Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-08-07


,S That the demand for homes in the
So. United States is nationwide
33~@ That 100000 homes should have
EP1 been built at the normal rate in the
SGl last two years and that only $4,000
were actually built. leaving a short
age that is estimated at fully 10000 homes
That from 100000 to 55OO 600 homes must be now
built yearly to make up the shortage and to get
back to the normal rate
That 100000 feet of lumber, board measure,
will have to be cut yearly, instead of 100000
feet, which is the normal rate.
That an increase in the lumber output Of 10,
O00,o0O feet a year will certainly make the lum-
berjack hustle.
Inc experts do not agree as to figures in all
cases. But 1t is evident that the shortage in
homes is very large. At the recent real estate
convention in Atlantic City inadequate housing
FACILITIES were reported from all parts Of the
country and the shortage in homes was put at
100000
Again, 1t should be remembered that the or
binary demands of manufac turers for lumber are
also to be met.
That the demand of devastated Europe for
lumber will undoubtedly stimulate export from
this country.
While all the lumberjacks of the country will
have to hustle 1t looks If the biggest activity
Will be demanded from the lumberjacks of the
Pacific coast, where most of the lumber comes
from nowadays.
The pictures show scenes in Idaho and Wash
ington. The mountain lumber camp is 1000 feet
up IN northern Idaho and there Is Still snow on
the ground in June. The trainload of logs is on
narrow-gauge road in the Idaho pine forests
near Fernwood. The three magnificent yellow
pines are in logging region near Spokane. yell
low pine is the principal source Of lumber in
eastern Washington. The normal production Of
yellow pine is about 16O00,OOOO00 feet (board
measure) a year. It is figured that this output
VIII have to be increased to about 10000 100000
feet. Some Of the white pine trees near Spokane
are five feet in diameter and 175 feet high. The
largest white pine belt left in the United States
Is in northern Idaho. Some Of the largest and
best-equipped sawmills in the country are in this
Washlngton-Idaho district
This housing problem is big one-so big that
1t may lead to action by the federal government
The department Of labor, in announcing in Jam
uary that 100000 new dwelling houses were need
ed, had this to say:
Two billion dollars, available for loans to
home builders, would go far in providing the
necessary capital for the building of these dwell
ngs Securities of value approxmating So OO-
100000 are held by the Constituent organizations
In the United States League of Building and Loan
Associations. Labor conditions manufacturing,
and social needs clearly indicate the desrabty
OF an immediate acceleration of building actiyf-
ties throughout the country
building, a tentative plan may materiaze in a
national system of home loan banks The plan
contemplates the creation of bank in each fed
eral reserve district, similar to the land banks
created under the federal farm loan act with
which local building and loan association could
deposit collateral receiving in exchange home
loan bonds"
The announcement has been made in Washing
ton by Louis K. Sherman, president Of the United
States Housing corporation, that the land in vari-
Gus cities which was to have been utilized by the
government, in its war emergency building pro-
gram is to be sold to home seekers for the cree
ton Of private houses. The conditions governing
the sale Of such property are that there is a real
demand for houses in the community and that the
construction of homes will be started Immediately
following the sale. The lots are to be sold pub
licly Complete sets of plans, prepared by arch
fleets for the housing corporation, will be fur
nished with the various lots
6sIosvenor Atterbury has some interesting
t..ngs to say on this problem. He is known as
a.; architect Of international reputation He is
member of the board of directors of the Ma
tional Housing association, chairman of the war.
time housing committee, member Of the National
City Planning institute member of the French
Council of Architects and Engineers on the prob
lem Of reconstruction in the devastated regions
and member of the New York tenement house
commission. For 10 years. under various appro
priatons beginning with the Henry Phlpps en-
terprises and then with the Russell Sage founda-
ton, he has spent large part of his time in re-
search work and experiments in the possibilities
of quantity production of the small house suit
ala for workingmen. These practical studies
al demonstrations have involved the expend-
ti:., az two or thee hundred thousand dollars
He says among other things:
1--WE will make no substantial progress toward
the solution of the industrial housing problem
until we apply to the production Of the small
Il : Z K ~ \