The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-20

About nifty men attended the ses-
sion Yesterday, with Mr.. Coleman
WORKMAN presiding. He Is chairman
81 4 special committee of the cham
bar OF commerce authorized to CO.
operate In the organization of move
u1ent for better houses for wage
eaE0osA
Avrance WELLER, director OF the
NAkt6xA1 Housing association. ana -
L. saviIie Of Richmond. consulting
sngjnser who has handled extensive
operations In providing homes for
workers In Northern Industrial CEN
ers, were the principal speakers.
Mr.. WELLER, who came from New
York especially to address the meet
mr.. gave a comprehensive statement
Of the worldwide shortage OF suit
Able dwellings,; of the measures taken
IN other countries to overcome the
shor.age: OF the more than 500 pro-
sects undertaken in the United
states; OF the immense community
benefits resulting from better nous
tns--In health, morals. Industrial ef-
ic.ency and higher character OF
.itixenship; of the safe anu steady
moderate return assured IT, capital
snteiligentiy invested in Wholesale
housing enterprises.
AIT. Edsilie Td0 FHANC sREGinb
rip TO Richmond from Flint, Michi-
ran. where he is handling the cree
aon of 1000 new dwellings Tor motor
factory workmen. in order to urge
that the people OF his own home city
safeguard themselves agains. the COM
petition for labor which the Northern
industrial centers are CORY ms on. A
,-ery large percentage Of the men en-
aloyed in Flint, he said. were from
Virginia and Tennessee: they are bet
ter housed than they had ever hoped
TO be while they lived in their native
states; and while they would be glad
10 return. other conditions being
suual they would not abandon their
present comfortable circumstances
without knowing that they would at
least do as we'll at their former
homes He declared that The scouts
81 the Northern manufacturers are
sven now in the city. impressing un-
skilled workers with the better sur
roundings assured them in otherin-
dustrial centers. You viii surely
lose them unless you act promptly"
ae warned.
Chairman wortham then offered
the report Of the committee of the
chamber OF commerce. which sum-
marked the committees observations
and recommendations and outlined
the form Of organization. John
Stewart Bryan called for subscrip-
lions and in 4 few minutes q total Of
more than $500, 900 was announced
The committees observations fol-
low:
Richmond's Greatest Need.
The greatest social need OF Rich
mond today IL an adequate supply Of
modern homes for its working people.
The records OF the city building in
spector show that in the splendid
building development that has been
going on In Richmond the needs OF
the working people have been lamen-
ably overlooked.
A Detrimcnt to our City.
This lack Of proper housing con-
ditions for our working people Is a
decided detriment to our city.
Manufacturers will hesitate to locate
their plants here when they realize
that their employees canno. find de-
,ent houses to live in.
Visitors to our city will not invest
their capital where the community
!, solerates the rAmshAckle dwellings
which lire many Of our streets. But
. more important consideration il
that unnecessary sickness and death,
industrial ineficiency. intemperance.
Juvenile delinquency. vice, crime. and
debased citizenship are bound to
sxist where people must live In houses
That are In bad repair, disease In
lccted ana without toilet facilities.
orercrowded. and IN unclsan sur
reundings
srhs M. Hon. James Bryce. late
1kish Ambassador. u tho United
ssss ~ r., 80 49, 49, or. i