The Washington times., 1918-04-20
PLAN MEANS
FOR HOUSING
$4,000 MORE
WAR CLERKS
By BILL PRICE

~ BILL EAAN1@
A conferences this afternoon cos
cerning sites for the location Of Gov
ernment barracks in this city In
which to house thousands OF Gov
ernment clerks who Will come here
before the year II out will probably
determine where these establishmonts
will be located.
Because OF the really serious need
for prompt construction OF these
buildings, so soon as Congress appro-
PIRATES the expected S1O.OOO,OOO, the
housing officials who will supervise
the construction are trying TO have
everything arranged a. far in ad-
vance as possible.
". E. Shannon, OF this city. -
GENTLY selected by Secretary Wilsoat
OF the Department OF Labor, a. CHIEF
OF the real estate division under o.
N. Eidlltz, director OF housing, has
been investigating the site question
and will report his suggestions this
afternoon.
Want Homes for 10000.
The law which Congress Is expected -
pass in few days providing ss0OoWo
for housing. allots Sl0,OO0.000 OF that
amount to Washington with which II -
believed homes for 1900 to 1000 elerkB
can be provided. Before the money -
ONES available. however. II win be nec-
assary for Mr.. Eidlitz and his assistants
Through Secretary Wilson. to submit 70
Congress plans and estimates for tho
buildings Il is. proposed to erect These
plans are practically ready and eStt-
mates will be prepared when called for.
The bill now in Congress Is a mere
authorization Of construction. 70 be fol-
lowed BY the custOramy appropriation.
The bill provides that the barracks
must be constructed on Governments
reservations, shutting out the purcha8o
or use OF private property. Mr.. shan
mons investigations have carried him
through Potomac Park and over the
property belonging 10 the Government
In the Union Station plaza, between the
Capitol and Union Station.
To Build Some on Plaza.
The housing authorities are al
ready in agreement that some OF the
buildings shall be erected on plaza
property and some in Potomac Park.
all TO be placed so that the occupants
are within walking distance OF their
work, thereby preventing additional
burdens on street railways.
Estimates furnished to the Civil
Service Commission by the various
departments are that oiose to 10000
more clerks will be brought to
Washington before December 81 next
and they are coming in every day
now. Since war was declared 5000
workers have been brought to wash
inEton, not including thousands Of
the higher classes not under the jur-
IsdIction Of the commission.
To care for the influx OF workers
until the Government has the bar
racks completed is tn egreat problem
that will deyolye on the housing
committee OF the local Council OF De-
Tense Mr.. Hege. the head OF this
committee. still has a fairly good list
Of rooms for incoming clerks and Is
continuing his appeals to Washing
ton people to list rooms with his bu-
reau. He has found people here 50
patriotic in answering his appeals
that he continues hopeful that the
point OF room exhaustion may not
be reached as soon as some have eE-
pected.
Do Not Bring Families.
That washington's population would
swell by many thousands more people II
the new CLERKS could bring their families
here is evident 10 Mr.. Hege and all
others who are working on housing mat
ters Mr. Hege Is doing what he can %
discourage the bringing OF families now
until the scarcity OF rooms is relieved
He recoznlZes the desires OF young men
and women to have their mothers and
fathers or others with them. but where
they wish to obtain rooms only he Il
compelled to point out to them the POSI-
bilities Of serious Inconvenience just a.
this time.
Real estate men who are IN touch with
the demand for houses believe that when
the war has ended. and the Government
will still have need for the services Of
many thousands OF clerks In regular en-
ployrnent there will come TO Washington
5000 to 10000 members Of families Of
new workers for the United States.
Construction OF new houses will
probably be stupendous, briuEtng
about an unparalleled boomsin real
estate and giving a permanent popu
lation to Washington that will maks
the total far in excess OF 100000.
For Future Clerks Only.
It was stated today that the Officials
who will have charge OF the GOverh
ment barracks to be constructed via
probably make rules limiting their
occupancy to incoming clerks only. SC
as to prevent a shifting Of those nov
provided with homes TO the new
buildings at the expense OF clerks
who win have TO come on in future
months.
The new buildings will not all os
put up at once and will be finished
about as fast as absolutely needed.
The Government does not wish, 10
Is said, to spend any more money for
housing than is absolutely necessary,
and will continue TO depend upon
residents OF the city taking care Of
the mass OF clerks.
II Is doubted in well-informed cir
cles whether the SlOOOO.OOO to be
spent will come anywhere near sup
plying the need for housing before
Congress again. takes the subject up
next winteR II 10000 clerks are 70
come here Before January l next. and
10000 is the number that the $4,000.
600 will care FOR, that leaves 10000
to be provided somewhere, not 70
take into calculation the number who
will probably be wanted between
January l next and the next con-
sideration by Congress OF the hous-
ing problem.