Negroes in Harlem, New York
City. In the former place, the houses occupied by the migrants were
the old one-family type, were unsanitary, and in a serious state of
disrepair. Two years previous to the exodus 300 or more of these
houses were vacant; but during the migration of the Negroes they all
became occupied, many of them having been converted so as to house two
or more families. The report further states that the Negro newcomers
had pushed over into the white residential section and were occupying
houses, vacated by the whites, at an increase of 20 per cent or more
in rent. No new houses were being built, in spite of the serious
demand for them. The result of this, therefore, was further excessive
increases in rental rates, which greatly enhanced the tendency to
overcrowd.[154]

Finally, we are informed that the housing conditions among Negro
migrants in Hartford were very poor. These people were for the most
part settled on the east side of the city and lived in tenements
formerly used by the foreigners. These dwellings were without modern
conveniences and comforts, and were, therefore, very unsanitary. Some
of the migrants, however, were more fortunately situated; but were
paying exceedingly high rents. The rents averaged from $20 and $25 for
three rooms to $30 for four or five rooms. These high rents caused the
Negroes to overcrowd in order to be able to pay the same. The owners
of these houses, moreover, took advantage of the tenants by doing very
little repairing; sometimes just enough to comply with the law.[155]

FOOTNOTES:

[124] Woodson, C. G., _A Century of Negro Migration_, p. 190.

[125] Tyson, F. D., _Negro Migration in 1916-17_, Rep. U. S. Dept.
Lab., pp. 126-27.

[126] Epstein, A., _The Negro Migrant in Pittsburgh_, p. 22.

[127] _Ibid._, p. 23.

[128] Epstein, A., _The Negro Migrant in Pittsburgh_, p. 24.

[129] Haynes, G. E., _Negro New-Comers in Detroit, Mich._, pp. 12-20.

[130] Leavell, R. H., _Negro Migration in 1916-17_, Rep. U. S. Dept.
Lab., pp. 22-23.

[131] Ross, J. A., "New Organization Helps Negro Misfits," _New York
Times_, Oct. 7, 1917, III, 10: 1.

[132] _The Negro at Work During the War and During Reconstruction_,
Rep. U. S. Dept. Lab., p. 89.

[133] Pendleton, H. B., _Survey_, 37: 570-71, Feb. 17, 1917.

[134] _The Negro at Work During the War and During Reconstruction_,
Rep. U. S. Dept. Lab., p. 89.

[135] _Ibid._, p. 89.

[136] Ross, J. A., "New Organization H