New-York tribune., 1919-05-24
Speedy Construction on
Large Scale Only Way Sit
uation Can Be Met, Recon-
structionCommissionTold
Government Aid Needed
Expert Says Many Six-Room
Houses Can Be Built Here
at Cost of $4,000 Each

Speedy construction on a large scale,
along the lines which provided homes
Tor thousands of war workers, was sug-
gested as a means of meeting the hous
ing crisis. at yesterdays session of the
joint Legislative committee Investigate
ing the ice and housing situations.
The governments home making
plans, which made attractive towns out
of deserted tracts, were outlined in
detail by James A. Fisher, assistant
manager of trans portatlon and housing
with the Emergency Fleet Corporation,
and Otto NJ. Eidltz, director of the
housing and transportation depart
ments of the Department of Labor
Max Morganthau, jr., Judges Aaron
]. Levy and Benjamin Hoffman, Of the
Municipal Court; Calvin Van Name,
President of the Borough of Richmond
and Andrew J. O'Neil, now with the
United States Railroad Administrations
we're among those who offered sugges-
tons.
MIR. Fisher, who visited most of the
large cities engaged in war work ar
ranging housing and transportation
facilities for the workers, said build
ngs could be constructed reasonably
and quickly in Queens, Brooklyn and
The Bronx on the plans of the So
called Elmwood Avenue project which
gave housing TO shipyard workers and
their families in Philadelphia.
Six Rooms for S3,SOO
The project, he said, provides for
the erection OF one-f family brick houses,
Of six rooms and bath, 16 feet by 100,
costing on an average of $4,000 each.
With the cost of $500 for the lot, he
said, these should bring the landlord
d rental OF $3.50 monthly, and could
be built in three months
When Senator Lockwood, chairman
OF the committee, said that it was
concerned chiefly in supplying housing
for persons who could afford only $50
a month, MIR Fisher replied that a
larger number of persons than gener-
ally believed can pay from S35 to
S3T50 a month for adequate housing.
Mr.. Fisher added that the "own your
own home" campaign deserves every
impetus, as it is extremely helpful in
solving the housing problem.
Single family brick houses could be
built in New York City for between
$4,000 and $4,000 according to Mr. Ed
litz Many Of these houses could be
built in five months, he said. The De-
partment Of Labor provided housing in
tWenty-four localities for 5000 families
at cost OF from S3S0O to $500 each,
ne said. In Portsmouth, Va, housing
project was carried through so vigor-
ously that 4 wilderness was changed
into q goodsized town in a short time
Suggests Government Help
He recommended that a government
building subsidy be provided to aid in
providing homes for worbingmen.
Judge Levy, who is president OF the
Board Of Municipal Court Justices,
said conditions have now reached an
alarming stage and viii be worse by
October i. He said a special session
o1 the Legislature should be called to
provide means for relieving the stu
ation.
Unless something is DONE" he said,
The present unrest is going to grow
iHto just the kind of fodder that the
Bolsheviki are after"
Mr. Morgenthau testified that the So
lation Of the present crisis rests in the
The savings banks can rediscount their
mortgage holdings and borrow on their
Liberty bonds for the purpose Of in-
testing i'll mortgages. He also recon-
nended the passage of the McWhinney
bill, legalizing investment of savings
and rust funds in first mortgage real
estate bonds, under proper safeguards
Announcement was made yesterday
BY Mrs. Henry Moscowitz, secretary of
the State Reconstruction Commission
that seven builders have offered to con-
ssruct apartments under the plans OF
he commission, which provide for a
20 per cent loan by corporation of big
business men. who would relieve the
present situation. Their loan will be
added to the so per cent offered by the
tile companies, leaving 20 per cent for
the builder to furnish.