks except in a few instances. Fifty-six percent [per cent.] of the houses faced streets that were 18 feet wide; 28 percent [per cent.] faced streets that were more than 18 feet wide; while the remaining 16 percent [per cent.] faced streets under 18 feet in width.

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3. Condition of the Lots and Streets.

The condition of the lots with respect to cleanliness, is shown in the following table.

TABLE VII.
Condition of the Premises.
Number percent [Per cent.]
Clean 3 1.4
Dirty 207 96.26
Filthy 5 2.33

The premises listed as clean contained no rubbish at the time of the inspection; those listed as filthy, were in a disgraceful condition. Generally speaking, a litter is scattered about negro homes, little interest being taken in keeping up the appearance of the place. The streets in front of the houses are in a much better condition, only eight houses fronting streets that might be accurately described as dirty.
4. Drainage.

Little or no difficulty is encountered in Athens on account of poor drainage, the contour of the ground being such as to carry off the surface water. In only three cases were the premises below the surface of the streets.

Despite this favorable condition, many of the negro premises are constantly damp. This is due to the fact that many negro women take in washing, and, as there are practically no sewer connections, the dirty water is dumped out on the ground surrounding the home. Offensive odors are thus created, and, of course, the dampness is detrimental to health. The following table shows the facts in this connection.

TABLE VIII.
Dampness.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Dry 112 52.09
Damp 103 47.91
5. The Water Supply.

The conditions under which people obtain their supply of water are naturally of prime importance. The situation in Athens in this respect is disquieting. Open wells are still the principal source of water available to Athens negroes, as is shown by the following table.

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TABLE IX.
Number of families using Percent. [Per cent.]
Hydrant 73 26.45
Well 172 62.32
Spring 31 11.23

The 215 houses inspected were occupied by 276 families. The above table shows the source of water used by these 276 families. Roughly, two-thirds use well water; one-fourth use city water; and ten percent. [per cent] use spring water. Only in the case of the hydrant water is there any reasonable assurance that the supply is pure. Three of every four families use water that is more or less impure at all times and always in danger of serious contamination. The wells are frequently located close to stables, hen houses, or surface closets, and are so placed that the water drains from these buildings directly into the well. It is frequently the case that there is no water supply at all on a given lot. In such cases it becomes necessary for the tenants to resort to a neighboring well. Where the water is borrowed in this way, the borrower has no control over the conditions surrounding the water supply. The springs are never located on the premises of the users, and hence no one is primarily responsible for keeping the surroundings in a proper sanitary state. In the case of the hydrant, of course, it is a matter of no consequence where the source is located, since no contamination is likely. The inconvenience of having to go off the lot for water is the only disadvantage in the common use of hydrants. The following table shows the facts with reference to the location of the water supply.

TABLE X.
Location of the Water Supply.
Location Hydrant Well Spring
No. Percent [Per cent.] No. Percent [Per cent.] No. Percent [Per cent.]
Own yard 32 56.14 56 41.48 0 0.00
Adjoining yard 24 42.11 76 52.29 23 100.00
Across street 1 1.75 3 2.22 0 0.00

In this table the houses are classified as to the location of the water supply; for instance, 32 houses are supplied with hydrant water, the hydrants being located on the premises; the occupants of 24 other houses supplied by hydrants have to resort to adjoining lots.

How rarely an individual family has exclusive control over its own water supply is indicated more fully in the following table.

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TABLE XI.
Control of the Water Supply.
Families Hydrant Well Spring
No. Percent. [Per cent.] No. Percent. [Per cent.] No. Percent. [Per cent.]
One 13 18.06 31 17.92 0 0.00
Two 20 27.78 48 27.74 0 0.00
3 or 4 14 19.44 36 20.81 4 12.9
5 or more 25 34.72 58 33.53 27 87.1

In this table the 276 families investigated are listed in such a way as to show the extent to which they share with others the water supply. Thirteen families control a hydrant, 31 families control a well, none has exclusive control of a spring. More than eighty percent [per cent.] of the wells are shared in by two or more families, while the springs in most cases serve five or more families.
6. Surface Closets.

The surface closet is used by practically all the negro families investigated.
TABLE XII.
Prevalence of Surface Closets.
Number of families using. Percent [Per cent.]
Surface 269 97.46
Water 7 2.54

This condition is due to the fact that negro houses are cheaply built and are located in undesirable sections of the town where there are no sewer connections. The cost of installing a water closet and bath fixtures would frequently double the cost of the house.

It is perhaps superfluous to point out the menace to health of the open surface closet, with its accumulation of filth, providing as it does the most favorable of conditions for contamination through the medium of flies. The evil is accentuated by the fact that in many instances no single family has control over the closet. Division of responsibility does not make for cleanliness. The closet is frequently divided into two or three compartments, each used by a single family. Even this measure of privacy is not enjoyed by a considerable proportion of the families. The following table shows the facts.
TABLE XIII.
Control of Surface Closets.
Number Per cent.Percent [Per cent.]
1 compartment used by 1 family 138 66.35
2 compartment used by 2 families 14 6.73
3 compartment used by 3 families 18 8.65
No. of families exceeds number of compartments 37 17.79

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This table shows that the one compartment closet is predominant in numbers, being 66.35 percent [per cent.] of the total. In 37 instances closets are used by more families than the number of compartments contained. Of the seven water closets, four were used exclusively by one family each; three by several families. The two-family use of two-compartment toilets usually occurs where two families reside in the same house, or on adjoining lots owned by the same landlord.
TABLE XIV.
Closets Classified with Respect to Cleanliness.
Condition Number Percent [Per cent.]
Clean 24 11.54
Dirty 80 38.46
Filthy 104 50.00

This table shows a deplorable state of affairs. Nearly ninety percent [per cent.] of the surface closets were far from clean, and fifty percent [per cent.] could only be described as filthy. The negroes are for the most part unconcerned in the matter, having little or no knowledge of sanitation.

In most cases carriers of diseases and filth from surface closets have no obstacles to surmount either in entering the receptacles where they obtain their deadly germs or in getting access to the negro dwellings (few of the houses being screened). Most of the negro closets are entirely open, not even being sufficiently closed to keep out animals or fowls. The following table shows the unprotected condition of the closets inspected.
TABLE XV.
Prevalence of the Open Closet.
Condition Number Percent [Per cent.]
Open in rear 151 72.6
Closed in rear 57 27.4

Three-fourths of the closets were entirely without any protection in the rear, and even those classed as closed were rarely so tightly closed as to exclude flies. The boarded-up closets were the filthiest seen. This was no doubt due in part to the idea that closing the closet was sufficient; in part to the inconvenience of taking down and replacing the planks used in closing the rear.

Very few of the families make any attempt to keep down noisome odors or prevent the multiplication of germs by the use of ashes, lime or even dry earth in the receptacles. Nothing whatever was used in 190 of the 208 closets inspected; in eleven cases ashes were used; lime in two cases, and dry earth in five others. Five of the 208 closets had properly constructed vaults. These closets were in very good condition. With regard to the condition of the building itself, about half were in a fair state of repair; the other half being

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equally divided between those in good and in bad condition. Some closets were in as good condition as could be asked; others were mere makeshifts, having sacks suspended before the opening where the door should have been. The water closets were in good condition, with one exception.

7. Other Outhouses.

The menace of contagion from the surface closets is increased by the presence on the negro premises of other buildings, used to house hogs, cattle, stock and chickens. The following table shows the extent to which the families under consideration have such property.
TABLE XVI.
Animals and Fowls.
Families having Number Per cent.Percent [Per cent.]
One cow 19 6.87
One calf 8 2.9
Two or more cows 3 1.09
One mule or horse 10 3.62
One goat 2 0.72
Chickens 63 20.83
One hog or pig 26 9.22
Two hogs or pigs 18 6.52
Three or more hogs or pigs 8 2.9

About eight percent [per cent.] of the families kept milch cows at the time of the survey; 3.62 had a draft animal; one in five families kept chickens; and about the same proportion had hogs. It is of course desirable that the negroes should supplement their fare by producing all the meat, milk and eggs they can. From a sanitary point of view, however, the outhouses do not make for good conditions, since they are usually not kept clean and are rarely sufficiently removed from the dwellings. The hog pens are particularly objectionable. These are not here catalogued because the hogs are penned up in any sort of a makeshift arrangement, never worthy the name of house. The following tables show sufficiently the condition of the stables and hen houses, and the distance from the dwellings.
TABLE XVII.
Condition of the Stables.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Clean 10 25.64
Dirty 22 56.41
Filthy 7 17.95
TABLE XVIII.
Condition of the Hen Houses.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Clean 10 15.62
Dirty 38 59.38
Filthy 16 25.00

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TABLE XIX.
Distance of Stables from Dwellings
Number Percent [Per cent.]
15 to 25 feet 6 15.38
25 to 50 feet 22 56.41
50 feet or more 11 28.21
TABLE XX.
Distance of Hen Houses from Dwellings.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Less than 15 feet 11 17.19
15 to 25 feet 19 29.69
25 to 50 feet 31 48.44
50 feet or over 3 4.69

Chapter 3

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CHAPTER III.
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THE DWELLINGS.
1. The Size of the Houses.

In the following table the 215 houses inspected are classified according to the number of rooms contained.
TABLE XXI.
Houses Classified by Number of Rooms.
No of rooms Number of houses Percent [Per cent.]
Two 44 20.47
Three 76 35.35
Four 63 29.3
Five 17 7.91
Six 9 4.19
Seven 6 2.79

None of the owned or rented negro houses, it will be observed, are of the one-room variety. Formerly the one-room house was common, but there are few, if any, in Athens now. Three- and four-room houses are the prevailing types. They are plain frame buildings, poorly constructed, and cost on the average about $500, which figure would usually include the value of the site.
2. Size of the Rooms.

There was a total of 736 rooms in the 215 houses. These rooms may be classified as follows with respect to size.
TABLE XXII.
Size of the Rooms.
Size of rooms Number Percent [Per cent.]
Under 1,000 cubic feet 53 7.2
1,000 to 1,500 cubic feet 75 10.19
1,500 to 2,000 cubic feet 154 20.92
Over 2,000 cubic feet 454 61.68

Since more than eighty percent [per cent.] of the rooms contain at least 1,500 cubic feet of space, that is to say, would be 12 by 12 feet with the walls 10 feet high, one may conclude that there is plenty of air space. Of more importance is the number of persons who are forced to occupy the rooms, and the sanitary condition of the living quarters. It will be shown that there is little overcrowding, but that conditions with regard to cleanliness are not so favorable.
3. Number of Bed Rooms.

The following table lists the houses according to the number of bed rooms.

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TABLE XXIII.
Number of Bed Rooms.
Number of bed rooms per house Number Percent [Per cent.]
One 99 46.05
Two 93 43.26
Three 15 6.98
Four 7 3.26
Five 1 0.47

Ninety percent [per cent.] of the houses contain either one or two bedrooms [bed rooms], the two-bedroom [two-bed room] house being about as common as that containing only one. Where the family is large, it is the practice to put a bed in the kitchen-dining room. Rooms subserving this double purpose were not counted as bedrooms [bed rooms], except in cases where a small family, or a single person, controlled one room for all purposes. The two-room houses are almost invariably occupied by one family. In the five cases where two-room houses were occupied by two families, the cooking and eating, of course, had to be done in the bedroom [bed room]. A total of 51 rooms were counted in which sleeping, cooking and eating occurred. This number added to the 363 rooms used exclusively as bedrooms [bed rooms], giving a total of 414 rooms used for sleeping purposes, or one sleeping room for every 2.45 individuals.

The bedrooms [bed rooms] are generally used also as sitting or living rooms. Many of the women are laundresses. The washing is done outside, but the ironing goes on in the living-bedroom [bed room]; and in winter often the washing itself is done indoors [in doors]. Fumes arising from the washing and ironing add to the other disagreeable odors generated in the negro dwelling, and do not make for the health or comfort of the family. The negroes rarely ventilate the rooms after the ironing and before retiring for the night.
4. Condition of the Houses.

An effort was made to classify the houses with reference to the state of repair. There is, of course, no great definiteness in such a classification, since a standard of measurement is hard to set up.
TABLE XXIII.
Condition of the Houses.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Good 71 33.02
Fair 125 58.13
Bad 19 8.84

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TABLE XXV.
Condition of the Rooms.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Good 393 53.4
Fair 261 35.46
Bad 82 11.84

A comparison of these two tables would appear to indicate that in many cases where the house as a whole is in only fair repair, some of the rooms are in better shape. Leaky roofs is the most common trouble, one-third of the houses inspected suffering in that respect. Sometimes the leaking is over only part of the house, usually the kitchen, which is more likely to be in a bad state of repair than the living or bed room.
5. Lighting and Ventilation.

The following table shows the window space of the 736 rooms.
TABLE XXVI.
Window Space.
Space Number Percent [Per cent.]
None 3 0.4
Under 10 square feet 49 6.6
10 to 20 square feet 227 31.1
20 to 30 square feet 222 30.1
30 to 40 square feet 225 30.5
Over 40 square feet 10 1.3

Only one of the three rooms that had no window space was used as a bedroom [bed room], and it had two doors at opposite ends of the room. It is apparent that there is no deficiency in the matter of lighting and ventilation facilities. Eighty-three percent [per cent.] of the rooms were classified as well lighted; 17 percent [per cent.] as gloomy, and two as dark. The ventilation in the day time is usually good, since doors are left open practically all the time; but at night it is the custom of the negro to shut up everything tightly, windows and doors. The poor construction of the houses, however, generally guarantees that plenty of air will get in.
6. Cleanliness.

A low standard of cleanliness prevails among the negroes. This is due in part to their habits, their unconcern about personal hygiene and the absence of propaganda among them; and in part to the fact that large numbers of the women spend the entire day away from home as servants. They have little time or energy left after a hard day's work for the duty of home making. It is becoming

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more and more common for negro women to refuse to hire themselves out for the entire day. This may be a good tendency from the point of view of caring of their own homes. Many negro women whose husbands support them adequately do maintain neat, clean homes, as may be inferred from the fact that 45 percent [per cent.] of the total number of rooms are classed as "clean."
TABLE XXVII.
Rooms Classified with Respect to Cleanliness.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Clean 336 45.65
Dirty 387 52.58
Filthy 13 1.77

It should be pointed out that the unfortunate conditions shown by the above table are not by any means to be attributed entirely to any racial trait of the negro. Rent collectors assert that conditions are quite as bad among the white tenants of similar economic position.
6. [7]Screens.

Only 39, or 5.3 percent [per cent.] of the 736 rooms inspected, were provided with screens; window or doors, but not both, were screened in 19 other rooms. This condition is menacing. The open closet close to the dwellings, and other fly beds, produce the insects; the absence of screens gives them free access to the occupants of the houses, so that contamination necessarily results. The danger of typhoid from flies and malaria from mosquitoes is ever present. Only twelve of the 215 houses were screened throughout.
7. [8] Cellars and Basements.

Such cellars and basements as were found were usually mere dug-outs, occasionally with planks as walls. They are used for storage of plunder or fuel. Six of the 22 cellars seen were used for living purposes, all but one for cooking and eating. In one instance a man used a basement room for all purposes. During the winter months and the wet periods of the year, the cellars, often below the surface on all sides, let in water and radiate dampness throughout the house.
Chapter 4

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CHAPTER IV.
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THE OCCUPANTS.
1. Size of the Families.

The following table shows the size of the families, or rather units, that occupied houses or parts of houses. The total number of such units was 276.
TABLE XXVIII.
Size and composition of units Number Percent [Per cent.]
Having only male member 13 4.71
Having only female member 18 6.52
Man and wife 63 22.83
Man and wife with one child 32 11.59
Man and wife with 2 or 3 children 43 15.58
Man and wife with 4 or 5 children 22 7.97
Man and wife with 6 or more children 13 4.71
Widower with 1 or 2 children 1 0.36
Widower with 3 or more children 2 0.72
Widow with child not old enough to work 8 2.9
Widow with child old enough to work 11 3.99
Widow with 2 or 3 children 26 9.42
Widow with 4 or more children 11 3.99
Composed of women, as sisters, aunts, etc 6 2.17
Composed of sisters and brothers 5 1.81
Composed of women not related 2 0.72

Sixty-two percent [per cent.] of the total number of units may be called normal, being composed of a man and wife, usually with children. The two classes first listed cannot, of course, be properly called families at all. In many of the negro tenant houses the rooms are separately rented and the rent is fixed at a rate per room. Single, widowed or divorced men and women in this way find lodging in houses the other rooms of which may be occupied by a family. It is interesting to observe that 20 percent [per cent.] of the groups consists of widows with children. It was impossible to ascertain to what extent these women were really widows; some of them undoubtedly are; others were probably never married. There are many illegitimate children among Athens negroes. Fourteen of the families kept lodgers. Twenty-five families had living with them some relative not a member of the immediate family. In fifteen of these cases the relative was the mother of either the head of the family or his wife.
2. Home Owners and Renters.

The first of the following table classifies the houses as either owned by the occupants or rented. In the second table the houses are classified with reference to the period of occupancy of the present owners or renters.

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TABLE XXIX.
Owners and Renters.
Number Percent [Per cent.]
Owned by occupants 61 28.37
Rented 154 71.63
TABLE XXX.
Period of Occupancy.
Owners Percent [Per cent.] Renters Percent [Per cent.]
Six months or less 1 1.6 37 24.
Not more than 1 year 3 4.9 35 22.7
1 1toto 2 years 2 3.3 4 2.6
2 to 3 years 0 0.0 11 7.2
3 to 5 years 11 18.0 18 11.7
5 to 8 years 9 14.8 22 14.3
8 years or more 35 57.4 27 17.5

As might have been expected, the families occupying homes owned by themselves are the most stable elements. Ninety percent [per cent.] of the owners have occupied their present homes for three or more years, and more than 50 percent [per cent.] for eight years or more. The owned houses are far better in every way than the rented houses, the sense of ownership and the longer tenure resulting in pride being taken in making the house a real home. It is probable that the figures give too favorable a view of the extent of negro home ownership. No effort was made to ascertain what proportion of the "owned" home really belong to the occupants. Such an investigation would doubtless show many occupiers holding bonds for title, or that the property was encumbered with mortgages.

The negro renters are constantly on the move from one dwelling to another. Nearly 50 percent [per cent.] of them had occupied their dwelling for, only a year or less. These houses are nearly always poorly constructed, get worse with age, and offer little possibility of being made attractive. Landlords are strongly disinclined to spend anything in improvements on negro dwellings. The result is that the negro changes from house to house in the effort to find better lodgings; and not remaining long enough in any one place to become attached to it, little pride does he take in the appearance of things. Many other negroes of the shiftless class get evicted for non-payment of rent and take up residence in any sort of shelter available, being in no position to demand decent accommodations.
3. Rents.

The following table distributes the 154 rented houses according to the amount of rent paid, and also shows on a percentage basis the dominant rental rates.

------ page 21 ------
TABLE XXXI.
Rents.
Rent per month Number Percent [Per cent.]
Less than $2.00 5 3.25
$2.00 to $3.00 0 0.00
$3.00 to $4.00 19 12.34
$4.00 to $5.00 28 18.18
$5.00 to $6.00 39 25.32
$6.00 to $7.00 36 23.38
$7.00 to $8.00 10 6.49
$8.00 to $10.00 7 4.55
$10.00 or over 8 5.19

The figures give the total rent yielded by the house, whether it be occupied by one or more than one renter. It is clear that the five to seven dollar houses constitute the bulk of the rental properties, 57 percent [per cent.] of the houses falling within those classes. There are practically none yielding less than $3.00 and few yielding more than $8.00. As has already been stated, the houses are commonly rented at so much per room. One often hears the statement in Athens that negro rental property pays extraordinarily well. This is superficially true. The houses yield an average of about $75 gross income, which is a net six percent [per cent.] on about $1,000. Few, if any, negro tenant houses are worth anything like $1,000. Perhaps $500 would be a good average.

The management of negro rental property, however, is attended by many disadvantages and much petty annoyance. The rent must be collected weekly; a considerable part of the nominal income from the rentals is lost on account of the shiftlessness of this class of renters. They are constantly moving about, leaving houses untenanted. Evictions for non-payment of rent are frequent. Furthermore, there is practically no chance of the landlord reaping any profit from appreciation of site values. Once a section becomes a black community, whites never move in, either as renters or home owners. Hence it comes about that though the rate of interest on investments in negro rental property is high, there is no rush of capital to partake of this advantage, a fact which may be interpreted to mean that the rental is not exorbitant in view of all the circumstances.
4. Occupations.

The connection between occupations and health conditions is obvious. That section of the population which is lowest in the economic and social scale of necessity does the heavy, menial work. Work of this character is ill paid; so that it is impossible for the poor to remedy some of the adverse conditions which beset them.

In the following table of occupations, the terms "man" and "woman" refer to individuals having no family dependent on them; "boy" and "girl" refer to children still living with their parents.

------ page 22 ------

TABLE XXVIII.
Occupations.

It will be observed that most of the skilled trades are represented in this table--carpenters, painters, brick masons, plasterers, plumbers, cobblers, barbers, mechanics, etc. About 12 percent [per cent.] of the 175 men work at skilled or artisan callings. There are seven farmers, four professional men. All the others may be classed roughly as unskilled laborers, though possibly butlers and chauffeurs require different classification, especially in view of the fact that their pay is regular. The same is true of drivers of delivery wagons. Though some detailed classification is here attempted, with the exceptions

------ page 23 ------
mentioned, the negro men draw the wages of ordinary unskilled labor. In normal times this is $1.25 to $1.50 per day, on the days when the laborer works. He is liable to be laid off at any time on account of weather conditions. At present, on account of the war demand, unskilled labor is much higher, running at times to $2.50 per day.

It would doubtless be out of the question for a negro family to maintain other than a low standard of living on a day laborer's wage, even were the wage judiciously expended. Unfortunately, it has been shown that a large part of their meager income is wasted by the negroes. In a former Phelps-Stokes Study,1. an account was given of the income and expenditures of 184 typical negro families of the town. It was shown that the average income was about $500 per family, of which more than half was thrown away.

The women are nearly all either laundresses or cooks, the former occupation accounting for 68 percent [per cent.] of the women with families and 53 percent [per cent.] of those without families. Cooks comprise 18 and 32 percent [per cent.] respectively of these two classes of women. The laundresses nearly always take the clothes to their own homes to be washed, as has been pointed out. It is a curious anomaly that such an intimate relation as this should exist between white employers and black servants, with no concerted effort made on the part of the white people to improve the conditions surrounding the negro homes, though to these homes diseases occurring in white families can frequently be traced.

Laundering is evidently much more popular among the negro women than cooking. The explanation of this fact is that as cooks most of the time of the negro women is controlled by the employer, whereas as laundresses the women are able to remain in their homes, securing in this way that freedom of movement which they all prize so highly, and finding time to give more attention to their children and housekeeping. Cooking has the advantage of providing food for the cook and in most cases for her entire family; but this consideration may be more than offset by the ability of the laundress to do the work of several families, thus receiving twice the income she would obtain from a position as cook.
Notes

1. T. J. Woofter, Jr., The Negroes of Athens, Ga., p. 51.
Appendix 1

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APPENDIX 1.
------
REPORT OF CITY BACTERIOLOGIST OF ATHENS, GA., 1915.

Athens, Ga.,

Jan. 1st, 1916. Dr. J. P. Proctor,
President Board of Health,
City

Dear Sir:--

I beg to submit herewith report of work done by me as City Bacteriologist during the year 1915.
I. Analyses of city water supply:
Samples of city water analyzed 304
II. Analyses of samples from wells of city:
Samples from wells analyzed 48
Wells condemned 29
III. Tubes of Agar Agar for water media prepared in laboratory 431
Dextrose Broth prepared for water examination, litres 18
Examination of Diphtheria Cultures:
(a) Cultures showing diphtheria bacilli 13
(b) Cultures not showing diphtheria, bacilli 71
--
Total number cultures examined 84
VI. Tubes of Loffler's Blood Serum prepared in laboratory for diphtheria cultures 243
VII. Hookworm examinations:
(a) Specimens showing infection 19
(b) Specimens not showing infection 17
--
Total examinations made 36
VIII. Examinations for Malarial Parasites:
Specimens examined, all negative 3
IX. Examinations for Tubercle Bacilli:
(a) Specimens showing presence of bacilli 27
(b) Specimens not showing bacilli 99
--
Total examinations made 126

Respectfully submitted,
W. W. BROWN, M.D.,
City Bacteriologist.

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REPORT OF SANITARY INSPECTORS OF ATHENS, GA., 1915.

Athens, Ga.,

Jan. 1st, 1916. To the Honorable Board of Health,
of the City of Athens.

Gentlemen:

We beg to submit herewith the following report as Sanitary Inspectors for the year 1915.
Part 1

Contagious Diseases.
Houses quarantined for Smallpox 10
Houses quarantined for Diphtheria 8
Houses quarantined for Scarlet Fever 8
Typhoid cans placed 62
Typhoid cans cleaned 309
Houses disinfected for Tuberculosis 41
Houses disinfected for Scarlet Fever 8
Houses disinfected for Diptheria 8
Houses disinfected for Smallpox 10
Houses disinfected for Meningitis 1
Houses disinfected for Typhoid Fever 6
Part 2

Signs Posted
Mumps 4
Chicken Pox 14
Measles 4
Whooping Cough 43
Places Inspected.

Inspections of privies and -water closets 18,547
Inspections of lots 18,547
Inspections of cow lots 1,747
Inspections of horse stables 1,007
Inspections of meat markets 266
Inspections of fruit stands 239
Inspections of restaurants 209
Inspections of water barrels, for mosquitoes 1,199
Inspections of slaughter pens 10
Inspections of dairies 29
Inspections of cellars 60
Inspections of hog pens 2,094
Inspections of sidewalk cellar doors 12
Inspections of branches 29
Inspections of beef, with condemnation 4
Inspections of fish, with condemnation 3
Inspections of alleys and store buildings 29
Part 4

Specimens Collected.
City water 304
Well water 48

------ page 26 ------
Part 5

Places Cleaned and Disinfected.
Cleanings of city lots 18,547
Part 5

Trash Removed.
Two-horse loads trash from streets 303
Two-horse loads trash from night sweepings 433
Two-horse loads trash from lots 624
One-horse loads trash from lots 2,562
One-horse loads trash from day sweepings 302
One-horse loads trash from night sweepings 2,538
Water barrels disinfected 349
Treating of livery stables with borax 8
Branches and ponds 11
Washings of street sewers 30
Washings of sanitary sewers 50
Disinfections of sanitary sewer manholes 50
Disinfection of school (Oconee street) 1
Treatment of privies with lime 350
Special work calls 150
Part 6

Southern Manufacturing Company.
Inspections of lots 1,032
Cleaning and liming of privies 8,880
Cleaning of lots 4,080
One-horse loads trash removed from lots 120

All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. H. B00TH, J. A. HARBIN,
Sanitary Inspectors.

------ page 27 ------
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF
ATHENS, GA., 1915.

Athens, Ga.,

Jan. 1st, 1916.
Dr. J. P. Proctor, President,
Board of Health.

Dear Sir:

I beg to submit herewith report of the Secretary for 1915.
Part 1

Financial Report.
Labor $395.65
Quarantine 123.05
Laboratory 65.04
Salaries 3,686.64
Disinfectants 216.32
Printing and postage 12.43
Board of Health equipment 35.96
Miscellaneous 62.51
Feed for horses 43.32
Southern Manufacturing Co., contract 778.70
Repairs and equipment 788.81
Street sweeper repairs 219.55
Street sweeping equipment 342.34
Street sweeping labor 4,989.24
Advertising 36.00
------
Total expenditure $11,795.66
Credit Southern Manufacturing Co., etc. $1,311.42
Part 2

Street Cleaning Department
Repairs and equipment 788.81
Street sweeping equipment 3,342.34
Street sweeping repairs 219.55
Street sweeping labor 4,989.24
-------
Total street cleaning department $ 6,339.94
-------
Total net expenditure for health $ 4,144.30

------ page 28 ------
Part 3

Contagious and Infectious Diseases Reported.

Respectfully sumitted,
Mrs. F. Gann,
Secretary Board of Health.
Appendix 2

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APPENDIX II.
CARD USED IN GATHERING MATERIAL

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