Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-09

Next to war the one vital topic I
of discussion in Harrisburg to-day
is the amazing opportunity the
city would have to Immediately be-
come a greater city if there were
enough houses to accommodate the
increasing population. Not in the
memory of anybody living here has
there been such demand for
homes, such an influx of outsiders
seeking permanent locations. The
fact of the matter is that Harris
burg, like Chester and a hundred
other cities. has the opportunity for
a tremendous building campaign and
thus a substantial foundation for
unheard of progress. But there are
no houses.
A canvass TODAY of many impor-
tant real estate dealers disclosed the
situation in all its badness and
brought forth myriad suggestions
from businessmen who are alive to
the chance which the city has longed
hoped for and is now unable to en-
brace. Many of the men interviewed
urged that the local Chamber of
Commerce get busy instantly with
some system whereby we may take
advantage of this uncommon open
ing. The fact that the Government
has decided to put part of its huge
plant in New Cumberland and part
at Middletown is not taken as any
mishap. The carfare to Cumberland
is emily five cents and hundreds of
men working there will want to live
in Harrisburg with their families
where they may have metropolitan
advantages of a great city.
Demand Near a Panic
The demand for homes has now
approached the suggestion of aNpanic.
Thirty and forty answers rush in
to every advertisement of house
to rent. Not dozens, but hundreds
of outsiders are tramping the streets
in vain search of quarters, prospec-
tive to making their future homes
here. Happily for the renters
raise in rent is not universal as yet,
although it may come. Some owners
are asking $40 for an SIS house but
many have made no change. How
ever, il the demand keeps up as at
present rents are sure to increase.
The situation began to develop
some months ago when thousands
of families enriched with war
wages, turned to get themselves
more expensive lodgings. Hundreds
who had been occupying one house
with another family now felt them
selves able to get away and live to
themselves. The tearing down of
Capitol Park and other spots also
helped to swell the movers. But the
incoming .hordes of people drawn
here by the approaching activity are
greater than all.
A Bad Blunder
"The city has made a terrible
blunder," explained a real estate
man to-day. I'VE used to provide
ahead. Then war came and Schwab
in addition, with the result that this
whole Commonwealth has been gal
vanized as 1t never was before. The
cost of labor and lack of materials,
at the same time, practically stopped
building, and so here we are help
less TO grow just at the moment
when prosperity is handed to u.s.
With plenty of money people want
to better their living conditions.
What is the solution? Well, the
Chamber of Commerce if 1t is gen.
timely serious about developing Har-
rlSDurR SnOuiO take nOlu right HOWs
1t was slow getting interested in the
Middletown project. 1t should
make up for lost time. Certainly
our Chamber of Commerce is just as
much Interested in this as real es-
tate men. 1t is too big a thing for
the real estate companies to handle.
Secretary McAdoo has advised that
building operations be suspended
owing to the Governments need OF
! men and materials, but isn't it pos
sible that our Chamber of Commerce
could lay this situation before him
and get relief? One method which
is being discussed is the creating of
a syndicate which would erect ready
made houses. Other cities are doing
! this successfully. They would be no
disgrace TO a boom city and would
pave the way for permanent build
| ing 1t might be that the Govern
ment could spare us force of car
penters to get the project started.
| The population is ready to come in,
| fifty families a month, IL some
| housing is provided. AS it is the
surrounding towns are reaping the