The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-08
HOUSING PROBLEM
FOR SH|PBU|L0ERS
Government Plans TO Take Care OF
Emergency Which Has Been
Created by Concentration
of Workingmen.

The United States shipping board is
doing everything in its power TO pro-
vide houses for workmen who are
now engaged In building the emer-
gency fleet The Virginia council OF
defense, In communication just re-
ceived from the chairman of the ship
ping board, has the following infor-
nation:
zone of the most perplexing prob
lens of the war OF the United States
shipping board. the army and the
navy has been the lack of housing
facilities for the enormously increased
army of labor. The war Industries
board appointed a committee on hous-
ing. with Mr.. Otto NJ. Eidletz. of New
York, as chairman, to investigate
and advise on this situation. This
committee has investigated and ad-
vised on the immediate necessity OF
increased housing facilities, but, ow-
in" to the fact that this problem had
not yet reached a critical stage at the
time congress adjourned at its last
session, and that no request had been
made to congress for an appropria-
tion to provide necessary housing,
Mr.. EidietZ was unable to do more
than suggest. The shipping board
also had appointed an advisory COM
mittee which thoroughly investigated
housing conditions at the shipyards
and recommended some action to-
ward relieving the situation, but all
committees were more or less handi-
capped by no special financial pro-
visions for taking care of this I'M
looked for situation.
In November / appointed Mr..
Rogers Flannery to see what could
hA 6nna n holn tha hnItetne fvntth1aa
at the shipyards. The demand for
Immediate action became go apparent
when the situation was thoroughly in
vestigated that the shipping board de-
ctded to start construction at once
at the most critical points. Hog
island viii be the largest operation,
and s10,e00o00 has been set aside
for the erection of thousands of
houses TO be erected In the vicinity
of the Hog island shipyard Bristol,
Pa. has also been assisted and
large community site 10 being con-
structed
"sparrows Point, Nd. has been in
need OF housing facilities. and the
shipping board is helping the Bethle-
hem Shipbuiding corporation, limit
ed. to purchase about 400 Ave and six
room brick houses to care for the
shIpyard employees. Baltimore, which
is about ten miles from the ship
Yards. is cooperating with the United
States shipping board to the fullest
extent. and is giving invaluable assist
anee In helping to place the shipyard
employees in homes. rooms and apart
ments. Chester (Pa.), Wilmington
(Del), Newport News fFa.), New
ourgh IN ". and many other
shipbuilding points are being investI-
nd "a nd fa1a
ton for alternating the housing stu
alton,
We are treating the housing prop
ositon from a very broad viewpoint.
and In all the cases where community
sites are being planned are provided
all the social, moral and artistic fea-
lures that Will add to the social.
moral and physical weIi-being OF the
shipbuildins employees who will live
In these communities. While protect
ing the investment of the govern
rnent, we are also adjusting the rents.
purchase terms. etc. on such q basis
that they will be within normal reach
of the men who will occupy the
houses
The shipping board has invited the
committee on housing to act as it's
advisory committee. has provided
quarters for and is paying all salaries
and clerical expenses Of this commit
tee and Ia attempting to work out
this housing problem along the very
broad lines that IL deserves. hoping
that eventually congress will realize
the necessity of providing the neces-
sary appropriation with which to take
care OF the housing necessities OF all
branches OF the government. The
shipping board is building up this
housing organization I'm conjunction
with the committee on housing so that
no time may be lost, and when con-
gress decides to appoint an indepen-
dent housing commission with the
necessary appropriation to take hold
and construct the necessary housing
for all branches of the government,