The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-20
BRIDGEPORT PAY
ENVELOPE MUST
Be MADE BIGGER
City Planner Nolen Says
Charity Taking Faces
Park City Workers.
SAYS CHEAPER RENT
SCHEDULE rs NEEDED
Warns City Against Land
Spectators and Criticises
the Latter.

better wages, cheaper rents and
cheaper necessities OF life, or they
must put their wives and children to
work. take in boarders or accept
charity, accor ding to John Nolen, the
city planner, who has made q study
of Bridgeport covering several years.
Communities which seem to exist
by taking in one another's wishing
are not the right sort of social units
for this country Mr.. Nolen says for
Bridgeport. according to statements
credited to him by Bristow Adams, in
an official pamphlet issued by the
Chamber Of Commerce of the United
States. at Washington. this month.
Mr.. Nolen Is quoted at length ON
Bridgeport, and his beliefs, which
probably have been expressed pri-
vateiy to members Of the Chamber OF
Commerce in this city, are interest
ing. Looks like the ancient poser Of
the Irresistible force running up
against the immovable body" he says.
There's no solution Of the problem
in it's most acute form. to affect more
than half the wage workers. until one
or more of these points can be ad-
1usted.
Here's the choice: Cut down the
cost of the house, lower the standard
of living, or raise wages. Or, on the
other hand, put the wife and children
to work. take .boarders or roomers, or
accept charity.
THE second choice does not sound
SO good and these communities which
seem to exist by taking in one an
others washing are not the right sort
of social units for this country.
'fUnregulated speculation bought up
a lot OF the available tracts in and
around Bridgeport and as result
places suitable for workingmen'A
houses are hard to find at a fair
price. The movement for more houses
for Bridgeport came too late in this re-
spect though real estate dealers had
of some 5000 building lots
which were sold on the instalment
plan and largely to workers who were
persuaded that the purchase repre-
scented an investment. House build
ing did not keep pace with lot buying.
/. Much of the existing housing In
Bridgeport is bad-very bad. Tene-
ments are inflamabie and overcrowd-
ed, insanatary. especially down along
the tide creeks"
In summing up the No1en report
plus what has already been done by
the chamber of commerce and the
Bridgeport Housing Co. to increase
rents in this city, Adams
concludes his recapitulation by saying:
Most OF the developments Tin other
cities) have been through the activi-
ties of Individual firms which solved
the problems for their own workers.
The worker objects to this. as he
thinks it takes away his independence
and much depends on niceties Of ad-
justment. It is fatal to the success OF
any housing plan if the worker feels
that he furnishes income not only
his labor when he is awake
and working, but furnishes additional
income to his employer also through
rents paid for the time he is idle or
asleep. Even though accommodations
are better in q Company house, a
fer to I've in poor quarters, far from
work, and at higher rental
After recommending the Kenesha,
Wis, plan where no dependence is
placed Oh pfilanthrephy Or charity the
writer concludes;
"RridgepoFt's plan and all the others
are worthy of watching and Of imitat-
ing as soon as their good points are
ed.
Housing is big business and
should be so handled. Nearly tive and
and half billions are spent annually
in dwellings alone and much of it is
not truly invested, because SO many
houses fall short Of being satisfac-
tory. Cheap construction means an
economic loss of hundreds of millions
Speaking of the relation between
housing with wages and standards Of
living, Mr.. Nolen is quoted:
First: \ really decent home can
not be provided for much less than
So, ,o00 including house, lot, street in:-
public utilities and re-
creation. With Bridgeport's need of
1000 new houses. simple calculation
shows, that an eight million dollar
investment is required in that one
.own alone.
Second: A house costing in the
neighborhood Of $4,000 cannot be Of
Tered on the basis Of an economic net
.ent return for less than SIS per
month. 49,, ....
Third: The wage Garner with the
1orrnal family Of wife and three de-
pendent children cannot afford to pay
s15 per month unless he has a wage
If SIS a week or nearly $500 year.
This follows the time tried domestic
economy axiom that housing must not
cost more than one-fourth the income.
Fourth: More than half Of the
fathers of workmens families earn
ess than SIS week.
"The main trouble is that the whole
question has been left to un-
regulated speculation. And that's
What the matter with Bridgeport right
low.
A final report on Bridgeport for the
Chamber of Commerce has been pre-
Jared by Mr.. No,en and Mr.. Adams
epresents that the above statements
re contained in the report. At the
fftces of the local Chamber of Com
nerce, it was said the report is still
a the hands of the printers