The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-06
For the Good Of
 the Community

IL district employed during the war; and most of them now, at good wages and they have money more money than they ever had at any one time before
 It is good time for the who does not own his home to give the matter of buying serious thought Due to war conditions building operations, except in essentially war enterprises, were discontinued two years ago. with the result tat there serious dearh of available houses for rem now and rents high These restrictions are now removed Homes be bought however prices approximating their values before the war.
 It costs more in dollars to build house than in prewar days, but the additional cost is greater in proportion than the wages paid during and since the war so that relatively the cost of building is greater now than it was three four years ago. During the war the United States bent every effort in producing goods for immediate consumptlon-na- terias for war, food clothing, etc. Because of the lack of goods for future consumption there followed grave shortage and in cost of these commod es This condition naturally effects the cost of pro- duction and the cost of living
 Perhaps the very greatest need in America today is the need of homes From all parts of the country comes the insstent demand for places in which to live People want homes they need homes; they clam bring for homes The publishers of the Atlantic Monthly Magazine made the following statement in this connection in recent issue of their publication:
 "The United States at this time is short 100000 residences alone and very short practically all character of buildings. As whole, this country is 40 per cent underbuilt.' This statement is further augmented by the United States Depart ment of Labor, which issued bulletin stating tho foda is tIy short homes.
 It would naturally follow that this scarcity of buid ings therefore tends to create abnormaly high rents In Birmingham today rents higher than ever before in the history of the city This is serious dtion of affairs not only for the individual residents but for the city whole, and has apparently only one outet-that is, immediate and extensive building operations
 F. T. Miller of the United States Department of Labor says, in this connections
 Activity of the construction industry at this time is essential to the general welfare of every city. As Secretary McAdoo recently stated in di- recting the supervising architect to resume pub lie work: The activity of the building industry will facilitate the transition of general industry from to peace basis
 sThis is a question which goes beyond the in- terests of the construction industry Deferred building construction is of the first portions of our war debt which must be met, for it pro- vides facilities for paying the remainder of the war debt and also decreases the cost of living.
 "It is economic waste to allow labor and ma terials to remain temporarily in idleness when they may in the meantime be put into wealth and tax-rroducing structures.
 Public credit is ample for all building works. The money used circulates through the state 10 times in 12 months and largely remains in the state while the structure endures for the bene- fit of society
 "The country is probably full year behind in its civil construction programme, amounting to at least $3,OOO,OOO This amount must be caught up and normal building continued; condition of permanently arrested development of the country is inconceivable.
 "At this time of quiet in the industry the fore sighted who have need for building will naturally receive better service than when the rush on.'
 Birmingham has been second to city in the union in her interest enthusiasm and desire to help her country at Now that the struggle is over it shall not be said that she failed to stand behind her country at nea