The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-10-23
TORONTO USES IT'S CITY CREDIT
TO RELIEVE HOUSING PROBLEM
ByF. N. Kerby

III TOHJNlO, OntArlO - CdHhuh
has shown the way to solution OF
the problem of housing properly
the man on whom, more than ever
as result of the war, the fabric OF
civilization rests--the worker.
Whereas private initiative fails
to provide an adequate supply OF q
pressing necessity. the govern
ment. as representing the whole
of the people, should and will lend
its assistance to supply the
need"
That fundamental principle was
laid down by w. ]. Hanna, for
merly Provincial Secretary of On
tario, now Food Controller for the
Dominion of Canada. II is the
principle embodied In bill,
framed by him and enacted by the
Unanimous vote of the Ontario
Legislature, which provides a way
by which all the cities and towns
of Ontario may to large extent
solve the industrial housing prob
lem.-
Province Loans Credit
Because the plans seems as ap-
plicable in Washington and in
| Tacoma as 1t Is in Ontario, l
came here to find out whether 1t
really does meet the urgent need
Of American cities for more and
cheaper homes.
1t does meet that need. l be-
lieve that any state in the Union
that adopts 1t will have taken the
first fundamental step in reducing
home rents and making certain
that every worker has healthful,
convenient house in which to live.
The Ontario bill authorizes any
city or town of the province to
place its city credit behind a CO.
operatively organized housing
company.
City May Aid
| Any company incorporated I'M
der this housing law, whose main
purpose is to build houses of mod
crate size and rent, may petition
Its city council to guaran-
tee its securities.
II the council Is satisfied that
more houses are urgently needed
and that the main purpose of the
company Is NOT TO MAKE
PROFITS, It may give a guaran-
tee to the Amount og IS per cent
of the total value Of the lands and
houses to be built. This leaves Is
per cent to be raised by private
stock subscription.
To secure capitalization Of
81, 100000, for instance, subscrip-
lions to stock of only $150,000 is
necessary, guaranteed by the city.
Bonds guaranteed by the city may
be issued for the other $3.50, 200.
It Works
The plans for the buildings and
the lands to be purchased must be
approved by the city council. The
council has one member on the
housing company's board of direc-
tors. Thus, while al the advan-
tages of private management and
Initiatives are kept, the public
credit is utilized but without the
government advancing a cent of
real money.
THE ONTARIO PLAN WORKS!
looked at the results in Toronto.
Two big housing developments are
completed and every house and
apartment occupied. The first,
Spruce Courts" houses 3S famil-
les; the second "Riverdale
Courts" accommodates 204. The
company has 200 acres in the su-
burbs far later development, as
representing the world at River
dale courts.
Fine Apartments
YOU, MR.. TIMES READER,
WOULD LIKE NOTHING BET
TER THAN TO LIVE IN ANY
OE OF THESE APARTMENTS.
THEY ARE MODERN, COVE
NIENT, BEAUTIFUL. There are
six types to meet the needs of the
SMALLEST and largest family. The
SMALLEST house of two rooms,
kitchenette and bath rents for
$3.50, but $3.50 of this rental is
for heat. Every apartment is
lncdtcQ IIOm u CeuLTdI-nedLlHR
plant which furnishes constant
hot water as we'll. The largest is
a Groom apartment renting at
$3.50, OF which SO is for heat.
H Rents are estimated to cover
the cost of up-keep, taxes, insur-
ance, interest on bonds, interest
on shareholders capital, AMI to
provide a sinking fund to retire
all the bonds in 40 years.
| No city or town in the United
States which is trying to solve the
problem of an influx of workers
can afford not to investigate the
Ontario plan. Any state that
wants to aid its Industrial cities
in solution of the housing prob
lem the war has brought them can
do so by adopting the Ontario plan
as piece of state legislation.
My next article will tell
how the state of Massachu-
sets has tackled the housing
r.v.OISI1,~x