Evening star., 1918-08-03

may be conAdsd that Uncle sam ~ not
going to have any hard and faat rules
with respect to housing procedure; IN
mitories will be erected for unmarried
workers and an effort viii be made to
provide individual or two-family
houses for married employees.
Just here It may be OF interest "a
government in the present emergency
has proven very conclusively the pref
udies OF 4 large portion Of the public
against the dormitcry idea. dsspite
the popularity Of the modern apart
mont house. In Waahineton srores Ct
young women employed in in .ss,!n the soS.
marked disinclination to accept guar
tefs In the dermitory structures which
II ts proposed TO erect at locations
convenient to the respective depart
mental efslce huildings-thereby solv-
ton problem that 10 acute here a. at all
esnters of war activity.
Many Object to Barracks.
At the shipyards the insistenee OF
able living quarters has been even
more Significant. AT the monster new
shipyard at Hog Island near Phila.
delphia-an industrial plant that Will
ultimately give employment to more
than $4,000 men-an attempt was
made at the outset to induce the
members of the newly recruited force
to accept quarters in barracks build
ings. resembling in some respects the
barracks at the military eantonments
able 10 the major portion of the un-
skilled labor, but it was rejected by
the skilled workers upon whom the
plant is dependent for its vital opera
tiona Hence, we note the scramble
on the part of the government to pro-
vide as the first investment under its
$50, 100000 shipyard housing appro-
priatieB some 10000 houses for mar
ried men on the pay roll at Hog Is
land.
Standardization of architectural design
10 not to be attempted in the govern
mental housing projects to the extent
that might naturally be anticipated by
practical real estate men. In interior
arrangement there will be certain uni
formity, mayhap. In the four-raom. FIVE
room and six-room dwellings. respect
lively, but considerable latitude is to be al.
lowed in the general housing scheme sim
ply because It is desired to humor the
tastes Of the residents Of the different
sections OF the country where the build.
ings will be erected. Thus q community
shingie or stucco bungalows OF cottages
will not be asked to accept the two-story
frame house as unit simply in order
that Uncle Sam may build to one pattern
in all parts OF the country. In Philadel.
phia brick construction will be employed
In Difference to the local fire regulations
and this Same policy will doubtless be
followed in other industrial centerr
where similar conditions prevail.
Sale Plan Of Interest.
The particular aspect Of this big gov.
ernmental housing project that can be
studied most profitably by the real estate
man in quest Of Inspiration and prac,
tical suggestions will be that involving
the arrangements for the sale of the i'm.
proved properties to the occupants. Nat.
uraliy. 1t Is desired to persuade every
artisan to purchase the house he occu-
plies. The MANAGEMENT of a shipyard
for instance, will be treasured as to this
permanency Of an employe who owns
his home. However. it 10 recognized that
q system must be devised that will moi
appear to tie the artisan to any one scene
Of employment. but will, on the contrary,
inspire confidence that he can sell his
home at no loss il he desires to leave
Just how this will be worked out has not
yet been determined Probably the SO.
luton viii not be the same in the case
Of all these new Industrial subdivisions,
Such exredients as the bla nket mortgag
and holdings Of stock, which may be
transferred at will. have already been
suggested