Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-02
RICHMOND POPULATION
DOES ANNUAL SHIFTING
Moving Vans Fairly Scurry Labor
Day in Moving Hundreds of
Families.
MANY ARE WITHOUT HOMES
Other Cities Throughout United
States Confronting Same Shortage
AS Exists Herc-Rents Arc Also
Increased.

Richmonds population did its annual
shifting yesterday.
GASES in the desert. families who have
no roof Of ,h"'r own threw their be-
i"nc,ngs on m"vinE vans and hicd 10
fully restricted quarters.
AS Interchangeable as the laws OF the
Medes and Pcrsians is the custom that
the inhabitants snail secure lew
ahodes and break III their furniture en-
September l. This vear preparations
panied with more than the usual rest
less spirit and hard work-abodes have
been almost unobtainable and terribly
high rents stare one in the face
Moving Vans Arc Busy.
Anyhow, the residents OF the West
End have rolled their heavy marching
zcns Of the East End have looked tend
crly on the familiar Church Hill land
scare and taken up the exodus to the
statement of Mr.. Kirling that never
the twain shall meet"
Practically every residential block in
in front Of a home the old familiar
moving van. Scramblcs for family
roof had come to an cnd-in many
cases most unsuccessfully. and the
gun. And lucky was tho family hav-
ing lease on "dugout" which pro-
tcctS the entire outfit.
More people are said to have moved
Yesterday into unfinished apartments
than ever before in the history Of the
city. In many sections it was not an
and cradles mixed promscously with
G Gar5enteFs tools and mortar. Hun
future homes, but took refuge in board
ing houses until arrangement scould
DC made for settling permanently.
Facing Real Shortage.
Richmond faces a real shortage Of
homeS-the scarcity being estimated
from 500 to 1000 homes.
This shortage is ascribed to two
thinGs--to the unusual exodus from the
farms 10 the city and to the high cost
OF building, which came practically to
A standstill during the progress OF TIE
Richmond is not alone IN its house
shortage. Virtually every large city in
the United States is suffering frocl
the same complaint.
In the opinion OF some experts
throughout the country. housing condi-
tons directly arc attributable to slow
but incessant migration from the farm
20 the city. The years of that trend
now are reaching their climax with
the accompanying shortage Of houses
IN cities, experts say. However, eS.
perts look for change. They contend
the farm will be more attractive in the
years to come
housing congestion is given by Clar-
ence 3. Stein, secretary of the New
York housing committee. He says. So
900 houses are needed in New York.
He believes building spectators will
not erect large apartment houses UNI
less assured rent on basis of $500
room monthly. Cost of construction
uncertainty of labor and the difficulty
of getting building materials arc cited
Shortages Elsewhere.
Atlanta needs 1000 more homes and
rent increase has been from 10 to Is
per cent; Chicago. 10000. rent increase,
per cent: Cincinnati, 5000: rent in
crease. very small; Memphis $50, rent
increase, ID per cent: Pttsburg. from
5000 to 10000. with " rent increase Of
about 10 per cent. Cleveland with a
shortage Of about 10000 houses. has
suffered increases Of from Is to 80 per
cent.
ether reasons given for the shortage
are cessation of building operations and
wage increases, which have resulted in
waEe-earnerS seeking homes with
modern convenienceS