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1935. Washington, D.C. "Alley dwelling. The clutter of filth, debris and tin cans all have highly utilitarian purposes. [Whatever that means.] Many of the houses are without gas, water, or electric connections." A Harris & Ewing photo from the mid-1930s, using what by then was the anachronistic medium of the 4x5 glass negative, but with subject matter that was on the cutting edge of what was being documented by the Federal Government's various New Deal (Farm Security Administration, etc.) photographic efforts. View full size.
What the caption probably means is that the inhabitants of this neighborhood have to be very resourceful with what little they have available, and can make use out of things most people would regard as trash.
I think that means that the cans and other scrap metal were sold to scrap dealers, and rags might have been sold to make paper.
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