South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-09
ENTIRE CITY
MUST WORK
ON HOUSING
Visit Other Cities Which Have
Been Confronted With
a Similar Propo-
Sition.

Returning from an investigation
Of the plans employed at Flint.
Mich, and Akron. o.. in meeting
housing situations similar to the one
that now confrOnts South Bend, Abe
Frank and Herman Tohulka are
firmly convinced that the only way
in which this city can successfully
meet the situation here is b. a com
plete subserviance OF all other pro-
jects to the one obtaining a sufficient
number Of homes here for the in
crease in population 10 come with
the expansion of the Studebaker cor
poration plant
Mr. Frank visited Flint while Mr..
HOhulke investigated the plans fol-
lowed by Akron. Both men are COM
pletely convinced that every citizen
in South Bend must become vitality
interested in solving the housing
problem here before a solution can
be reached.
ITO successfully meet the situa-
zion here" said Mr. Frank Saturday
IN speaking OF the South Bend hous-
ing problem, I'VE must subserve ev-
erything to the housing problem So
luton. This means cOliseums, me-
MORALS and other worthy projects
of this kind. The entire city must
devote It's attention TO securing more
homes for the increased number OF
men, women and children that viii
be brought TO this city.
Three years ago Flint was a city
OF $1,000 population. Today it has
"a population of $4,000 citizens.
Flint went though what we are go
ing through and it was only the
hard work OF the board Of commerce
OF that city that met the situation
there.
Employed an Expert.
The Flint organization employed
an expert I'm his line to take charge
OF the campaign there for more
houses He is Dan Reed. and Mr..
Reeds efforts in organizing the city
for campaign purposes and keeping
ID organized throughout the cam
paign is what made Flint the city
DO is today
What we need is a man like Mr..
Reed. one who knows what to do
and will do II. and one who will in
spire confidence in others. We
ought to get such a man. the salary
that may have 20 be paid 10 him be
ing an unimportant factor If the
desired results are obtained
IT am I'm favor Of the organiza-
ton OF a Civic Homes Financing
company with sufficient funds to
curry out the purpose for which it
would be formed Such a company
would in no way interfere with other
financial Institutions in the city in
terested in financing house build
ing. Instead il would act as a sort
Of bulwark, a sort 10 refuge that
could be turned TO in the case of
necessity.
Il want to emphasize that this
civic Homes Building company
would not take the place of any
other financial institutions interest
cd i'm house building and financing.
Great care should be used 20 prevent
the idea getting out tSat this or
ganization was anything else except
an aiad to the other institutions
should Build Hospital
There is one public project that
should be carried ont along with the
house building program. and that
is a hospital Such an institution is
as necessary to South Bend as are
a sufficient number Of houses TO ac-
commodate the increase in popula-
ton.
And here is where s.. Joseph
county can aid in the housing prob
lem solution. The increase in pop
ulation I'm this city is going to ma
terially benefit the county as vel
as the city. South Bend needs a
hospital. and the county can build
one. and in this way 10 will be ma
teriaIIv aiding in solving the prob
lem.
TT Is a fact that South Bend &.
away behind in ifs hospital facili-
ties. DO you know that in South
Bend shere IS only one hospital bed
FOR every $50 inhabitants. while II
Mishawaka there is one hospital bed
for every zoo inhabitants, and in
Flkhart the ratio is one hospital bee
for every 500 Inhabitants. In the
county AT large the percentage is one
lospitaf bed for every 500 inhabi-
tants. These figures show how bad
" South Bend and st. Joseph coun-
~ are IN need of a hospital right
now. and how much more VII such
an institution be needed with th'
fncrease in population?
ct found that many OF the home!
fn Flint were OF the moderately OK.
pensive type. one kind that appear.