A Social Survey of Austin
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Date
1913-04-01
Authors
Hamilton, Willliam B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Texas at Austin, Texas
Abstract
Department
Description
The City of Austin, as every citizen well knows, has been richly
endowed by nature. · We have the beautiful hills to the west, ·
which have come down to meet the fertile plains of the Gulf, to
rest ~he eye, and the trees are abundant. The natural health
conditio~s are unsurpas~ed. The State Capitol, the State Insti tutions for the Blind, Deaf, and Insane, and the State University,
along with a number of private schools, add to the general attrac tiveness of the city. Yet we have permitted certain social ills to
spring up with the growth of our city. We are still in the Dark
Ages of sanitary and health regulations.
The present City Administration has adopted a forward pro gram of municipal improvements, and Austin has taken new life.
A number of miles of paving has been constructed, the water sys tem, lighting system, and parking system have been greatly im proved. The sewer system has been doubled; laws are better
enforced; and the city is now constructing a dam across the Colo rado River, which is to cost $1,500,000. Along with these material
improvements, it is fitting that the city should take an invoice of
the sanitary and health conditions. It seems certain that an
administration such as this, needs only to be informed as . to the
deplorable conditions as they now exist in order that effective
remedies will be adopted.
The purpose of this survey is to reveal certain deep-seated social
ailments in this community, to state as accurately as possible the
actual sanitary and health conditions under which we live, and
arouse the public mind to see the great need of eradicati'ng these
bad conditions. The inadequacy of present organization of the ·
health department and present ordinances for. effecting proper sani tary and health conditions has been pointed out. And a policy of
next-steps in municipal housekeeping has been suggested~