A hundred and more cities in thirty-four states have asked for surveys
or advice in starting local survey movements. This nation-wide service
sought from the Department of Surveys and Exhibits of the Russell Sage
Foundation, since its organization last October[1], shows how thoroughly
the idea has gripped the leaders of social and civic effort throughout
the country. Furthermore, leading citizens and organizations, who once
looked askance at “exposures” and “muck raking,” have come to understand
the constructive value of a survey and now take active part in local
efforts in this direction.
In many cases requests are backed by local commercial organizations,
chambers of commerce and boards of trade. Business men are recognizing
the commercial value of making cities healthier, better and more
comfortable to live in. Cities in Canada and several other foreign
countries, notably India, have also sought information and advice from
the department.
Response to these requests has been determined by several
factors—chiefly the timeliness of the proposed survey and its probable
influence on other cities. As to timeliness consideration is made of the
probability of the project being adequately financed and of its
receiving representative local backing. If a city cannot see sufficient
value in a survey to be willing to pay for it (especially when all
overhead charges are borne by an outside organization) it is considered
not ready for a survey. Moreover, the undertaking should be a community
enterprise, aimed to advance the well being not of any particular
interest or set of interests, but of the community as generally as
possible. The survey is an effort toward a democratic solution of local
problems, and therefore must be shouldered by representatives of all
interests and groups in the population—in other words, by the community
through its representatives. Emphasis has been laid upon the importance
of the work being done by persons with adequate training and experience.
Emphasis has also been placed upon the importance of co-operation with
national organizations so that the local program following the survey,
whether it involves housing, organized charity, prison reform, or other
special effort, will be in harmony with the standards set up by the
national organizations in the various fields.
This method of procedure has tended in some instances to hold back
surveys rather than to encourage them, and this the department regards
as preferable to undertaking surveys where conditions are not favorable.