Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-25
PROBLEM IN APPLIED
PATRIOTISM

restaurants and trolley cars had the
reeundity of rabbits. They might in that
case be able to satisfy the demands Of a
population which has itself increased with
such rapidty that congestion within the
city rivals, If it does not equal, the freight
congestion in New York.
We do not attempt to estimate the mum
her OF people who have been attracted to
this territory during the last few months
by the amazing increase in industrial pur'
suits. We do know that the now ship
building plants alone will require from
100000 TO 25O,oOO additional expert work
men in the district from Bristol TO VIII
mlngton which means a new population
OF not less than a million. Moreover, the
indications arc that the demand for skilled
labor will be just as great after the war
as II is now. drawing, however, from a
larger supply. The new Philadelphia is not
a temporary Philadelphia. 1t is Phila'
delphia that has come to stay. The cN'
travagant estimates OF yesterday are to-
morrow criticized as having lacked vision
The new population which we hoped to
have in the distant future we have now
and the influx continues.
We are amazed sometimes at the inertia
which fails TO take advantage Of the fact
consider as an example OF possibilities the
Chestnut Street Opera House. 1t stood in
the center Of the city as a monument to
q day that had passed. 1t was out of the
2 theatre district, men said, although
keitl's. almost opposite seemed to keep its
grip on a large clientele. Some gentle
men of astuteness, however concluded
that a vacant Chestnut Street Opera
House was ridiculous. 1t seemed to be
on a proper site. why not utilize it, par
ticularly as the demand for amusement
seemed TO reflect the increase in popula-
ton? Some paint, some refitting, attrac-
tions OF merit, according to the taste of the
day, and the rehabiitated playhouse comes
into its own almost overnight. Too often
a community bewails as liabilities posses.
sions that a little common sense would
convert into very real assets.
we have an acute housing situation on
our hands. The Government has con-
cluded to solve its own problem by car
rying through an enormous house,con.
struction program for the benefit of en-
aTn
thousands Of other workrnen for whom
no organized provision of any sort is being
made, so far as we can discover. There
are many houses in the city which have
oeen virtually abandoned for years. Some
of them earn no revenue whatever, while
the value of others has seriously de-
Perforated. We believe that an energetic
committee on the rehabilitation OF old
houses would add appreciably to the
housing capacity of the city and at the
same time offer accommodations consider
ably better than are now paid for in some
quarters. There are, too, many enormous
old houses Of an era long passed, some
houses and more of which are not being
properly utilized. Many of them could
with profit be converted into modern flats,
The man OF moderate income has to be
provided for as well the laborer.
A scientific survey of the possibilities for
supplemental housing would, we believe,
lead to positive results. The situation
demands something more than private en-.
teavor. although many men, supposedly
benefit their bank accounts and the COM
nunity at the same time. stin the prob
lem is public problem, a municipal prob
lem. and the municipal authorities ought to
grapple with it.
This thing of simply throwing up our
hands and crying, There are not enough
houses" does no good. There are literally
tens OF thousands Of cubic rect OF inclosed
space now valueless for housing, but
ehlch BY the expenditure of some money
and brains could be converted into com
Portable quarters There are lofts that
can be made into fats there are houses
mat can BE- rehabilitated, there are some
abandoned hotels that can again be put
into use. Let Us anticipate Government
building BY doing little reconstruction
purselves The energy that pumped
the ehe,tnut Street Opera House