The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-12
EDITED by NOBLE FOSTER HOGGSON
PRESIDENT HocCsoN BROTHERS BUILDERS

T,HE FIRST FACTORIES OF THE WORLD in the
homes of the people Here in the quaint villages of days
long past the and women Of the WOrld-od crafts
first carved and spun dreamed and wrought their products
for wider than that of home demand OF such were
the first peceworkers Of old England Orebears of the indus
trial workers the world carrying their from the home
central point in the community from whence to be shipped
and sold.
AS the years passed. it realized that greater pro
ducng power could be attained through the assembling of
workers under roof and the young men and
of the people became accustomed to working TINS man
evolved from what had been heretofore but family
passed down from 1ather TO son anu
from mother to daughter Wage scales were gradually no
duced this Capitalization of human ingenuity stimulated IN
venon and treles mechanical fingers of powerdryen steel
tool the task of production to satisfy the growing demand
of commercial interchange.
With the introduction of machinery the growth of manu-
featuring industries rapid that thousands of human
beings employed where hundreds had worked before
Limited transportation facilities brought about the natural
establishment of living quarters for employees within
walking distance of mills and factories. And with the aen
ton of manufacturers focused mechanical Improvement
land production the human element with them became less
important factor.
From the garden villages of their forefaher the indus
trial workers fOcked to dwell in vastly growing industrial
ceners The housing of wormen left to the haphazard
solution supply and demand and in these industrial centers
congestion m with its aftermath of sum conditions Shacks
enemens congomerae housing of the worst nature be-
came only in the cities but in every section
where mills and factories were located.
Unhealthy living conditions resulted in sunted growth
and narrowed outlook; ntermingled social relationships
decline of personal efficiency dirty streets and
alleys instead of broad lawns the Fairgrounds of child
hood lowered the physical Standard and the atmosphere of
low dives and drinking places substituted for that OF the
normal healthy home, demanding its toll from the workman
and mpang the moral fiber which IS the basis OF what
| we call human efficiency.
Today the average workmans home is but a place to
eat and sleep devoid of aracveness Consider the other
hand the saloons and divers places of amusement which
absorb much of the national industrial payroll Is there not
keeper learned the which have failed interpret?
In America until very recent years, the question of indus
trial housing has been lost in the intricate maze of commercial
competition AS far as power concerned the great in
ux of immigration has provided the solution of the labor ques
on but ums and tenement districts the ramshacke hus of
tlv Of
preciatng houses Industrial ceners, not
ducve efficiency stable labor market which will insure
high ratio production Such housing has resulted from
unguded and unchecked activities of the speculative build
ers and of temporary unwishedfor landordsm.
years the speculative builder has been ntrusted with
the spending of that portion of the American manufacturer
payroll which has provided for the housing of his wormen
He has not spent WELL has he rendered to the manu-
acurer value received The human machinery for which the
manufacturer has paid has been lacking in efficiency and
power of production because of improper living conditions
Now in the dawnng of new era of cooperation the manu-
facer for his protection and that of his workmen must
himself direct the spending of the which flows from his
factory into the housing of his people.
Industrial housing problems have been generally recOg
nzed only vague and unpleasant annoyances The guild
ing spirit in the housing of workmen has been that of assez
fare truly the progress of economic development il
such nation known to swing in vast cycles the rad of which
re limited on bv the scope of apped research and the ari
caton and recognition of fundamentals commercial indus
trial and artistic actvitesso truly has America reached thu
stage her economic development when the Godgven rgh
of workman be decenty housed clothed and fed
be recognized as an economic necessity not altogether
moral obligation.
veopment has recognized this fundamental In the garde
cities of Lechworth the beautiful, in Hampstead Bourn
VILE Port Sunlight and Earswick well in other indus
trial communities ideal housing conditions have been estab
hed and from them emanates spirit of contentment
well-beng which has sent its guiding around tn
world Germany too in her intensive cultivation of the
seeds development has not lost sight of the i'm
porance of the human machinery evidenced by the spen
did industrial villages of the Krupps, at ESSEN Garenstad
Heeran Dresden and Ratshof at Konigsberg-whil
awakening France has her cities jardns such Meniel
Famstere at Guse and Drave Paris Jardin the Seine
Yearly we muSt he nd The henpf
o its solution in America The attention of employers of abo
lis being and directed to the cost of labo
turnover Last year. great factory the East 5000
men employed to keep up payroll of 100000 Tn
would not stay because of poor living conditions and th
this tremendous waste of efficiency could have been avode
through the medium proper industrial housing! This ir
sance is characteristic of conditions America today Pre-