Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-31
HOUSING PLANS
FOR TR|-C|T|ES
GOVERNMENT TO ADVANCE FUND
OF 5000 900 FOR NEW
DWELLINGS.
ONLY PERMANENT HOMES
WILL BE ERECTED
Government War Work at Arsenal
Brings Housing Problem to Fore and
Federal Aid Is Secured - Local
Company to Assist in Organization
Men to Be Urged to Buy Homes
at Cost.

Davenport, May 81. The United
States government will spend about
So, 000, 900 in the quad-cities to solve
the housing problem, which has been
rendered acute by the rapid and cnor-
nous growth Of activities at the .ocii
Island arsenal, according to adviccs
port will get 1000, 900 Of this amount,
Rock Island $4,000. and Moline $780,
600. East Moline may get about $780,
600. Other smaller amounts may be
spent on the suburbs. This will mean
the construction of about 500 houses
in Davenport Immediately.
To this amount the local commune
ties Will add sums to help the stu
alton In Davenport local capitalists
have pledged 100000 to be added 10
the fund. making in all $1,000, 600 to be
spent for homes for wordngmen. Rock
Island has pledged as high as $4,000
TO be used, if necessary, in addition to
it's allotment from the government.
The feature that is especially graft
flying to quad-ctty people is that the
homes that will be built will be per-
manent and not temporary structures
as are being built elsewhere in the
country to meet con ditions, which will
continue only during the period of the
war
This is pointed out as an indica-
ton that the government has estab-
lished definite policy for the Rock
Island arsenal, that IL knows that its
improvements and activities will be
permanent and the future will be pro
vided for as we'll as the immediate
present.
To Organize Local Company.
The Davenport Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION. which was organized last
port, has been actively engaged in
solving the housing problem since
January. A local company will be
formed to take the s4N0, 900 locally to
add to the fund.
The government sent a man here in
January to look over the situation and
determine what should be done in re-
gard to the question. He was in con-
sultation with the Davenport manufac-
turers. They Immediately sent agents
to Washington and with Congressman
Harry e. Hull started to work to get a
proposition that would meet adequately
the demands Of the situation here.
Lane Is Chairman.
Joe r. Lane, who has been chairman
of the Davenport interests, visited
Washington several times and has been
in constant communication with the
authorities since
He received the following telegram
yesterday from Otto NJ EidEtz, pro1ni-
nent New York architect and contrac-
tor, who has entire charge Of the ex-
penditure OF the $50, 600, 900 appropri-
ated by the government to solve the
housing problem IN various parts OF
the country:
Il am pleased to advise you that FL
100000 Of government funds have been
allotted to Davenport for housing. II
will be necessary for you 20 organize a
local company with capital stock OF
s400,O00. Would suggest that YOU take
immediate steps TO do this. Govern
rnent funds will be available iDnedi
ately along lines suggested to you by
Mar. Cassidy on his recent visit. viii
mail you draft Of contract within next
few days as soon as available"
Houses to Be Sold.
It is the plan, according to Mr.. Lane:
to interest the workmen in buying their
own homes.
The work viii be done without any
profiteering," said Mr.. Lane. But the
work will be done by Davenport work
men and by Davenport contractors
The Davenport architects will plan the
houses Materials will be bought II
Davenport. And the homes will be
permanent.
The situation is different here from
what it Is in other parts of the coun-
try, where the government has beer
obliged to provide housing. Here We
have permanent institution. The
Rock Island arsenal IS going to be the
biggest United States arsenal in the
country. The fact that the govern
n1ent has authorized the erection Of
permanent homes here shows that il
is realized in Washington that the peo-
pie who come here TO work at the
arsenal will be given an opportunity
to stay permanently"