Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-20
START 100000
HOUSING COMPANY
TO OPERATE HERE
Richmond Business Men
Subscribe 100000 Toward
Huge Corporation.
OPENS NEW INDUSTRIAL
AND CIVIC ERA FOR CITY
Erection of Many Modern Houses
and Apartments Are Planned
by Concern.
WILL CARE FOR WORKINGN1EN
Development Held by Speakers as
Solution Of Serious Living and
Labor Problems.
WILL CARE FOR woRK1NGMES
development Held by Speakers as
solution of Serious Living and
Labor Problems.

Organization OF 100000 housing
corporation for the purpose OF erect
ing sufficient homes TO meet present
and future needs IN Richmond, was
started yesterday afternoon at a meet
ing In the Chamber Of Commerce. at
which 100000. tho minimum capital
required for the corporation. was sub
scr!bed by Ii score OF business men
and manufacturers.
Formation OF this corporation, In
the belief OF its advocates. opens a
new era in Richmonds Industrial
economic and social history. !, marks
they believe. the solution. nor only
or the city's serious housing problem,
bur is the most important step taken
mus far to retain here sufficient labor
TO man the c!ty's factories and TO bring
about future Industrial development.
To Erect Modern Homes.
Houses for R!chmonds work!nsmen
having all modern conveniences. such
as baths. water, electricity. cellars.
sufficient yard and garden space. and
attractive environment. VIII be erected
hy the Richmond housing Corporation.
the official name OF the organ.zaLon
when II begins operations.
Subscription OF Sl00. 900 worth OF
stock by. the men in attendance at
Lawrence WELLER. secretary OF the Ma
Eonal Housing Association. New York
City: Allen ]. Saville. Of Richmond.
who Is aiding IN the consummation of
Il similar project al Flint. Mich. where
the General Motors Company is erect
ing hundreds OF homes in which TO
house It's employees; Coleman 7. Wor-
than. chairman OF the local committee.
which has been investigating the pro-
Jcc,, and others.
Improves Social Conditions.
Mr.. WELLER went over the housing
problem generally from community
standpoint. quoting many facts show
inG The difference in health, social and
c.vlc conditions between good and bad
housing districts. lie also touched
strongly Upon the labor question as
country today, warning that, although
the nation was entering period OF
the greatest prosperity II has ever
known. the employment problem is
one OF the most serious industry had
ever confronted in America.
II was pointed out by Mr.. Sav!lle
that the houses being erected in the
TO tina, being formed here, compare
1avorably with those in Barton Heights
and Ginter Park
They really arc ideal places to hve.
he stated. and they are being Occupied
rot by the factory managers. but by
the workmen them selves"
Houses Rented or Sold.
1t appeared TO be the plan o, the
men who purchased stock yesterday 70
develop similar comm unlNIcS ~ tN!C.-
mond. the houses 10 be sold or rented.
according TO the convenience OF work
ers. Purchases OF standard parts, but
not The sFeeIi9n n,,rsin on aYaatn like nouss was
advocated by the experts and others
at the meeting.
Mr.. savilo told the Richmond men
tina, they must take immediate action
+. they were to compete with the
Northern and Western industries in
the labor market: Concerns elsewhere.
Ginia at this time. and have had them
Tor months. urging men 10 come to
their communities and work, promisSs
and providing them with suitable
rent. Mr.. Saville stated that the great
automobile concerns OF the Middle
that it is 10 their benetit 10 provide
proper housing conditions. for their
Employees, and declared that It be-
hooved Richmond TO carry out It's hous-
ing corporation plan II it hoped TO
compete with other industrial centers
and keep at home its present workers.
attract others, and bring to The city
new industrial concerns.
TO Make Plans Today.
1t is planned TO form temporary
organization of officials at meeting TO
he held at 2 o'clock today at the First
National Bank, when those who sub
scrlbed stock at yesterdays meeting
100000, the goal set as tho capital OF
the corporation. Confidence was eN-
pressed at yesterdays meeting that
this amount OF stock would be sub
scribed, as 1t was pointed out that the
corporation was an investment propo-
sition and reports from similar asso-
Citations elsewhere showed per cent
Many phases of the corporations
purposes and probable activities were
1t was pointed out by Mr.. WELLER and
others that the corporation must work
with a large vision, not necessarily
acres of land was recommended as the
primary purchase of the corporation.
and this property should be developed
along most modern lines. namely, that
termed a useless expenditure. be aban-
Ioned, and that the streets be narrow
er.. that alleyways be eliminated as a
and laid out In an attractive form and
Sections Are Crowded.
Mr.. WELLER pointed out in his address
that he had visited many parts OF the
city during the day and that lamenta-
BILE conditions existed in certain sec
triots. Much of the citys laundry
work was done. he. learned. In these
communities where families are crowd
and he showed the ease with which
this disease is spread throughout the
city. He quoted figures and instances
in this country and in England The
death rates are far lower in the cities
Of good housing eond,ions than in
America is destined to face it's
greatest period Of prosperity, during
our feet. But industry faces one great
(, nroblem-thc shortage Of labor. both
skilled and unskilled. When the war
started immigration to this country
~.