Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-04-12
Government Plans to House Its
Big New Army of
ShipbuiderS.
TO Be DONE IN RECORD TIME
Community Houses, Equipped Like
Club, for Single Men-Homes With
All Modern Conveniences for
Married Men-Standardiza-
ton for High Speed.
BY JAMES 4. COLLINS.

by JAM 60 n. OOLElNO-
In hastily remodeled suite of
Washington offices today sits man
who has n war task that appeals TO
the Imagination.
Between now and July / he Is to
build S50,000,000 worth of homes for
workers in Uncle Sans new shlpbuild-
ing army, which is being modified
from the picked mechanics of every
state In the union.
This army Will number something
like 10000 men. Fifty million dol
lars invested In houses for a work
force of that size gives 1925 per man.
That seems rather limited sum of
money with which to provide anybody
with warm sanitary living quarters,
having baths, hot and cold water.
steam heat, electric light, modern
kitchen facilities, and all the COM
forts of home Yet this man Is going
to make his S125 per man suffice for
the job and carry out his construc-
ton In record time.
1t is interesting to figure with him
a lttle-if you just remember that
present figures must be rough esti-
mates to certain extent.
First of all, he can eliminate a large
proportion of this shipbuilding army,
because many of the new shlpyards are
handy TO cities with ample housing
and all conveniences, and Uncle Sam
will solve the housing problem In those
places by improving the transportation
service between mans work and his
home. But other shipyards have been
created in undeveloped spots along
our wide stretches of seacoast. and In
these places it becomes necessary TO
provide workers with modern living
quarters.
Community Dwellings.
Thousands of these shipbuilders will |
be single men. and for them a special /
type of community dwelling has been |
designed on the order OF club house.
Each community dwelling will accom-
modate 125 men. Each man will have
a room to himself and 1t will be an
outside room. Each clubhouse. more
over, will be divided into five groups
Or separate clubs of from * to so
men. Each OF these separate clubs
win have shower baths and large
lounge. making II pos
'ible for worker to find congenial
,rowd OF his own and for that little
subdivision TO organize Its
,wn home life. nmusements. sports,
Iocia affairs. and studies. Each
hub house will have a community din ;
ng room with modern kitchen and
ervIng facilities. giving board on the
ness plan at reasonable rates and with
labor. These community club
Iouses are to be OF frame construc-
Ion. but standard type. Many OF |
hem will be erected In localities which :
re not likely to become permanent
centers. Therefore. per-
lanent construction has not been the 5
hlef necessity. Nevertheless. they $
iii be substantial enough to last % I
ears II need be. and where erected /
4 localities with severe winter wealth I
r win lack nothing In warmth. n
When the plans for such houses /
'crc standardized By the shipping c
GARD experts. they achieved two re- n
ults in house building that seemed to c
e new. First. speed OF construction.
II the doors. windows. pipes. and 4
ther things that so i'm, house were n
ut on d basis OF unifoi n sizes. Much 4