The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-19
CHICAGO PLAN TO
BUILD HOUSES IS
MODEL FOR CITY
sv WILLIAM r. sANBoRN

The fact that J. Ogden Armour end
Thomas f. Wilson, the noted Chicago
packers, have recently invested thou
sands Of dollars in a no-prof1t organi-
cation, designed to furnish real homes
for wage earners and men OF slender
incomes. at cost and on tho easiest
possible terms, makes story worth
the telling
We cite these gentlemen more par
ticularly, because they are in the spot
Wight, and because some have accused
bthem OF most Of the crimes In the
calendar. leading to the piling up OF
predatory millions. 1t seems. how
ever. that there are big men in the
packing industry, who are no mDre
encountered with hoofs and horns than
the balance of US, broadgauged. lib
eral, kindly men, whom it Is pleasure
to know.
The fact that Mr. Armour heads the
directory assures the cooperation or
almost unlimited capital We could
name hundred philosophical Chi
cagoans associated with him in this
purely altruistic, non-proft enterprise.
That Chicago has, and always has had
good complement of such enterpris-
ing, farseeing citizens, largely &C
counts for it's great wealth and mill
ions Of population.
Richmond Is Interested.
Knowing that Richmond would be
interested in first-hand Information OF
what Chicago Is doing "To improve
housing conditions in Chicago. and to
encourage small wage-earners to &C
Quire ard own their homes" just as is
our aim here at home. we have secur-
ed all the pertinent facts.
A Bit Of Wizardry.
We regret to have to state that
what Chicago has done, or will do
as a metropolis. cannot be done in
Richmond But how they do 1T is nov
ertheless interesting. as witness the
following excerpt from the letter Of
Mr.. James F. Basiger. the general
manager for the associations:
Il might say that one of the big
features Of our plan is, that we are
selling the business frontage which
surrounds the residences which we are
building in our first development, for
enough money to pay for the acreage
Sand underground improvements. This
v will give the purchasers Of the homes
an improved lot without cost. Oul
Office space is being furnished free OF
charge; GreenebaumS Sons Bank and
Trust Company is collecting all the
moneys without charge; we are pay
ing cash for all our materials. are EN-
plOyng a contractor on a commission
basis, and are doing the work by day
labor. We are going to be able K
produce a house for $4,000 that wouid
sell in the open market for $4,000 o!
$1,000"
Lot Values Included.
We presume that we are to under
stand that economy in building anc
buying operations, together with tho
value of the free lot, really makes the
$4,000 home Of equal value to those
now costing buyers $4,000 and up, anC
this is most likely fair statement o
the facts, as applied to Chicago an(
the plan Of operation pursued.
Whenever the business frontage II
any subdivision can be sold for en-
ough money to pay the entire cost o
the land and improvements, as noted
the only sums in excess Of the cost o
the houses to be charged to purchaser
will be a small portion Of the overhead
cost of conducting the enterprise. Blu
in any event the sale Of the bushes
corners and desirable business front
age must reduce the cost of the home
provided by a non-proft enterprise
and this is a thought worth consider
ing, wherever We may be able to sci
few business lots, as we build homes
a Time for Action.
Hope deferred maketh the hear
sick, and heaven knows we do no
> wish to see the frugal, industriou
citizens Of Richmond who are anxiou
to buy homes and to continue to dwel
among us. sick at heart for lack Of TIL
opportunity now tentatively promised
This is the time for action. then VIII
tarry? The need is urgent, brethren
nor is il one mans job or duty. w
are talking about. 1t is a communit
task ard obligation, for the commune
benefit and uplift.
ITO promote homecoming and t
foster Amcricanism,' is the Chicag
slogan, and there is no denying that
will benefit Richmond to do all tn
work We can along the same line, an