The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-09
Four Million Dollar
 Company To Provide
 Workers With Houses
(Continued from Page 1.)

A QueStionnaire circulated to the various industrial heads of Bridge port and aggregated, shows in part that there are 2,260 persons employ ed in factories here who are actually in need of immediate housing. It is expected that 14.00O more will be employed here in the near future of which 73 per cent. will be men and 27 per cent. women. Of the total expected 49 per cent. are to be un- skilled and 51 per cent. skilled la- Dor.
 Dealing with the municipal problem Nolen indicates:
 "But housing is not the only muni- cipal problem in Bridgeport. The laying out of streets and street and sewer construction and other public works is still proceeding haltingly. The school board scarcely knows wha ito do with the children. Exist ing public recreation facilities are quite insufficient for the demand. The street cars are overcrowded and traf- fic conditions are badly congested."
 The Housing committee of the Chamber of Commerce which includes the incorporators of the Bridgeport Housing Co. and George E. Crawford, president of the Chamber of Com merce, acting upon the results of their own investigations and that of MT. Nolen have stimulated the new project which plans the immediate building of one thousand houses. Organization of the company will be completed this l week, with board of directors num- bering about 25 of the best known men in the community. These men have not fully been selected to date but announcement is promised within a couple of days. It is said that no property has yet been acquired though much has been offered A
 time limit for the beginning of con- struction work is tentatively set at six weeks from this date.
 George Cove, executive secretary of the Chamber in outlining the plans to- day said:
 After several months continuous work of the committee, members have ascertained the facts with regard to the demand for houses, the present and probable opportunities for meet ing that demand and the present and future housing requirements on the 1 basis of Bridgeport's normal industrial growth. AS a result of this inquiry | and the investigation of Dr. Nolen, based on detailed information of man. | ufacture the committee has learned | that approximately 2,250 employees in Bridgeport factories alone are today in need of better housing facilities and this this number will be increased to 14,000 at a rate so rapid that ordinary | building development through private enterprise cannot meet the demand .'The Bridgeport Housing Company | is being organized and fostered by | men interested in the development of the city. As soon as the state charter has been issued to the company, and between now and the first of January, the company will expend round mill lion dollars building homes which are to be rented or sold to men and women in Bridgeport. They will be sold at prices and on terms which will not make them very attractive. The policy of the company will not be to reduce rents below the normal and general values or be in any way antagonistic to other building interests in the city as their continued efforts are as neces- sary as the efforts of this company to the proper development of the city. 'The Housing Company is not or ganized for excessive profit. It is recognized that, with the economies It is possible to practice in 8 develop ment on g large scale with small over- head costs and with the application of scientific methods of building and op- eration. a reasonable return can be secured for the benefit of the stock holders of the corporation besides per- mitting the laying aside of a substan- tial surplus for future investment The company plans to issue stock in shares of $25 with the expectation that most of the shares will be sold to residents of Bridgeport whose interests will be benefited by this movement.
 "In formulating it's plans the com mittee has been guided largely by the results of Dr. Nolen's investigation. This investigation showed that, the great demand is now and will continue to be for homes at low rental or selling cost, the greatest demand be- ing for houses which will be available at a monthly rental ranging from SIS to $25.
 ''The facts indicate that the demand for houses may be considered under three classes as follows:
 "CIas A. The family whose weekly expenses practically equal it's weekly income, or else for one reason or an- other the family has no desire OF am- bltion to own a home. It is desirable, nevertheless, that such a family should be able to rent, on terms which it can afford, a suitable single family dwell ing, if it wishes to do so.
 Glass B. The family whose week. ly income exceeds it's weekly expenses by a sum sufficient to permit of con- siderable regular saving. If satisfac- tory homes are for sale, or if favora- ble conditions are offered for buying lots and the construction of houses independently, large percentage of such families will acquire their own homes. The number of workingmen owning their homes in Bridgeport (now about II per cent.) should be kept up or increased. At the present time, largely on account of the short age of houses. an unusual percentage (40 per cent.) are unmarried men.
 Glass c. The family that has ac- ouired title to a building lot, but lacks sufficient initiative, information or ready funds to go ahead and build a home, In the case of the small house especially this is relatively costly and unsatisfactory way to pro- ceed. because of the extra expense and difficulties involved. The de- cided advantages of wholesale build