Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-22
COMPLETE EPLANS
FOR 5000 HOMES
City and U. S. Agree on
Main Details of Hous-
ing Enterprise
WAIT ONLY FOR MONEY

Conferences between owen Brainard.
chairman Of the housing committee Of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. officials OK
the American International Shipbuilding
Corporation and Philadelphia city Off
cibls have resulted in virtual completion
Of preliminary plans for speedy erection
of 5000 Of the 1900 homes for Hog Island
workmcn In the Forueth Ward.
The one big problem that remains is
financing the City's part Of the agree
meut which Involves laying water and
sewer mains and making other extensive
municipal improvements
The Government will furnish all mate
rial for the building operations and viii
undertake 90 get Il on the ground
promptly. Labor organizations will be
urged to furnish men and every CON
tractor In Philadelphia Will be invited
to aid In erection OF the buildings.
The Government will put up the
money for the street ard other improve
mentS, but this money Is 10 be returned
to il hy the city There being no money
In sight for that purpose at present, the
chances are loan will be noatcd by the
city to cover the necessary amount
The houses will not be hastily knocked
together shacRs for temporary usc, but
viii Ic permanent siA-ruum structures
suitable for homes. and will bee built
On artistic lines REGARDING this fea-
tur. "f the plans John Ihdcr. secrc-
AIRY Of the Philadelphia Housing Asso-
citation. which Is cooperating with the
Department Of Public Works and the
housing committee Of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, said, following tho
conferences Of officials.
The material to be used probably will
"c Stucco and brick. The material will
hc of a substantial and permanent char.
acter and considerable variety will be
employed 20 avoid the uniform and mo-
urtonOuS long rows Of houses which have
bccome cEcsores In some Of our neiEhhor-
hoods. II would be a mistake not to
provide pleasing effect IN the layout OF
the town.
"Eecause of the growing industrial
districts in the locality there will be a
demand for houses there long after the
val and the plans therefore are being
worked out with II view to absorbing
be town IN the permanent city plan.
There viii be few streets running at
right angles 50 as to avoid the tireSome
rectangular blocks 80 much IN evidence
all cities.
THE creation Of Federal housing
'1mm ssion FOR the administration Of
the town and towns Hike it near other
large industrial developments brought
t about by the war is one of the measures
now under consideration in Washing
ton ana may soon become n reality. The
advocates Of the plan believe good re-
suits would be obtained by IL II pursued
along the lines Cf the food and fuel adj
ministratious
"a town Of about 1000 houses Is to bo
built by the New York Shipbulding Com
pany near Camden. The plans for the
new houses vii be extended to provide
accommodations for employees of pow
der and munitions plants near by on the
other side of the Delaware.
The attitude of land owners, who ask
prOhibitive prices for their tracts, has
thus far frustrated plans to build the
houses In one area IN the Forteth Ward
development. The passage Of "A bill now
n Cong 'ess authorizing the requisition-
ing Of lands needed will remedy this con-
dition ana prevent further delays
through proceedings in court The bill
carries appropriations of S5O.0O0,O0O, OF
VII ch Slo,000,000 is for the Hog Island
. colony"