Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-28
FRIDAY EVENING, SEPT. %
The secret of success is constance
to purp0Se.-DIsRAELI.
WANTED-MoRE HOUSES

-THlLE the greatest business of
wv the country to-day is war, the
real estate men of Harris
burg are confronted with a grave
situation which is giving them much
concern. People are clamoring for
homes and they have no homes for
them. Houses to rent are few and
far between and apartments are
known to have been leased in a num-
Der of cases before the foundations
were laid.
Already families are doubling up,
two or more occupying one house.
but this is merely an expedient and
must prove unsatisfactory, if not un-
sanitary. Long lists of applicants for
dwellings are in the hands of the
rental agencies, but only a small per-
centage of these can be accommo-
dated.
There are houses for sale, of
course, and Harrisburg would seem
10 be ready for a "Buy-a-Home"
campaign under the circumstances.
Fewer houses have been erected by
the builders this year than usual
and an unfavorable sign as to the flu
ture is the fact that no contracts
are being made for houses to be
erected during the winter and next
spring.
Some steps must be taken at once
to meet the situation. Prosperous
conditions are likely to continue, as
experts believe, for several years, and
with all our industrial and manufac-
turing plants operating at full capa-
city, with employment for all, and
constant demand for all classes of
skilled and common labor, the hous-
ing problem becomes one of first im-
portance.
Comfortable homes at reasonable
rentals would doubtless prove an at
tractive investment and those with
ample means who are considering
the welfare of Harrisburg could not
manifest their interest in the city
more strikingly than in helping to
supply this great housing need.
No time is to be lost if the houses
are to be ready for the tenants early
next year.
Other places have had their Buy
a-Home" campaigns and Harrisburg
may well fall into line. A we'll
housed city is contented city and as
more of our people own homes the
greater will be their interest in
everything that pertains to the city's
betterment.
Harrisburg is, in many respects, a
well-favored city and in the future
building of the more modest homes it
ought to be possible to provide am
pie light and air and breathing
space. In this we shall doubtless
have the earnest cooperation and
support of the City Planning Com
mission. No official body is in
stronger position to supervise work
so important. John Nolen, a noted
city planner of Boston, believes there
should be Standardization of build
ing materials to effect substantial
economies, and at the same time Sc
cure houses of good design and
sound construction. Concrete meth
ods will probably play a large part
in reducing the cost of homes for
wage earners.
Building and loan associations
have already done much for the man
who wants to own his home and
these societies will do more. Our
banks also should lend a hand. SO
that the home-buying habit may be-
come the rule in this community.
Citizens with surplus capital ought
also to help in the emergency.
1t is stated that the wage earners
themselves in the United States num-
Der sO,OOO.OOO, and they receive an.