South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-27
STATE BUSINESS
GENERALLY GOOD
DURING YEAR
Housing Problems in South
Bend and MiShaWaka
Are Acute.

The middle west. the effect OF the
fuel conservation order has not
found it's reflection in any material
falling off in the volume Of bust
ness at the banks. according to the
report Of business conditions fra the
seventh federal reserve district, is
sued b. the federal reserve bank Of
Chicago. The demand for bank
accommodations continued heavy
through the fuel conservation pc
ROD. indicating that any recession
in industry and trade due 70 fuel
shortage had been regarded as
temporary interference with pro
duction rather than a fundamental
development calling for a lessening
in the demand for bank aCcommo-
dations.
At the same time the banking
situation reflects the unusually high
prices at which commodities are
being carried and the absorption Of
available bank credits by the con-
siderable amounts OF securities in
process Of digestion. Bankers as a
rule are not looking for any recess
sion IN money rates until after the
turn OF the year.
All Lines Good.
Business is good. according to
the advices from all lines Of trade
There IS. however, a certain amount
OF popular unrest. Men who work
ed with zeal and fine contentment
previously to the European war are
idling away a part of their time.
There is "a disposition among wage
earners toward less efficiency. not
only in the shortening OF hours but
IN the actual amount Of work per
formed an hour. whereas the pay
Envelope which was regarded as
generous in 1914 is now a subject
OF scorn.
Wages continue to increase and
people continue to spend their
money freely. Almost everybody
seems inclined toward extravaganza,
and while the banks report a large
number Of new savings accounts,
these are not from the mechanics
and general IabOrers. The wage
Garner is spending freely for pleas
IRE, am Isement and adornment and
among them. according to mer-
chants. mo price is extreme if the
goods are in fashion"
Housing Problem Serious.
The housing situation is looming
up as "a serious problem IN practi-
cally all Of the Industrial centers in
the middle west. The kind Of
- homes which appear TO be chiefly in
demand are the four. five and six
room apartments. The one and
two-room kitchenettc apartments
are more frequently constructed be
cause OF the income they return to
the owner Thus far this year there
have been permits for about $780,
100000 of work and IL is said that
this takes care OF the normal in
crease and about 5000 TO 10000
units OF the shortage in homes. At
the present rate authorities esti-
mate from four 10 10 years will be
required TO overcome the housing
deficiency.
In South Bend. Ind, the short
age III homes is acute, owing 10 the
great industrial growth. Old fac
tories are expanding and new ones
coming 20 town. There were about
500 homes built last year and plans
contemplate 1900 10 be built in
1920.
Fort Wayne reports n shortage Of
100 homes with rentals 20 10 %
percent higher.
East Chicago building is ham
pered by high material and labor
costs with rentals from % 20 25
percent higher
Hammond has n shortage of
homes and reports a further in
crease IN rentals or 10 percent
bringing the advance between 35
and 40 percent from prewar figures.
Rentals Generally Advanced.
indianapolis has experienced an
increase in rentals of from So 10
so percent. with a prospect OF fur
ther dwelling shortage.
Lafayette has an acute housing
situation. with rentals 20 percent
higher and no available houses or
apartments.
The same condition prevails at
1Iuncie. with rentals for business
rooms 100 percent higher and COM
mon residences 20 percent higher
thau IN prewar times. while fur
uished rooms are so percent higher.
The building situation at Terre
Itautc is about as percent OF nor
; NAL. with rentals about 1e percent
above prewar times
Mishawaka has experienced
shortage Of homes for several years
but a building program IS being
worked out by manufacturer TO
finance the employees SO that they
,uay own their own homes IL IS
estimated that 500 additional homes
could be used. Rentals are % TO
80 percent higher than in normal
times.
Lower Michigan and Iowa arc al
so experiencing a shortage iu
homes Rentals have advanced
from 20 To so percent IN Iowa cities.
one eucouraginE feature I'm the
advices from iowa and Illinois s.
/, the assurance ou che part of bank
err that ths rise in Tho price o.