El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-07
OWNING YOUR OWN HOME CAMPAIGN
Is GETTING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

THE HOEu Your Own HomeD campaign, Of which FL Pa
scans have heard something the past week OF two
yin become nationwide in scope if the backing Of the de-
parent Of labor help make It City adninisra-
tons public organizations and associations Of builders and
realty dealers are being urged to give It the proper lmpe
tus Naturally il viii receive most consideration If It's
chief promotion from those who have nothing to
sell
The division Of public works and construction develop
uent Of the department labor the campaign in
charge and It has been taken up IN q cities
OF civic betterment There to be national and local
committees cooperating to enlist public interest IN home
buildng and home buying, especially the former.
According TO the departments Plan the campaign should
purely commercial basis and the appeal is the
line Of what each business group put into the
rather than what It take out. It is 100
percent better city movement having in mind only the
permanent Improvement Of the community and the imme
date hePulness to the nation in the transition period
IRON mobilization to peace production.
an this is Of interest here N e Paso CITY which
hss been in the front rank the matter Of home
building and home buying and N which the average Of
homes owned BY their occupants is unusually high Ell
fcrs being made here stimulate home building
and beginning at construction is the result Houses
going up in various parts Of the city and there is dis
tincy building going than three months ago The
movement VII increase time goes on, and the oil sgita
ton which nay be having some effect OF It VIII not
The department. of labor emphasizes these benefits
which be expected from the Gown Your Own Home
movement
It viii provide better living conditions increase eff
eeueys encourage thrift give greater comfort and happi
ness and create individual reserves for misfortune and old
sgs
Every house owner with his family whether rich poor
vel 10 do becomes thereby better citizen with in
creased self respect independence and responsibility the
city AID nation and IS vitality interested in the vel
fare Of both.
During the readjusHsnt period such movement hast
the return to normal conditions; results in much needed
construction for home and industrial purposes; provides
work for returning soldiers and sailors craftsmen
and for labor changing from peace industries stiu
ates all Lies Of business N each community and
general prosperity. /!
The fact that all these are patriotic in purpose does
NJ
able the local communities and in the long rn the com
unity which makes IL easiest build cheapest to
build VIII reap the greatest benefits. =
The home owning movement outlined by the depart
eut Of labor submitted to the recent conference of
governors and mayors in Washington and met with their
hearty approval They promised TO further It in every
way possible.
The country over there is waiting tendency now due
70 hope that later prices building materials 3
VII have to down and that money will be saved by
delaying building that account According to building
companies and dealers in materials, however there is
2oh1ng TO warrant any belief that speedy drop in prices
OF materials IS n sight for II costs produce
them than before the there is no way of les :,
en1ng the cost Of production except by heavy wage cut
ting drive which would cause trouble
therefore, It IS their opinion that time lost IN
hliolng home IS truly time lost and it means also
money given to the landlords IN exchange for rent
receipts which do not form pleasing souvenirs.
Moreover while it is true that materials cost more
than before the war the loss in that direction nav be
overcome partly wholly, IN the purchase of building
sites Cessation Of building during the war meant stapus
on n so lar the movement Of vacant lots was con-
cened and It follows ta many Of these can be bought at
less cost than before the Some owners Of vacant
property holding up their valuations but others are
willing TO sacrifice.
As for the high building materials freight rates
are partly responsible and the department Of labor could
40 more to stimulate building than by propaganda If it
coud induce the railroad administration to reduce those
freight rates. NJ