Evening journal., 1918-04-16
MAY CO AHEAD With
CITY HOUSING Plan
Wilmington Business Men
Meet on Thursday Night
to Talk Project
NEED OF HOMES
BECOMES GREATER

The Wilmington housing project is
at last being brought to a focus, IL Is
believed by those who have the matter
I in hand. One Of the most important
meetings yet held for the consumma-
tlon OF the plans and for the consid-
Grafton Of questions and details Is an
hounced for Thursday night In the grill
room OF the Hotel dupont, when plans
and a thorough explanation for the con-
ytruction Of hundreds Of houses in VIII
mington for taking care Of shlpbulld-
fers Will be explained The meeting has
been called by the officals Of the VIII
nmington Housing Company.
10 Is understood that the company has
f closed contracts with the Emergency
Fleet. Corporation OF the government,
+ Whereby a liberal loan OF government
funds has been granted to Wilmington.
The success Of the project depends In
part upon thorough cooperation on the
part OF local business interests and the
! officials Of the housing company. The
latter are issuing invitations 10 all In
. terested citizens TO attend this meeting,
which will be one Of the most import
ant held In this city for years.
The housing proposition, which has
been under consideration for some
and the government has made a con-
crete proposition to Wilmington, the
contracts being almost identical with
those offered other shipbuilding cen
ters.
While there has been some delay In
the housing proposition, which has been
the cause OF deep regret among the in
terested Wilmington men, 1t is stated
: authoritatlvely that this delay was not
occasloned by any causes within the
control OF local people. The main
cause was the failure Of the officials at
Washington TO work out a complete
4 plan which was acceptable TO the COM
: munities TO which Il was offered.
The lack Of houses for the accOmmo-
dalton Of the increase in the shipbuild-
4 ing population OF Wilmington has be-
come a very serious matter. Il might
appear to be an exaggeratiOn TO say
i that the success Of the American armies
and their allies on the western front
IN France depends, or may soon de-
pend, upon the number and character OF
Y the houses built In this city and other
places during the coming six months
Yet this is the case. High government
officials, heads Of shipbuilding concerns
and other war industries and others
: have affirmed that the war cannot be
A vigorously and successfully prosecuted
unless there is a decided increase In
suitable housing facilities 10 cities like
Wilmington, where ships are made.
Wilmington at present has the densesl
population per acre Of any city OF the
4 100000 population class In the United
d States. As compared with the average
4 density OF population OF all the cities
Of its class In the United States, II has
a destiny OF almost four times as grea
as the average. 10 even exceeds in den
slty OF poulatlon per acre such largl
and closely built-up cities where tn
same type Of housing prevails, as Bal
timore and Philadelphia.
As a result OF the war and the pres
sure for industrial efficiency, UNIQUE
opportunity is presented TO this cltS
which is called upon to increase anC
speed the production Of ships to the alb
solute limit OF capacity. For the frs
time In the history OF the city, hundrec
Of houses are TO be built under condl
tlons that make possible the use Of IN
very best methods, controlled by tn
best ideas and motives These benefits
however. may not be secured to thei
full extent unless all concerned bent
every energy in united effort for tn
advancement Of the one idea that SHOULD
dominate the entire nation at this time
namely, the successful prosecution o
the war, with everyone working TO az
sist in rushing the production OF tn
ships that are so necessary TO transpor
men. munitions and supplies TO tn
fghting line IN France.