The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-11

Reconstruction plans BIZ shd 6a =
naent Of labor provide for Ann4
perhaps the greatest deveioh meG4
public works and housing ever ~
jected. 4
A greater and better America II tli33l
object OF this vast cam pa Ign. TG%
building program coftem plated hY 49,
department viii mean tran6It1o}
from war to q peace basis; IL Win ftt.4A
nish employment for large nuuib&1Ys
OF the men to be deInoitiiixefI fyUHf3
The army and the war industrisxs ansHs
it Will stand, after the read1ustfueHk
is com pIeted. as monument TO Amer
lean labor and enterprises. IL VIII
m an tremen foEs addition foa tia6ES
material wealth OF the country and IN
It's public resources.
States and cities are being cncour.
7sef tp .np5, fylt steam aheaS on bot
sfshs IN s1-vJes Iris r ,,vfts sss ArSaf1
two years ~ a rasuk Of the war, pri.s
waite builders are urged to begin thstt
work at once. The average WORKING
man. who has been steadily enaplcysA
Fduring he war. probably has more
money than ever before, and now III
the time for him to begin an fnycAt
ment in home.
Building, in short. Is an importapts
part OF the Cover nn7ents plan for
peace. Stopped during the war, This
industy is far behind its normal con-
dttion.
Nearly every town and city In tho
country needs new buildings: nearly
every city In the country needs new
houses. The people OF America have
been living In cloae quarters. They
must have more air, more sunlight,
| II ore green fields, more naturals Free
dom.
Plans are under way to create ds-
naEnds for homes. to start work on
public buildings, and to encourage prf-5
vate building on large scale. #
Everyone can cooperate in :. this
great task. 1t Is a job for the bust =
| ness man, the worker. everybody In
| the community.
! Reconstruction must be made literal
/ 'a department n: labor believes
| There must be reconstruction of that
which is ant.quated and obsolete. and
new construction to supply the natioTi's8
need of new homes.
| War time labor requirements made
I new building except upon governments.
/ result Americas population is hvinE
| in too close quarters Moreover. the
cessation OF building has caused in
/ creases In rents until they have bA.s
come in many places absolutely ex-
! orbitant.
/ For the national good. this retarda-
ton in the normal housing prosranss
must be more than made up. In iiiak.s
| ing IL up, there will be created need
for iaor that will assure employment
TO the men who have been fighting 30
| bravely to make the world safe for
dem ocrecy.
Mcre than . resumption Of building
| operations is sought. An extension "
| the program SO inclusive that Il viii
! In clude the erection of every building
that is needed everywhere. the PROSE
! cution of public work. the erection OF
public buildings, and the construction.
above all. OF homes.
Unity is as essential in this CAM
paign rs ii was in winning theswar.s
| The nation must be united in support
:. OF program that will supply In
/ greatest need ard at the same time
minimize the difficulties of transition
from war times to the normal organf-
cation of the country.
| Keep industry humming' is the
aim Of the government II every man
takes Il hand in the building cam
paign. the department of labor be-
| lieves, this aim will he made good.