The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-02-01
WAR WORK AND HOUSING.

)oint housing administrator and a
housing board to superlntcnd build
ng Of dwellings for war workers.
he recommendation is signed by
robert w. deForest, president, Laur-
nee WELLER, secretary, and b.
Srosvener Atterbury, New York
rchitect, and John Nolen, city
tanner of Cambridge, Massachu-
etts. These constitute a committee
rhich investigated the housing stu
ton in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and
,parrow's Point, Maryland, where
var industries have brought large
editions to the population. They
ecommend not only the appoint
nents mentioned, but government
oans to employers of labor and
,ther agencies for the housing OF
7orkers,' and that the prospective
! ousing board build houses for sale
rent, buy and condemn land ane
Ike all necessary steps for the de
elopment of communities in which
orkers in war industries are tc
ive.''
Concerning conditions in Bridge
ort, the committee finds it sc
rowded that mot another man car
accommodated in that city
bridgeport has an area of more tina,
lirteen square miles and popula
on of about 10000 or about 80,
90 families. If its area were d;
ided into building lots Of rs x 10e
Get, one-fourth of it would b.
nough to provide home site TO
ach family. But the committee ha
OF mentioned that fact in its report
racant lots are plentiful in Bridge
ort. The committee does not seen
have noticed them. 1t find
mother reason for the city's con
estien 1t says that the people o
bridgeport are ready TO provid
ousing, but all local capital is need
d for development of industry, an
there is none available for build
1g houses. However that may be
here is plenty Of capital in othe
laces, the owners of which woul
lady invest in buildings in Bridge
ort, if assured Of a profit. TIVE
bstacles stand III the way. One j
lat the vacant lots are held at
igher price than can profitably b
aid. The other is that the State
Connecticut taxes land owners VIII
ut houses on their lots more.than j
oes those who keep theirs vacant
every place where this policy pre-
ails- and Connecticut is not tn
My example-the vacant lot indus
ry flourishes, and building is hamr
red. In urging that the govern
tent make loans to builders or g
ato the building business itself, tn
ssociation's committee says nothing
bout removing these obstacles. T
1t them remain would mean thu
rivate individuals building wit
overnment help must pay interes
n money borrowed to pay initiate
rices for land and for taxes on i'm
rovements. If the governmer
uilds it will have to pay high price
or land also Why should it nc
well to make the first step i
ousing reform the exemption
uildings from taxation and aboli
ion of land speculation by putin
II taxes on the value of land IRE
pective Of improvements?
Concerning conditions at Spar
owls Point, the committee has al
wen worse explanation to offer 70
ack of Communications Tho Beth
,hem Steel Company. it says, wa
eady to build houses for its en-
loyes, when the income and exces
,rofit taxes levied upon it for wa
expenses took all the finds tho
vere to finance the project From
which, it seems, that the, Steel Trus
shifting its war taxes upon it
,ouseless employees. But the Trus
,wns the land on which it was goin
build. The land is being hel
die. Why would it not be goo
dea for Congress to put tax upol
his land heavy enough to compe
he Trust, either to build upon it O
% dispose of it to others who woul'
,uild. That would solve the hous
ng question not only without ex
,ense to the government but to it
profit. Land values at Sparrow
Point as well as at Bridgeport an
other places, have increased tire
nendously as a result of the wa
orders placed by the government
lnd ON this form of war profits Con
sress has not imposed a dollar
axation. AS result land specula
ion flourishes and the housing prob
EN- has become acute. Why coul6
not the Housing Associations inves
igating committee see situation sc
lear, and urge the obvious remedy
What did it try instead to make
'capegoat of the war tax on the Stee'
Trusts profits?