New-York tribune., 1919-07-13

.imerica mas been urged repeatedly
follow the lead Of continental Eu-
pc in solving its housing problems,
1 relieving congestion and in promot-
: thrift and home ownership. The
has been SO constant that many
Ks have come to the conclusion that
G government is doing an injustice
the people by not accepting the
sons which Europe can give US in
using.
William f. Shannon, until recently
anager of the real estate division
the United States Housing Corpora
IN, says that the solution of Europes
using troubles cannot be applied to
scrica. Social distinction and gov
nment supervision, part and parcel
the housing schemes of Europe,
puld not meet with favor here. They
e too encompassing, limiting the
here of effort and subjecting ten
try to too many years of partial
wnership. and incidentally to the SER
&c of the commercial philanthropist
% builds homes for the occupancy
his workmen.
>ir. Shannon says that man should
permitted TO own his home within
5een years. At least that is the
acrican idea. Half a century is re-
red in many places in Europe to get
fee to a home.
No German System Here
The German system would not be
Tmitted by the Independent think
g, self-respec ecting, American work
.en to exist in this country" says
r. Shannon. "For US the system is
rong, the layout is wrong, the design
wrong, and its long payment plan,
vnich in some cases is as much as
'ty years, is for no other purpose
han to keep the citizens from owning
in fee, for as I was frankly
old. "as long as the government owned
re mortgage on mans home that
nan would do as he was hidden.
"In England I found rather differ
Mt state Of affairs, the manufacturer
aking the place of the government
1t with about the same results. 'The
laster' with great show appears as if
ne 10 desirous of having His Work
'aen' own their homes, generally in
the hollow, while he lives on the hill
but the very small monthly payment
spread over years of time keeps the
man from securing his home in fee
because death. accident, or a convent
I.
Our people must realize, unless
they desire to degenerate to the Eu-
ropean level of dependence. that NO
man has right to live in home that
viii take more than fifteen years to
pay for and no healthy man is entitled
70 home unless he can earn enough to
pay reasonable value for it.
THE architectural exterior effect
GEMS to be considered by the English
phiianthropist far more important than
he interior comfort. The roof mus,
be just right, otherwise it would b.
lnsightly from his home on the hill
y thatched roof in Ann Hathaway style
10 considered ideal, though it permits
OF only a 2 2 foot bedroom window
But the occupant must not complain
because this is architecturally correc,
and his cottage has been sold to him
at much less than cost, with an interest
rate far less than current. A cottage
huilt so close to the ground that i,
could not have cellar ventilation i.
rsvsd over as a thing Of beauty, though
u gives the occupant tuberculosis
American Layout Retter
''The street layout Of the English
Village Beautiful for this country
- also all wrong. Their design is te
nave many blocked streets for the pur
pose Of seeiusion, and those that are
pen must be as crooked as possible
rven where Typographical features ri
he land do not demand Il.
after y personal investigation OF
,ousing conditions il Europe, make
he positive statement that whether