The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-03
Bad Housing Is
Keeping Labor on
A Steady Move

.Keer interest IS being manifested
hv large employers Of laooF, as w"
~ by architects and builders. IN an
s~eatigations being conducted on CON
citizens under which w~orklnsmeh -.
living, which have already concur
ssve,s shown that unsatisfactory hons-
Ing is the big factor in the present ap-
.aTn1al labor turnover. says the
America Architects weekly review
Municipalities have also been anicR
10 realize that rapid migration from
r1snt TO plant and from city to city
eonresents not merely "A serious eco
norai lie loss but an obstacle to good CIT
ard community welfare.
AsHut II has been due to the enter
nrise Of many large corporations that
action is now being taken to remedy
conditions, for it was leading business
men who were frsr to see that one or
me greatest losses sustained by them
-esufted from the shift Of their labor
force. .
am showing tina moving of men Is
/ source Of great money loss a survey
has been made In a southern city
There one particular block was select
"a as tvptcal of the conditions under
rh5rn workmen were living. This
sausre was ~eanwaSsed on Monday ana
then recanvassed on Friday OF the
same week. The first canvass revealed
: total of 1os men roonaiu@ IA me
houses of The block. On Frtd' the
same week 1t was found that men
were sleeping In the same F"o}'s put
that only thirty OF the original hum
dred were stfIl being accommodated
In the block.
s~Tnyeet{gatfon revealed that the ma
fcrity of the original number had iert
h fhe city. The men were working un-
der good factory conditions ana eH-
eaIient pay. The conclusion showed
n = =. = - .-uz }ha nnar hnnajnE C0ndl-
tton. that caused the large turnover.
The results Of his survey have been
Auuficated in cities in many other sec
tfons Of the country Some localities
cutck 10 realize the seriousness OF the
situation, have taken steps through
newly formed organizations and are
acting to prevent fnrther sniie'hs VI
their labor forces.
No Attempt TO stop Exodus
.1suf there are many rnuntctpaitle
which have let their labor depart with
suit stopping 10 ask the reason why OF
seeking TO prevent their leaving. More
.ttentson should be paid toward pro
rininp comfortable and sanitary homes
sor the w-orkingmen by cities through
sut the country. If his is not done
there viii most SURELY be q further
exodus.
.sunicient homes for the population
around industrial plants Is what !:
81 nEpded. FROM L. STUDY Si iGAt's fN
replies to a questionable circulated by
leading construction company tbs
reneral impression is gained that the
causes Of labor turnover today are i'm
proper or insufficient housing. made
ruate transportation, general restless
\ ness and IA lack Of care in placing men
- positions for which they are best
stted.
zone no!nt that an investigation OF
accusing conditions has brought out Is
that the type Of house in which the
workingman In generally lodged Is NOT
suited TO his needs and Is often be
NJ yond his earning power 20 support
Three and four-roonn apartments ana
@ four and Nve-rporn houses are type
rneetsrg with considerable success, A
rertain minimum requirement must be
met. which should include "A good-sized
living room for general use. sleeping
looms Of sufficient size and number to
q meet health demands and adequate IA
I'M ciyities OF sanitation.
@ "The majority OF working men Will
naturally 20 where they viii be com
ID fortably housed. They may be lured
temporarily by attractive wages &c
ov~erpopulated cities. but they VIII not
stay there. Particularly is this true
II the rkn fas family ties. Then
The chances are that even though he
nav not care where he himself lives
@ effort will be brought 10 bear from
ether sources and he sill move until
his family Is happy and coutented with
their surroundings and they are in a
suitable environment. During the past
few months many families have been
driven away from the larger cities be-
Vii cause the lack Of adequate housing IA
~ttlities was first felt IN centers where
M the manufacturing of war necessities
N Aourished. They have been obliged to
eCek Employment in smaller communi-
ties. where the chances OF being prop
hzywa4 rrAra tr.+er