Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-04
DELAY HOUSING
PROGRAM UNTIL
OFFER ARRIVES
Chamber of Commerce Awaits Con-
tract From Government Be-
fore Acting.
ARRANGE FOR QUICK DRIVE
Plans Made To Raise S250.0OO On
Short Notice When Definite In
formation Comes.

Short Notice When Definite In
formation Comes.
The housing committee of the
'hamber of Commerce met at the
Rock Island club at $50 on Monday
fternoon TO listen to a report from
:. E. Shields, who has just return
d from Washington, having been
ent there in behalf of arsenal hous-
ng for Rock Island.
Mr.. Shields verified the report
hat S75O.OOO had been allotted to
lock Island and that Rock Island
would be expected to add to this the
I'm of S250,0O0. Mr.. Shields
rought out the following facts:
The government insists in
each case that the local COM
munity in which houses are TO
be erected must have a finan-
cial interest in the housing
project
The plan of the government
contemplates making its allot-
ment Of S750.O00 a loan to a
house building syndicate or
corporation which will be
charged with the responsibility
and all of the details involved
in the building of houses
The government will not in
terfere in any way with the
plans of the local syndicate.
The corporation shall have
full charge of the whole prop
osition and be permitted to
build houses in groups or sep
arateIy or may sub-divide,
handling the proposition in
whatsoever manner deemed ex-
pedient.
The corporation may use
these funds in building houses
itself or in loaning it out to 9TH
ers interested in the building of
homes, the object in making
the government loan being to
get houses, and so long as
houses are produced rapidly
and in sufficient numbers. the
government would be entirely
satisfied.
The government expects that
this entire million dollars will
have been expended before the
expiration of four months.
Explains Plan in Part
Lieutenant Reed Lane Of Daven-
ort attended the meeting as a rep
sentative of the Rock Island ar
email and gave TO the committee the
eneft Of his knowledge of the gov
rnment plan and expressed the
Jews of the arsenal authorities.
Ir. Lane stated that the commanz
ant at the arsenal and his staff
lands ready to render every pos
ible assistance in the sale of
ouses and any other cooperation
hat might be given along lines of
work. 1t was pointed
Ut by him that the building of
lree or four hundred houses in the
hort period demanded by the gov
rnment is rather a large unNer-
aking and will require. much hep
rom the arsenal on the matter OF
riority deliveries Of building ma
erials and supplies.
. 1t was shown that if this is the
Ian of the government it will al
Ow the local organization to use
Ocal contractors, architects and en-
ineers and need not go outside the
community for construction agen-
les unless it desires to do so, and
he plans as they were expressed
t the meeting indicate that local
81 ha
1t was understood prior to the
leeting that nothing definite can
e done and no specific details
Ould be worked out until after the
contract has been
cceived. 1t is expected that this
ontract will specifically outline the
manner in which the government
money vii be made disable and the
Meeting of yesterday was simply
or the purpose OF listening to re-
.Orts and getting ready to put the
across in a hurry once
he governments financial require
lents are known. II has not been
ecided as yet whether local parties
will operate through a corporation
T a house building syndicate. the
ecision in this direction being
.eld up because of the indefinite
ess concerning the governments
ontraCt.
Desire To Loan Funds.
The plan under which the local
ommittee would like to operate is
ne which would permit it to eth
I use this money in building
ouses or loaning it to others who
rould like 10 build, throwing
pen the matter of sale and pur-
base to anyone desiring a homo
-hether they be workers at the ar
email or not The indications are
hat there are two hundred people
. Rock Island who own lots and
tand ready to build homes if they
an borrow from this syndicate rs
er cent Of the money involved.
his would enable the lot holder TO
uild a house designated to meet
is own individual requirements
-ithout any interference by the
overnment or corporation, and, It
; pointed out, that inasmuch as
10 muse bu4iL AdheS room LOT
mother 10 rent, the object of the
oyerrment is being carried out.
he Chamber of Commerce has al
eady had more than one hundred
publications. for loans from this
md. These parties are now ready
} begin excavation the moment
ley are assured that the money
Ill be loaned TO them for so do
*.
Tho committee believes that the
latter Of raising the $3.50, 900 offers
sw obstacles, providing the re-
-rictions surrounding government
honey are OF the character an
by both Mr.. Lane and Mr..
hields. and Just as soon as the