South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-25


facturers and heads OF big industrial
concerns are gradually realizing that
it is as important 10 house their
wOrkmen as il is to house their
machinery and it is gratifying that
the United States government has
been asked TO give financial aid to
industrial housing"
Such is the opinion of Gerald
TraffOrd Hewitt of the British Gar
den Cities and Town Planning as
ISOLATION. who is now in this coun-
try. In a statement TO the Asso-
ciated Press Mr.. Hewitt thus brief
ly summarized the spread Of this
movement in Europe:
This idea of governmental aid in
industrial housing is nothing new.
Very many countries have for years
assisted in the building of working
mems houses. In the United States
it has been left to the mercies of
the real estate speculator, with the
result that the working man has
had 20 pay exhorbitant rents for
bad housing and worse environment.
money 10 build wOrkmen's houses
today instead of being able 10 Dor
row il from the government at 4
percent il means that the rents
have to be higher and the work
man has 10 pay.
The most brilliant and extensive
example of housing reform achieved
anywhere is the building in Ireland
during the last Is years of 10000
cottages through government aid.
Talked of Before War.
I'm 1914, just before the war
commenced, Mrs. Lloyd George came
forward with the most comprehen-
sive housing program ever an
nounced by any responsible states
man This program, put forth Off
cially as that of the British govern
mnet. was the proposal 10 make a
survey of urban and rural housing
conditions throughout Great Britain
and then. by government loans at
| low interest, by government subsid-
| les and by rent and wage commits
sions, 10 see that a constructive pro-
gram of housing reform which shall
supply the needs disclosed by this
survey. even 20 the possible extent
or building 100000 houses, now
/ estimated TO be needed, shall be
carried out at a cost estimated 10
exceed 1.0OO,0OO,O0O Housing re-
| form on a national scale has there
fore become a matter of national
I policy in Great Britain.
quite apart from the national
l. -
/ ormous housing reform that has
taken place by British municipaH-
/ ties. In 1864 Liverpool possessed
| the worst slums in England. but
/ since that date II has spent millions
Of pounds in eliminating its soul
destroying slums and rehousing its
/ citizens in model tenements and cot
! tages The death rate has been re-
! duced from 81 TO p a thousand.
\ Before 1910 typhoid fever was never
\ once absent in the years medical
I return and since then there has not
\ been a case. tuberculosis declined
seven TO one per thousand. and po-
/ lice precautions for crime have been
\ reduced 20 percent The cash saw
/ ing 10 Liverpool under their rehous-
\ ing policy is estimated at $550.0OO,-
| coo a year. or double the cost OF
I providing decent homes for work
ing men
I'm Birmingham, as far back as
/ In 1875, the late Joseph Chamberlain
/ realized what a sound investment
I municipal housing was and at an
/ expenditure OF over $15.OOO.O 600 Bir-
mingham was cleared OF its slums.
and this housing reform has proved
ar excellent investment for the mu-
niCipality and has more than paid
back the original Z percent bond
issue created 10 carry out this work.
The London county council has
raised money for years past at rates
varying from 20 I percent. 10 pro
vide homes for working men and
their families. Some idea OF the
( magnitude OF the work undertaken
by the council is shown by the fact
that they house over $4,000 people.
and the gross annual rentals collect
ed amount 20 over S1.25O. 900. Just
before the war started they wert
planning further housing involving
an expenditure OF $1,000. 600. This
is all the result Of 90 years OF hard
work and housing education.
Private Enterprise Involved Also.
In addition 20 the government
and municipal housing. there Is a
great record OF private enterprise
such as the houses built by the va
rious CO. partnership tenant societie: