The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1919-01-31
Building is Vital

Reconstruction plans of the De-
partment of Labor provide for
America perhaps the greatest de-
velopement of public works and
housing ever projected.
A greater and better America is
the object of this vast campaign.
The building program contemplated
by the department will mean
transition from war to a peace
basis; it will furnish employment
for large numbers of the men to be
demobilized from the Army and the
war industries and it will stand
after the readjustment is complet-
ed, as monument to American
labor and enterprise. 1t will mean
a tremendous addition to the ma
terial wealth of the country and to
its pubic resources.
States and cities are being en-
couraged to put full steam ahead on
their plans for betterment, held up
nearly two years as result OF the
war. Private builders are urged to
begin their work at once. The
average workingman, who has been
steadily employed during the war
probably has more money than ever
before, and now is the time for him
to begin an investment in a home.
Building in short, is an important
part Of the Governments plan for
peace. Stopped during the war
this industry is far behind it's nor.
NAL condition.
Nearly every town and city in the
country needs new buildings; nearly
every city in the country needs new
houses. The people of America
have been living in close quarters
They must have more air, more sun
light, more green fields, more
natural freedom.
Plans are under way to create de
mands for homes, to start work OF
public buildings, and to encourag,
private building on large scale.
Everyone can cooperate in Thu
great task. 1t is a job for the bust
ness man, the worker, everybody il
the community.
Reconstruction must be made lit
eral, the Department of Labor be
lieves. There must be reconstruc
tion of that which is antiquatee
and obsolete, and new construction
to supply the Nations need Of nev
homes.
| Wartime labor requirement
made new building, except upol
Government work, out of tn
question, and as result America
population is living in too clos
quarters. Moreover, the cessation
of building has caused increases il
rents until they have become II
many places absolutely exorbitant
For the national good, this retar
dation in the normal housing pro
gram must be more than made up
In making 1t up, there will b
created a need for labor that will
assure employment to the men VIII
have been fighting so bravely t
make the world safe for democracy
More than resumption of build
ing operations is sought. An exten
sion of the program SO inclusiv
that it will include the erection O
every building that is needed every
where, the prosecution Of publ
work, the erection Of public build
ings, and the construction, abov
all, of homes.
Unity is as essential in this can
paign as it was in winning the wal
The Nation must be united in sur
port of program that will suppl
its greatest need and at the sam
time minimize the difficulties @
transition from war times to tn
normal organization of the country
keep industry humming" is tn
aim of the Government. If ever
man takes a hand in the buildin
campaign, the Department of Labo
believes, this aim will be mad
good.