Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-04-03
HOUSING PROBLEM
from Page One)

,it;veps. must be able TO- live under
roper housing conditions, pleasant
and proper influences
mich cannot be accomplished by
vsrciovdiug into. crowded quarters.
IF we are to make Alexandria The
KIND of city we hope to see i grow
,nIc we have got 10 look az Inc
ioonosition in a broader way IMAM
vo have in the past, and solve our
n,obIen, accordingly. 1t will be OF
doubtful benefit TO alexandria 10
have more industrial plants and
come to our city, I'M
less we can provide proper living
conditions for the people they VIII
bring.
TO permanently add to our growth
we mist provide those things II
Alexandra which will make 1t an
attractive place 20 live in, and raise a
family in. The real building OF our
CITY. state, and nation, depends III IT'S
final ANALYSIS upon the development
of the individual citizenship. Every
right thinking man with family
who does not own q home, hopes
some day to own one, and when ne
sees an opportunity to begin to buy
home. he will want to get located N
a place where h can earn living,
and at the same time, have his nome
in a community where lie can la!se
his family under pleasant surround
inps and influences, and enjoy the
most advantages
/ The growth of Alexandria that will
he of lasting benefit, will be meas
,,rod hv the amount of home building
Alexandria can do.
TIE floating population coming to
Alexandria, and having to live mder
:improper conditions, will remain in
Alexandria only until they can find
work in some other place, where they
can enjoy proper surroundings and
benefits. The greater part OF our new
nopIlation lives in Alexandria, be-
cause on account Of peculiar condi-
tons they can probably make a lit
tie more money here than elsewhere.
In most cases it is probably true that
these people would not want to be-
come permanent citizcsn of Alexandra
urder existing conditions.
Manv men already working IN
;Alexandria, have been unable to bring
tLeir families here, and will not BRING
them here under present conditions;
On the other hand, every man you
can provide suitable home for, IN
der plan whereby he can eventually
paw for and own his own home, you
have in most cases made a very
nermanent citizen Of him and have
secured a valuable asset for your COM
munity, He VIII have home that will
be his some day, and the community
has citizen who will be a real as
set TO the city.
would again emphasize the fact
that if you want to build Alexandria
along permanent lines, build homes.
IF YOU want your new citizenship to
be the right kind of citizenship, build
the right kind Of homes, under some
plan whereby those who occupy them
will some day own them.
1t is to the practical solution OF the
problem that we should direct our best
energies. 1t appears that although
there is ample capita! available, and
the Importance Of building homes is
realized, the cost of material and Ia
Dor has had great deal to do with
holding up building operation.
With the demand for attractive,
moderate sized homes in Alexandria
so great, it would appear that houses
of this kind could be disposed Of very
readily. Considering building is. going
on in other communities, where con-
ditions are much more uncertain than
in Alexandria, and while there might
be a small chance of losing on the
proposition financially, the chances
appear very remote.
IF a few men cannot be secured TO
put capital into building PROPOSE
t;on, it might be z. good plan TO Or.
ganize a building company, with a
large number Of stockholders, and
small individual holdings, in which
case if the worst predictions were
realized. the Individual loss would be
small, whereas if succeeds, as in all
probability it would, reasonable rate
OF the investment would be realized.
20 say nouillng Of the valuable asset
thai would Ice secured through the
erection Of houses in the community.
4 4 L.